The Nintendo Switch has surpassed the lifetime sales of the GameCube. That’s a huge landmark for the hybrid handheld system – not just because its poor, purple ancestor came out in 2001, but because Nintendo were widely considered a spent force after the failure of the Wii U.
Its quick success, alongside the explosion of acclaimed mobile games, suggests that the console market is moving towards mobility over power – and judging by its latest project, Microsoft wants to be at the forefront of that change.
The Microsoft controller smartphone and tablet project is working on controllers that latch onto smartphones and tablets, so that users can transform their everyday gadgets into fully-fledged games consoles. They’ve even mocked up what the device could look like with 3D-printed dummies.
As the graphical and processing power of smart devices continues to rise, it’s easy to see how the traditional console wars could soon be a thing of the past, with Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony leaning increasingly into mobile platforms.
"Mobile gaming devices like the Sony PlayStation Portable and Nintendo's DS and Switch are dedicated mobile gaming platforms which overcome these limitations via physical controls. The success of the Switch is testament to the value of mobile gaming with physical controls," the paper states.
Read the research here, and check out some planned designs below:
Nick Pope is the Site Director of Esquire, overseeing digital strategy for the brand.
