Nintendo executives provided some information about the company's upcoming NX gaming platform and the company's connection with the Virtual Reality (VR) market, during the latest general meeting of shareholders.
There is much talking on whether Nintendo will add VR technologies to the NX platfor which Nintendo plans to release in March 1017.
Nintendo's president Tatsumi Kimishima did not unveil anything specific to the company's shareholders, but said that his company considers VR to be "a promising technology, and we are conducting research with much interest".
Nintendo's Senior Managing Director Miyamoto also said that his company is researching not just VR but AR and many other technologies.
"We have a range of core technology including 3D, and we are also considering the possibility of implementing these in our own hardware development. For VR in particular, we are continuing our research, and looking into development with a mind to how our current core products are meant to be played for a relatively long period of time. We are looking into the possibilities of providing an experience that gives value when played for a short time, and how to eliminate the concerns of long-duration use. We are also looking into how to make sure that a parent doesn't need to worry when their child puts on a VR device in their living room."
Smartphone Controllers?
Shinya Takahashi also said that the company is looking into both hardware and software development for smartphones.
"Physical controllers for smart device applications are available in the market and it is possible that we may also develop something new by ourselves," Takahashi said. "I believe Nintendo’s way of thinking is to look at whether action games are really not impossible (without a physical controller for smart device applications) to create and how we can make it happen to create such a game."
Nintendo released its popular social app Miitomo this year, and will follow that up with four other mobile apps between now and March, 2017, including games from the popular Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem series. The company is partnering with mobile game company DeNA on these releases.
Alongside these titles, Nintendo has released the mobile augmented-reality game Pokemon GO, developed by Niantic Labs, and a Pokemon mobile trading card game.