Nintendo is reportedly “deep in conversation,” with external studios to work on its IP.

I also know that Nintendo is actively meeting with independent developers to find new partners. Some of that is around publishing indie games, which Nintendo does from time-to-time, but it’s also seeking studios that could work on some of its IP. Nintendo regularly works with third-party teams, including Bandai Namco, Team Ninja, Platinum Games, MercurySteam, WayForward and Grezzo. But the company is looking to add to that roster, and I know of three studios that are deep in conversation around making games based on Nintendo brands.

Actual Source: Christopher Dring at Gameindustry.biz: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/how-can-nintendo-switch-2-surpass-its-predecessor-opinion

  • TAG@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    It would be nice to have Nintendo farm out some of its IP to third party devs. It will mean more games in the major (and especially secondary) series. It will be nice to see a new developers versions of iconic series.

    The only risk is that other studios are not going to meet Nintendo’s level of quality, hurting the brand, but past history suggests that that will not occur.

    I do hope that third party studios are not just getting a license but also access to design docs, so they can match the feel of other games. For example, Mario platformers have very good physics that many indie games cannot match. It would be great if anyone else making a Mario game can match that same feel.

  • Ilflish@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    Recently(ish) the necrodancer Zelda game is a weird and wonderful collaboration. Still have no idea how the got the opportunity for that or how much Nintendo was on them for it but I’m sure many Indies would bend over backwards if they could make something with Wario for example.

  • Dandroid@dandroid.appEnglish
    0·
    6 months ago

    Typically quality goes down as more third party studios get involved. If they can keep their quality up somehow, this will be a good thing. But I don’t want annual shovelware Zelda games like COD or how Assassin’s Creed was in the 2010s.

    • Shiggles@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      0·
      6 months ago

      Pokemon has been close to shovelware for a few generations now, though legends Arceus is a shining counterexample that I hope we get more of. It seems like gamefreak had time to make it after handing off the normal remakes of the Sinnoh region to another developer, so if that’s the direction they’re looking in I’m optimistic.

    • Hauke@feddit.deEnglish
      0·
      6 months ago

      Agreed, and yet GameFreaks quality would skyrocket if they outsourced their development (or got forced by Nintendo to do so). Depends on how the quality is in the first place I guess xD

      • Dandroid@dandroid.appEnglish
        0·
        6 months ago

        Not sure what leverage Nintendo would have. Nintendo doesn’t own Pokemon. The Pokemon Company does.