The decline of Nintendo “could be detrimental” to the wider gaming industry, Sony has told TrustedReviews.
Nintendo recently posted a $15 million (£9.1 million) loss for the last financial quarter, signalling further struggles for the company despite consistent Nintendo 3DS family sales.
Now, PlayStation UK boss, Fergal Gara, admits that the fall of Nintendo could impact the entire gaming market, especially if companies like Sony don’t engage with younger consumers.
"[The decline of Nintendo] could be detrimental to the market, unless people like us raise our game and help tap into the younger consumer group that they serve rather well”, Gara said in an exclusive interview with TrustedReviews. “That is the challenge to us. We need to bring maybe more family-friendly, more casual experiences into the market. I think there’s a big market segment there that we should take the challenge to engage and I see lots of potential to do that.”
Nintendo’s latest financial reports are far from positive, but the sales of the 3DS, and its siblings like the Nintendo 2DS, surpassed all other console formats last year. Something Sony is very aware of.
“The DS family was the bestselling format last year, despite the stellar sales of the PS4 for the last four or five weeks, it was still the best selling console or console family.”
Sony is aware that Nintendo occupies a larger space in the handheld market than its own PS Vita, but still believes it is a strong contender, especially now with the PS4 Remote Play functionality.
“I think Vita has maybe not a huge position in the marketplace, but a very unique position. First of all it’s the only device that offers the same level of control and interaction, it’s the only device to offer the same level of visual beauty, and now it’s the only console to offer that companionship with the leading home games console.”
The new PS Vita Slim arrives in the UK on February 4 for around £179.99 and can be pre-ordered now.
Read more: Mobile won't save Nintendo - 5 reasons Mario won't go mobile
