InuKa
01-24-2003, 15:22
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata today announced the first details on the company's sucessor to the Gamecube. Scheduled to launch in 2005 or 2006, it will be the first time since joining the home console market that Nintendo will launch in the first wave of a new round of hardware.
"We plan to release the new system around the same time as rival makers do," said Iwata.
News of the console came after lower than projected sales of the Gamecube and software during this past holiday season despite remarkable critical acclaim for the main holiday title, Metroid Prime.
With the console launch at least two years away, Iwata said Nintendo's 2003 focus will be leverging the succes of the Game Boy Advance with titles that link between the two systems. Games such as Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle and the GC Pokemon title are set to use similar features.
Iwata admitted the change in console plans was designed to avoid allowing Sony another sizeable head start. The PlayStation 2 launched a year before the Gamecube in the U.S. and nearly 18 months earlier in Japan, and has only widened the sales gap since then.
"If we had launched the GameCube at the same time as PlayStation 2, the result would have been different," Iwata said.
As for rumors that Nintendo would take the direction Sega did and stop making hardware, Iwata firmly denied any such plans.
"When we withdraw from the home game console, that's when we withdraw from the video game business," added Iwata.
Today's announcements were also designed to help shore up Nintendo's stock price, which has been hit by lowered sales forecasts and a strong yen. The company previously lowered expected profits back in November.
"We plan to release the new system around the same time as rival makers do," said Iwata.
News of the console came after lower than projected sales of the Gamecube and software during this past holiday season despite remarkable critical acclaim for the main holiday title, Metroid Prime.
With the console launch at least two years away, Iwata said Nintendo's 2003 focus will be leverging the succes of the Game Boy Advance with titles that link between the two systems. Games such as Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle and the GC Pokemon title are set to use similar features.
Iwata admitted the change in console plans was designed to avoid allowing Sony another sizeable head start. The PlayStation 2 launched a year before the Gamecube in the U.S. and nearly 18 months earlier in Japan, and has only widened the sales gap since then.
"If we had launched the GameCube at the same time as PlayStation 2, the result would have been different," Iwata said.
As for rumors that Nintendo would take the direction Sega did and stop making hardware, Iwata firmly denied any such plans.
"When we withdraw from the home game console, that's when we withdraw from the video game business," added Iwata.
Today's announcements were also designed to help shore up Nintendo's stock price, which has been hit by lowered sales forecasts and a strong yen. The company previously lowered expected profits back in November.