There’s no doubt thatNintendois one of the leading figures in the gaming industry. Its consoles have been cornerstones of the industry for decades, and it’s the parent of iconic video game franchises that are beloved internationally. Nevertheless,Nintendostill has to stay on its toes. Microsoft and Sony are just as influential and serve as worthy rivals. That rival has become especially relevant in recent months due to a series of major acquisitions by Microsoft and Sony, who seem interested in collecting more game studios for their respective consoles. Odds seem good that both companies will try to make other big purchases in 2022.
Nintendo, however, hasn’t been expanding its reach. On the contrary,Nintendo apparently isn’t interestedin making many acquisitions, even though it certainly has the resources to do so. Deciding not to focus on acquisitions is fine, but when Microsoft and Sony are purchasing studios like Bethesda and Bungie, Nintendo still has to take notice. As its rivals grow aggressively, Nintendo needs to make a show of strength. That’s why rumors of an upcoming Nintendo Direct are so valuable. If Nintendo can deliver one of its best Directs yet in the midst of these studio purchases, fans will have much more reason to believe in Nintendo’s tenacity.
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Sony and Microsoft’s Growth
Nintendo’s biggest rivals have been making major moves lately. Microsoft finally obtaining Bethesda in 2021 was a big deal, but it was only the latest in a series of major purposes, and it wouldn’t be the last. Now Microsoft aims to get its hands on Activision Blizzard, which would give it control over huge IPs likeCall of DutyandWorld of Warcraft.Sony hasn’t been quite as aggressive as Microsoft yet, butpurchasingDestinydeveloper Bungieis a sign that Sony is in search of studios worth buying, eager to keep up with Microsoft.
Although there’s certainly a lot to be gained, Nintendo says it won’t join the acquisition race anytime soon. Nevertheless, as these companies expand their control over the game industry, it’s important that Nintendo finds a way to show off what it’s capable of, or else it’ll be doomed to unfavorable comparisons to its rivals. While Nintendo may not have studio purchases to flaunt, it still has plenty of its own IPs to emphasize. By making sure that its next Nintendo Direct is stacked with information aboutthe most demanded Switch exclusives, as well as a few valuable surprises, Nintendo can show the industry that it’s not intimidated by Microsoft and Sony’s plans.
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A Powerful Nintendo Direct
There’s plenty of reason to believe that the next Nintendo Direct will be powerful enough to raise the company’s voice over its rivals.Kirby and the Forgotten Landis right around the corner, while hot-ticket games likeSplatoon 3, Bayonetta 3,and theBreath of the Wildsequel still await further coverage from Nintendo. The next Direct could also confirm some crucial leaks;Mario Kart 9could finally rear its head, filling the demand for a newMario Kartgame at long last. Nintendo might even surprise fans withnewMetroid Prime 4information, a newPikmingame, and so on. When it comes to building a strong Direct, Nintendo has all the resources it could ask for.
Nintendo hasn’t confirmedwhen the next Direct will take place, but some leakers expect a Direct to release before February 17. If a groundbreaking Direct is right around the corner, then its timing couldn’t be better. Sony purchasing Bungie really seems like a sign of things to come; it could only be the first of many purchases that change the shape of the industry. The impact of Microsoft and Sony’s purchases on Nintendo may not be fully clear for years, but in the current moment, a show of confidence and ambition fromNintendowould still be valuable.
