Ask any random person who they think is the most successful video game company in existence and you’re more than likely going to get Nintendo as a response. Through many generations of ups and downs, the House of Mario has remained supreme thanks to its legendary IP and its connection with its fanbase, which has been cultivated by various bits of transmedia, newer games, and even innovative online presentations. It’s basically a foregone conclusion that Nintendo is in touch with what its fans want, so it’s not surprising that former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden said the same thing.
In an interview with YouTuber HipHopGamer, Layden was asked what he would do if he were the head of Nintendo right now. As he explained, “No one is more in touch with their fan base than Nintendo. Even PlayStation was never this in touch with the fan base as Nintendo is. They know who their fans are.” He explained that even during the pandemic, Nintendo didn’t miscalculate the sudden surge of success because it knew fans would eventually return to their regular lives when things were over.
“They didn’t have to suffer the peaks and valleys so much as if you’re chasing the opportunity,” Layden said. “They just know what their opportunity is. They see it. They understand it better than anyone else. And they go for it and they do it really well.” He eventually concluded his statement by saying, “If you put me in that job, I would just stand back.” Honestly, that seems pretty wise.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
