Nostalgia is the key to world – er, video game industry domination. That’s the message Nintendo is sending out to its competitors, at least. Pokémon GO set things into motion, blitzing ahead of the pack to become the most downloaded app of 2016 and reaching the $1 billion sales milestone. But the launch of Nintendo Switch more or less secured the company’s success. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pokémon GO and the hybrid console have doubled Nintendo’s market capitalisation to $49.8 billion USD, which trumps Sony’s $48.6 billion USD and even streaming service Netflix, which closed in at $42.32 billion USD. Nintendo’s stock has skyrocketed by 160% since the launch of Pokémon GO, and according to some analysts, the trend will continue.
Let’s not forget that 2016 also saw the introduction of Super Mario Run, Mario’s first foray into mobile, as well as the rebirth of the Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo’s secret formula seems to be a mixture of rebooted nostalgia—like the recently announced SNES Classic Edition—and cautious smartphone expeditions. However, it doesn’t look like Nintendo will be prioritising ultra HD visuals for the time being.
