It’s funny to think that the wildly popular Sony PlayStation brand exists due in part to a falling out with gaming giant Nintendo. Once upon a time, the two companies actually planned to work together on a system. When this fell apart, Sony went out on their own to create a gaming system, and have since become one of Nintendo’s biggest rivals. The two companies have a long history together, and today we’re going to be taking a look at how the companies could grow by taking cues from one another. Specifically though, today we’ll be looking at ten lessons that Nintendo could learn from PlayStation moving forward.
10 Online Service Incentives
While there is a large price difference between PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online ($60 and $20 respectively), there shouldn’t be as large of a disparity as there is between the incentives to sign up.
With PlayStation Plus, you get access to two AAA titles that have been released in the past few years every single month. With Nintendo Switch Online, you get access to a very slowly expanding library of NES titles. Metal Gear Solid V and Tennis are generally regarded as equally good games, right?
9 Online Servers
When you pay $60 a year for an online service from Sony, you’re paying to make sure that the servers and online play are smooth. When you pay for Nintendo Switch Online, you’re paying for… the ability to play Tetris 99? Sure, that is a wonderful privilege, but it’s not worth the price of admission. Nintendo continues to charge for an online service when they use peer-to-peer connections for their service that doesn’t cost them a dime. Fans should only be paying for online if their money is being used to improve the service.
8 On-Console Online Features
Just one more thing about the online service that Nintendo is offering. Do you know what isn’t a requirement to play with friends on the PS4? An app. Guess what you need to play with friends on the Switch?
You might be surprised to learn that it is, in fact, an app. While this topic has been beaten to death, Nintendo really needs to copy Sony’s online system. The fact that they’ve left Nintendo so far in the dust on this issue… well isn’t surprising, but hopefully, Nintendo manages to shape up in this aspect sooner than later.
7 Use Third Party Studios
Sony has a great strategy of using big third party titles to fill their line-up, and also promote many multiplatform games as being the best version of themselves on PlayStation. While Nintendo certainly has a better relationship with third party studios nowadays, they could really lean on these developers a bit more to show that the Switch is a healthy platform with many games to play. While the Nindies Showcase is a step in the right direction, they could definitely work to continue to cultivate that relationship.
6 Upgraded Versions Of Current Consoles
The PS4 Pro was a smart move on Sony’s part to continue driving sales toward the PS4, giving people a great chance to jump into the ecosystem.
While Nintendo recently revealed their own Switch refresh with the Switch Lite, a Switch Pro would help an entirely different group of people potentially take their first leap with the Nintendo console. This would be a move that would benefit everybody.
5 How To Not Handle A Handheld
Shifting gears a bit, one area that Nintendo has always bested Sony in is the handheld department. The mishandling of the PS Vita is one of the things that directly led to the success of the Nintendo Switch, as they’re rooted in a very similar concept to one another. When the little Sony system started to flounder due to its high price and lack of software, it was almost completely abandoned. Despite the issues the Wii U faced, Nintendo really didn’t leave its failing system in the dust like Sony did, making this one area of Sony’s that Nintendo shouldn’t replicate.
4 Limited Edition Consoles
While fun Joy-Con colors are one thing, the lack of limited edition Switch consoles (or literally anything other than the standard black color) is a crime.
Sony tends to make sure that big game releases are an event, with the biggest games receiving a limited edition PS4 to celebrate. Nintendo could really follow suit on this concept and give us some new variation on the Switch that isn’t a $70 detachable controller. Just an idea.
3 Backward Compatibility In The Future
While Nintendo has a pretty good track record with backward compatibility, this is one of the few generations of their consoles that doesn't feature the ability to play past titles. One way that Sony is ensuring that this won’t happen to their consoles is by making sure the PS4 and PS5 are structurally similar enough that backward compatibility isn’t an issue in the slightest. Hopefully, Nintendo will follow suit when developing the system that will follow the Switch.
2 Streaming Games
PlayStation Now certainly isn’t Game Pass, but it is an area that Sony is investing in that Nintendo hasn’t dipped their toe into yet. Streaming games aren’t too mainstream yet, but they’re likely to be a huge part of the industry in a few short years.
If Nintendo would follow suit and develop their own streaming game service, it would make a great alternative to the virtual console that fans so desperately want, while also allowing access to new games as well. This will literally never happen but still.
1 Internal Storage
The original PS3 model featured a base internal storage size of 120 gigabytes. Two generations later, the Nintendo Switch has only 32 gigabytes.
While this is upgradable through MicroSD cards, there really isn’t a reason that we couldn’t have at least 64 gigabytes at a base level. If an eventual Switch Pro is released, it will likely feature an internal storage size that is a bit larger. Honestly though, who would really be surprised if it was 32.5 gigabytes though?