Virtual Reality headsets have really changed the gaming landscape. In fact, some of the companies have already disclosed details on their VR plans. Among these companies, back in 2016, was Nintendo which publicly announced that it would be looking into VR in the coming years.
Is Nintendo serious of its VR plans?
As early as 2016, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima announced at an investors’ briefing that Nintendo was considering VR as part of the company’s strategy to lure more gamers in using their consoles. On the same year, a VR headset patent surfaced that time, amplifying speculations that the Japan-based company was serious of plan into the virtual space.
Fast forward today, Nintendo seems to abandon their original plan of looking into VR. This comes after Nintendo France General Manager Philippe Lavoué, in an interview with Les Numeriques, a French publication, expressed doubt that VR would really appeal to the mainstream.
“If you look at VR headsets, I doubt they can appeal to the mainstream,” Lavoué said as quoted saying in Ars Technica. “Consumers are not patient with entertainment if you’re not able to deliver an all-inclusive package.”
One problem cited by Lavoué was the TV display technology which he claimed to have not been adopted by the majority. He also downplayed the proposal, saying it is still premature for Nintendo to invest a hardware such as VR that has the capacity to have full 4K images.
“And what novelty would we bring compared to our competitors?” he said. “If we do the exact same thing as everyone else, we’re bound to die because we are smaller than them. With the Switch, we offer different uses, adapted to players’ pace of life. Its advantage is being able to fit into your daily life.”
