Sony vs. Microsoft vs. Nintendo: Who Treats Players Better?

Who is being treated the best?
Gaming

3) Nintendo

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Without question, Nintendo has exercised some questionable practices throughout its history. Monopolizing cartridge manufacturing and locking third parties into strict licensing deals in the 80s and early 90s, and persistent rumors of its deliberate limiting of stock to inflate demand; Nintendo has always copped flak for its controversial, albeit undeniably effective, business methodology. It has given them a terrible reputation among all but its hardcore, unwavering fan base.

To be clear, though, here we are judging gaming companies based on their current practices and those ghosts of the past are not what places Nintendo at the bottom of this ranking. In fact, Nintendo has taken some big steps already this generation with the Switch. A lack of region locking and a recent 180 turn on its decision to grant gamers unlimited access to monthly games with the upcoming online subscription service, rather than the awful rental concept, is a boon for gamers. Nintendo Directs, too, continue to prove a great way to keep its fanbase informed and engaged throughout the year.

Unfortunately, the persistence of other antiquated features on Switch is both flumoxing and hugely annoying. Friend codes, for example, make a return, having been abolished on Wii U. The system is difficult to input and generally less streamlined, even if Switch does makes things a little easier than before. Then there is the lack of the ability to back up saved games. If your Switch decides to stop working, kiss goodbye to all of your data. Next to rival consoles accomplished online functionality and modern features such as external HDD support, the Switch feels woefully lacking in areas that would certainly improve user experience and have long been requested by gamers.

It is, however, the way in which Nintendo continues to squeeze from already well-milked cash cows that is of particular frustration. The Switch has launched with no backward compatibility, and its virtual console, which is still not up and running, will require the repurchase of classic games for the umpteenth time. Why do Nintendo owners not enjoy permanent accounts as on Sony and Microsoft consoles with transferable gaming purchases? It’s hard to imagine that Nintendo is genuinely blind to the call for these features by its fans and it seems likely that interests in additional profit dictate their non-inclusion.

amiibo are awesome toys, beloved by passionate fans of Nintendo’s iconic IPs but their application to software is unsavory, forcing gamers to purchase toys to unlock in-game content. The same could also be said about the iterations of the 3DS console, which require gamers to upgrade if they want to play certain games. In fact, to make matters even worse, on the promise of exclusive content, those who bought the New 3DS XL were disappointed with a rather miniscule selection of exclusive titles — not a great return of investment. Sure, finding new ways to repeatedly monetize iconic franchises and hardware is arguably shrewd business, but in a market where gamers like options and choice, Nintendo executes an antiquated, “our way or the highway” approach that feels somewhat cold.

The lack of open communication between fans and the company, as there is with Sony and Microsoft, doesn’t help, either. Where other publishers make excellent use of social media and the press to engage with its fans, Nintendo remains silent and appears somewhat tone deaf. Cries for features such as achievement systems like PlayStation trophies and Xbox achievements go unheard. And then there are the repeated the copyright claims against YouTube and Twitch streamers. In an industry that is ever more intrinsically linked with social media and online content creation, shutting down fan discussion and the enjoyment of shared online experiences like streaming is draconian.


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Author
Alex Gibson
Alex was a Senior Editor at Twinfinite and worked on the site between January 2017 and March 2023. He covered the ins and outs of Valorant extensively, and frequently provided expert insight into the esports scene and wider video games industry. He was a self-proclaimed history & meteorological expert, and knew about games too. Playing Games Since: 1991, Favorite Genres: RPG, Action