Nintendo has stressed the importance of Nintendo Account integration for its next console, which will allow it to connect its gaming business to other areas such as theme parks and merchandise.
Nintendo Accounts were introduced in 2016 to unify the user experience between Nintendo’s mobile games, online stores and consoles. Mobile players can receive rewards for completing challenges in console games and share a friends list.
Accounts were integrated into Nintendo Switch when it was launched in 2017 and tracks user data such as friend lists, saved files, experience data, software purchase history and more. To date, more than 290 million Nintendo accounts have been created, according to the company.
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During a Q&A session for investors following the release of its latest financial results, the company was asked if it would use data collected from Nintendo accounts to influence its future software and hardware.
Director Ko Shiota replied that Nintendo will consider how it can more easily connect its gaming business with experiences outside of gaming in the future – something he thinks will be important for its next console.
Though he didn’t specify what outdoor areas this would include, Nintendo Slides highlighted the Universal Studios theme park, the upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie, and merchandise as ways he believes he can expand Nintendo Account usage .
“In the Nintendo Switch generation, it feels like we’ve gotten closer to our consumers through the Nintendo Account,” Shiota said. “I think an integrated hardware-software business that captures the spirit of Nintendo will continue to be the focus of many of the activities that emerge from the strategy outlined in today’s briefing.
“The most important thing about our dedicated video game platform is to offer a unique gaming experience. In our future hardware and software development, we need to consider ways to more easily connect our core video gaming business with consumer experiences outside of our dedicated video gaming platform via the Nintendo Account.
“We’re not at a stage where we can talk about the next-gen platform yet. But we believe the most important thing is to create unique integrated hardware-software products. The activities we use through the Nintendo Account should be well connected to these products.”
According to presentation documents, Nintendo sees its accounts as a means of maintaining “good, long-lasting relationships” with the people invested in its intellectual property.
In its recent financial results briefing, the company said it will use the accounts to unify the experience “across platform generations,” in addition to adding products and services with “value added” for users.
During the same Q&A session, Nintendo director Shigeru Miyamoto acknowledged that it’s easier than ever to offer backwards compatibility, but responded noncommittally when asked about plans for the next Nintendo console.
Earlier this week, Nintendo announced the formation of a new subsidiary with DeNA Co Ltd, the Japanese company behind many of its mobile games.
The new company, Nintendo Systems Co Ltd, will open in Tokyo in April 2023, will be 80% owned by Nintendo and will focus on “the development and operation of services to strengthen the digitization of Nintendo’s business”.
