'Pokemon's CEO didn't think the Nintendo Switch would be a success.
Nintendo Switch
The latest console from the gaming giants brings handheld and home console gaming together and has been hugely popular since its release six months ago, but Tsunekazu Ishihara, the CEO of The Pokémon Company, had admitted he didn't think the console would succeed because he couldn't see people "carrying around a game's console" in the world of mobile gaming.
He said: "I told Nintendo that Switch wouldn't be a success before it went on sale because I thought that, in the age of the smartphone, no one would carry around a game console. It's obvious I was wrong. I came to realise the key to a successful game is quite simple: software with absolute quality leads sales of hardware. Playing style can be flexible if the software is attractive enough."
And although he admits the console has been more popular than he anticipated, Tsunekazu still has his reservations about the system.
He added: "Currently, it's popular among the early adopters, but there needs to be one more step to attract a wider audience. I see more potential in Switch, but one shouldn't overestimate its potential."
Recently, it was revealed that a core 'Pokémon' RPG is in the works for the Switch, and although the game is thought to be "more than a year" away from release, Tsunekazu is excited to be able to "go deeper" into the fantasy world on the new console.
Speaking through a translator to Bloomberg, he said: "With the Switch, we see it as a chance to create Pokemon that goes deeper and with a higher level of expression. As a result, that makes it an extremely important platform. Until now, games were made as one for one person, but now you can go home and play with everyone - so how do we tackle these themes, and how do we make sure it's not complicated?"