Many people don’t realize this, but Nintendo and Apple have a lot in common. Listen to me! It’s not just about clean branding or hardware innovation – with varying degrees of success, but still – it’s about the product approach.
A lot of people talk about the Apple tax, but did you know there was a Nintendo tax for a while? Those of us who remember the joys of owning an NES will instantly remember the old „Nintendo Seal of Approval.” It was not just some kind of award, it was needed.
But is there a world where Nintendo wants to compete with Apple and the Vision Pro? May be. Because according to an X (because that’s what we call them now, right?) Nintendo and Google could have teamed up to create a VR headset.
Raxium, acquired by Google, holds several patents for „cost-effective and energy-efficient high-resolution MicroLED panels.”
Nintendo may have considered implementing these screens on the Switch 2 after testing this microlet technology on its VR prototype. https://t.co/Fg0rTt6LXwpic.twitter.com/mAOjsCUzXm
— Nash Weedle „El Analista de Leakes” (@NWeedle) September 4, 2023
I hear you hardcore Nintendo fans out there! Yes. It technically wouldn’t be Nintendo’s first headset: the Virtual Boy was in its red form. It’s a headset and it’s the first console with stereoscopic 3D capability. In a way. Either way, it was a product failure that caused tremendous eye strain. But the point here is that Nintendo has a penchant for odd forms of innovation and a history of pursuing virtual reality.
The Switch — Nintendo’s current-gen successor to the gaming console — is nearing the end of its life cycle and a Switch 2 is apparently in the works… and it’s not. In fact It’s rare to imagine a world where Nintendo and Google work together VR headset.
That being said, I don’t think it’s going to be a standalone system. Also, some sort of connection to Nintendo’s next console could even be made of cardboard if the Labo returns. Above all, Google Cardboard – A character VR headset Made of cardboard – is it, isn’t it?
According to the above leak (translated source) — mind you, it’s from someone has A prototype already exists – making proper Nintendo-related leaks in the past. But, as we’ve said many times in the past: prototypes rarely lead to product releases.
But, in a theoretical world, the Nintendo + (VR + Google) = fair The equation makes perfect sense.