For years, console makers have competed by offering more powerful hardware and better graphics. But according to Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto, this is no longer the primary thing customers care about when choosing a gaming system.

Speaking during a recent interview with Famitsu, Miyamoto said players are now more interested in being able to play great games on the devices they already own instead of constantly chasing better specifications. He also pointed to the success of the original Nintendo Switch as proof that powerful hardware is no longer the deciding factor for many consumers.

Nintendo’s latest consoles still thrive with less performance

The original Switch stayed on the market for around eight to nine years despite falling behind competing consoles in terms of raw performance. Even with its aging hardware, the system continued to attract millions of players thanks to its library of exclusive games and hybrid design.

Miyamoto said he believes the ideal situation is one where players can simply buy a game and play it on the hardware they already have at home. He compared this to smartphones, which are widely available and let users access a huge range of apps and games without needing dedicated hardware.

“First of all, I was happy that the Switch lasted for 8 to 9 years. I think that customers are no longer solely focused on specs. I believe the ideal situation is that if you buy the software, you can play it on the machine you have at home. Smartphones are already everywhere, aren’t they? I think that’s one ideal.”

Shigeru Miyamoto, Creative Fellow and Representative Director at Nintendo, via Famitsu [translated]

At the same time, he explained that Nintendo still wants to offer experiences that cannot be found on smartphones. According to Miyamoto, Nintendo’s strength comes from creating unique gameplay and interfaces while only having to develop for a single hardware platform. This gives the company more flexibility and allows it to respond quickly compared to developing for a wide range of devices.

He also said supporting multiple versions of general-purpose hardware increases development work. Nintendo instead aims to keep development as efficient as possible, joking that everyone wants to “live without working,” before laughing and clarifying that reducing unnecessary work helps create a better development environment.

Miyamoto’s comments reflect Nintendo’s long-standing strategy of focusing on gameplay rather than competing directly with PlayStation and Xbox in terms of hardware power. While Sony and Microsoft continue to release increasingly powerful consoles, Nintendo has built much of its success around unique experiences and accessibility instead.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.