Although Reggie Fils-Aimé is no longer with Nintendo, he seems to talk about his former employer almost every week.
Yesterday, during an interview with Gamertag Radio, Reggie was asked if he was surprised by the success of the Switch. Apparently not, as Reggie explained how he knew the system was resolving a “key” consumer complaint, as it allowed the player to play anywhere.
The success of the hybrid system made his “retirement decision easy,” knowing the company would be in “good shape” for at least a few years. Here is his full answer (via Nintendo Everything):
“No, it was not a surprise to me. And I say that because the first time I saw the Nintendo DS, my neck hair lifted. The team demonstrated a first and foremost prototype of what would become Nintendogs. I immediately saw the potential. The first time I grabbed a Wii remote and played, again, a rudimentary experience that would become Wii Sports, I knew it would be magical. The day I sat down with Mr. Iwata and held a prototype Switch and we talked about the concept, I knew it would be magical.
And I say that because the system was resolved by a key player complaint, and that complaint is that I’m having fun, I’m playing my game and now I have to stop because I have to go to work or I have to go to school and not i can take the game with me. I can’t keep playing this game. So Switch, with the opportunity to play it on this big screen TV, get it off the dock and go play in hand mode, satisfied the fundamental desire of the consumer. That was the triggering moment. The company did so many other clever things: support for Unity and Unreal, which allowed all the great independent content to arrive. Other key decisions.
But no, it’s not a surprise and, frankly, knowing that he will succeed is what helped make my retirement decision easier because I knew the company would be in good shape for at least a few years. ”
During a New York Gaming Twitch Awards broadcast last month, Reggie admitted that the Switch was a “make or break” product for Nintendo after the Wii U’s poor performance.
Do you miss Reggie on Nintendo? Would the Switch go even better if I continued in the company? Share your own thoughts below.