Do you think Nintendo will ever cave in at some point and consider putting their games on steam?

[Mr. SyS]

Nah. Not as long as Switch keeps printing money.

 

[Klonoa7]

I’m not sure what would piss Nintendo off more:

A pirated copy of Super Mario Odyssey or Super Mario Odyssey on sale on Steam for $3.99

 

[Ikagura]

I’m not sure what would piss Nintendo off more:

A pirated copy of Super Mario Odyssey or Super Mario Odyssey on sale on Steam for $3.99

I think that even games on Steam don't get reductions as heavy for AAAs as before.

On the other hand I'd love to see a return of the Nintendo Select (although it completely kills the price when you want to sell it online).

 

[Twapsel]

I don’t think we will ever see Nintendo games on the Steam. However, I believe that in the future, Nintendo games will be available on PC and other platforms.

The era of console gaming is coming to an end. Just like movies and music, the trend is shifting toward streaming. Since video games require significantly higher and more stable bandwidth, game streaming has lagged behind other media by a few years. But it’s already here, and widespread adoption is only a matter of time. There will always be people who prefer gaming on their own hardware rather than streaming. However, their numbers will eventually dwindle to the point where relying on them as a primary business model is no longer viable. At some point, there may not be enough dedicated console gamers to justify producing home consoles at all—forcing the user to switch to PC gaming and forcing the console manufacturers to already have a viable alternative running.

Console manufacturers are already adapting to this shift. Microsoft was the first to act, investing heavily in game streaming, allowing Xbox games to be played on PC, and openly stating that Xbox is a service rather than just a console. The hardware is simply one way to access Xbox content.

Sony has followed suit by releasing its games on PC and offering game streaming. Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden even stated in an interview that dedicated home consoles will eventually become obsolete.

Nintendo, being far more conservative and heavily reliant on hardware sales, is more hesitant. However, they have also made moves in this direction. Before the Switch, Nintendo stated that it would expand its franchises beyond video games—and it has followed through. Nintendo attractions now exist in Universal Studios theme parks, the Mario movie was a massive success, Detective Pikachu was well received, and a Zelda movie is on the way. Additionally, Nintendo has ramped up partnerships in merchandise and licensing, such as its collaboration with LEGO.

Initially, online gaming on the Switch was free. Then, Nintendo announced a complete overhaul of its account system, introducing a paid subscription model. They stated that the new system would include multiple pricing tiers, be cross-generational (for the first time), and integrate with other services. Over time, these changes were implemented. Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) launched as a paid service, later expanding to include a premium tier offering additional retro games and DLC for titles like Mario Kart and Animal Crossing. More recently, Nintendo released a music app that requires an NSO account, further emphasizing their push toward subscription-based services.

All major gaming companies understand that hardware sales will be in decline and that this is not a sustainable long-term business model. However, Sony and Nintendo still generate significant revenue from hardware sales and third-party licensing fees. They will continue to capitalize on this for as long as possible—but they also recognize that it won’t last forever.

I believe that in the future, Nintendo will develop its own client for Android, iOS, PC, Linux, and Mac. Their primary goal will be to drive subscription revenue for consistent cash flow. Offering retro Nintendo games on PC via their own client is an obvious move. The real question is how they will handle new games: Will players be able to purchase a new Zelda game directly within the Nintendo client? Or will new single-player games be included in a higher-priced subscription model? Additionally, games like Mario Kart and Mario Party could transition into live-service titles with continuous DLC updates.

Most importantly, the companies have to establish their alternative business modell while the other one still is running because they can't afford an amount of time where the old one doesn't make enough money and where their is no new alternative.

 

[E0N]

Realistically I don't think so but I hope they do. Many people don't realize this (especially the westerners) but Steam is the only platform to buy games legally in many countries. Console market is very limited in terms of its reach and if they want to reach these customers then they have to release games on Steam.

 

[nathman]

I mean, Nintendo have already put games on the App Store & Google Play Store. Not quite the same thing, I know, but they've certainly dipped their toes into the idea.

 

[Ikagura]

Realistically I don't think so but I hope they do. Many people don't realize this (especially the westerners) but Steam is the only platform to buy games legally in many countries. Console market is very limited in terms of its reach and if they want to reach these customers then they have to release games on Steam.

People are also seeing Steam as a monopolistic company the same way Nintendo used to be one (despite Sega) until Sony came into play (followed by Nintendo shortly after).

 

[E0N]

People are also seeing Steam as a monopolistic company the same way Nintendo used to be one (despite Sega) until Sony came into play (followed by Nintendo shortly after).

People who complains Steam being monopolistic never asks why the other store fronts are so shit. Using Epic and MS Store are nightmare compared to Steam. So no wonder people will always choose Steam over everything.

 

[Ikagura]

People who complains Steam being monopolistic never asks why the other store fronts are so shit. Using Epic and MS Store are nightmare compared to Steam. So no wonder people will always choose Steam over everything.

I do dislike EGS and their practices about exclusivity but I'd still say that GoG and Humble Store are as valid despite the lack of achievements.

 

[Egg (McMuffin) Man]

Definitely not. Nintendo seems to be the last company that values exclusives, and their games are often designed around the specifics of the hardware.

 

[starseeker300]

If nintendo were to do that: it would be in a last desperate act because they are literally about to go bankrupt because they had like 3 bad consoles in a row (think like 3 wii u flops in a row) or something similar

 

[Twapsel]

and their games are often designed around the specifics of the hardware.

That probably is a thing of the past. The only games that really rely on specifics of Switch hardware are party games and mini-game collections or things like Ring Fit. Meaning outliers. Most of the games can be played with a normal gamepad.

Relying on the specifics of hardware in the past no is a problem for Nintendo because it is harder to rerelease the games on the Switch (and soon the Switch 2), which means they have more effort when releasing a port or a remaster. Also with the Switch the mainstream games have to be playable both with a controller in docked mode and in handheld mode which also makes it harder to rely on special hardware.

Therefore this is a thing of the past. The only exception or those mini game collections and party games.

because they had like 3 bad consoles in a row (think like 3 wii u flops in a row) or something similar

That would be talking about at least the 2040s and three generations in general. Just compare PS2 with PS5. On PS2 you only had physical games and you only had local play. With PS5 everything is digital. But more importantly microtransactions within Fortnite, FIFA Ultimate team... make more money than the sales of full price AAA games like Elden Ring. The market completely changed. And what changed the most is the business modell. For Nintendo too. And in the 2040s it will be changed even more.

 

[Ikagura]

That probably is a thing of the past. The only games that really rely on specifics of Switch hardware are party games and mini-game collections or things like Ring Fit. Meaning outliers. Most of the games can be played with a normal gamepad.

Relying on the specifics of hardware in the past no is a problem for Nintendo because it is harder to rerelease the games on the Switch (and soon the Switch 2), which means they have more effort when releasing a port or a remaster. Also with the Switch the mainstream games have to be playable both with a controller in docked mode and in handheld mode which also makes it harder to rely on special hardware.

Therefore this is a thing of the past. The only exception or those mini game collections and party games.

That would be talking about at least the 2040s and three generations in general. Just compare PS2 with PS5. On PS2 you only had physical games and you only had local play. With PS5 everything is digital. But more importantly microtransactions within Fortnite, FIFA Ultimate team... make more money than the sales of full price AAA games like Elden Ring. The market completely changed. And what changed the most is the business modell. For Nintendo too. And in the 2040s it will be changed even more.

Many first party Nintendo games are using Joycons specific elements.

It would be hard to replicate them properly on PC without a gyro pad.

 

[Twapsel]

Many first party Nintendo games are using Joycons specific elements.

It would be hard to replicate them properly on PC without a gyro pad.

Yeah but most of those games can either be played without those elements to also be playable on handheld mode and therefore could be ported. And those games that really need them are outliers. Meanly party games and stuff. But the big Mario und Zelda games can be ported. Also PS2 games can use the Dual Sense touch pad but also are ported on PC.

 

[King Koopa's iconKing Koopa]

Highly doubt it.

 

[Comster]

I highly doubt that Nintendo will put their games on Steam.

 

[PhaseJump]

I'm all in on Steam, and just recently started buying cheap Switch games for when the next platform comes out.

I would like Nintendo to sell games on PC, but it's not happening.