[ot-caption title=”Nintendo’s new console called Switch. (via Nintendo)”]

On October 20th, Nintendo made an impromptu debut of a new console they are calling the Switch. While the device had been leaked prior to the announcement under the code name Nintendo NX, it still came as quite a bold move for a gaming company that has been struggling to stay afloat as competition has grown stiff. Nintendo is marketing this device as a purely home console system. However, the most striking feature about it is its uncompromising portability. The system has a 6.2″ display on its tablet form that can also be plugged into a station and instantly connected to a television in its more traditional configuration. While Nintendo claims this device will not be a replacement to its popular handheld device, the 3DS, which may be true, I believe this signifies a greater shift in the industry as a whole.[spacer height=”20px”]

Since the launch of the App Store for Apple’s revolutionary iPhone in 2008, applications have been the dominant feature that drives functionality in smartphones (with Google’s Play Store being the other prominent player in that market), and some of the first applications to become available were games. From the onset, these mobile computing systems and associated games were able to rival handheld systems that were only a few years outmoded. This came as notable evidence that the market was ripe for disruption, as people were already willing to pay for portable devices that would allow them to game under virtually any circumstance. The iPhone, iPad, and slew of Android devices gave most casual gamers all the satisfaction necessary for their mobile gaming needs. It is not difficult to see how traditional gaming companies like Nintendo were challenged by the sudden release of smartphones. Additionally, smartphones have been increasing in computational power and graphical performance at a tremendous rate that has brought incredible gaming capabilities right to the self-same devices that are always in our pockets.[spacer height=”20px”]

Nintendo had to adapt, and I would argue that the entire gaming industry must adapt, to this new reality of mobile gaming. If smartphone gaming is only marginally worse than handheld devices, then the full power of console gaming must move to portability as well in order to survive the pressures of Silicon Valley. Also, at the iPhone 7 launch event, Nintendo came on stage to announce that Mario was coming to the App Store. This was a perfect demonstration of the issue facing the gaming industry. With the company struggling to stay profitable, Nintendo must take large bets in order to stay relevant. Even with all the intrigue around the new Switch home/portable console, Nintendo will largely depend on developer interest in bringing popular games to the console or the company may be crushed at the hands of mobile gaming.[spacer height=”20px”]

Sources: Nintendo, Business Insider Photo Source: Nintendo