Nintendo is a name that’s been in pretty much everyone’s mouth recently, and not in a good way. As someone who’s bought and played through almost every Pokémon game but was never a HUGE Nintendo fangirl, I’ve been watching the recent drama unfold from the sidelines. From patents, lawsuits, and charging for software to unlock hardware you already own, Nintendo seems determined to alienate everyone, including their own fanbase.
Today I want to talk about Nintendo from the perspective of someone without rose-colored glasses, someone who’s moved primarily to PC and handheld PC gaming with devices like the Steam Deck and Legion Go. Because here’s the thing, we have options now.
Remember When Nintendo Was Actually Exciting?
Let’s rewind a bit. Nintendo used to be a name that made people light up with excitement or nostalgia. I remember when the Wii came out, almost everyone I knew had one simply because it was so different, so unique. I owned one too, and you know what game my family played the most? The free one that came with it: Wii Sports.
Every Nintendo console had some kind of gimmick, but that’s what made them stand out. The 3D aspect of the 3DS. The motion controls of the Wii with all the accessories, the guitars for Guitar Hero, the tennis racket, the steering wheel. No one else was really doing anything like them.
I usually had whatever handheld was current to play the newest Pokémon, but Nintendo was never really my main thing. That was kind of where my relationship with Nintendo stayed, until the cracks started to show.
Nintendo Online
Honestly, my first real issue with Nintendo was Nintendo Online. I quickly realized I needed it to trade and complete my collection in Pokémon Sword and Shield. They’re charging a subscription fee on top of a console we bought, a game we purchased, and internet we’re already paying for, just to access gameplay features or play with friends.
Imagine if you couldn’t play any online games in your Steam library without a paid membership.
But during the original Switch era, that was generally my only major complaint. Sure, you’d never find a first-party Nintendo game on sale anywhere close to Steam prices, but people love Pokémon, Zelda, and Mario, and you’re paying for that exclusivity.
The Problem Now: Lack Of Innovation
Fast forward to now, and we’ve reached a point where we’re no longer seeing innovation or change. Graphically? Maybe, but definitely not with every new release. And don’t even get me started on the glitches.
I can only speak to Pokémon specifically, and I’m tired. I’m tired of the formula we’ve had for years. Not only has it gotten repetitive, but it seems like they refuse to take any player feedback or suggestions. That old formula just hasn’t scaled well with the over 1,000 Pokémon we have now.
The exception was Pokémon Legends: Arceus. I loved that game, I 100%ed everything and never got tired of it. Was it perfect? No. But it did something NEW. That’s why I was excited for Legends Z-A… and then I saw the trailer.
I’m personally disappointed with what’s been shown. And then to showcase DLC for an unreleased game in the Direct? Come on. This doesn’t look like a $70 game to me. In my opinion, it barely looks like a $40 game.
Nintendo’s Real Strategy Is To Monetize Everything
Nintendo has shown us one thing clearly: anything they can monetize, they will. They continue to prove that money matters above all else, and it feels like a constant test to see how far they can push consumers and how much they can get them to pay. And people pay it.
At this point, consumers are basically paying an upcharge just for the Nintendo brand, and Nintendo is weaponizing that brand loyalty and childhood nostalgia to cover for what I would consider anti-consumer practices.
I also think it’s absolutely crazy that if you own a game and own an upgraded console, you sometimes have to pay to upgrade that game’s graphics. I know not every game does this, but come on.
How Handheld PC Gaming Changed My Perspective
Here’s what changed for me. The Nintendo Switch and other Nintendo devices before it were my only handheld gaming options. I never had a PSP. Then I got a Steam Deck and realized how limited the Switch actually was. And then I got a Legion Go, and that was an entirely different story.
My point is: we have options now.
Different portable gaming devices. Different creature collectors. Different farming games. Different fighting and racing games. Palworld, the upcoming Aniimo, Sonic racing, Digimon, the list goes on.
Where Nintendo Shows Their True Colors
I think it’s one thing to have well-made, well-established franchises and charge a premium for them. But it’s another thing entirely to actively try and crush the competition with legal action so you can monopolize an entire genre of gaming.
Sure, we can’t have the exact Pokémon or Mario or Donkey Kong franchise without Nintendo. But sometimes all people want is a game in that genre. And sometimes other developers do it better. They do it better because they aren’t afraid to take risks, and they want to create genuinely fun games people will enjoy. Not to mention they probably aren’t charging as much for it.
My Personal Breaking Point
For the first time in the entire history of Pokémon games, I will not be buying the new Pokémon game. I actually pre-ordered Digimon Time Stranger, and I’m having an absolute blast with it. It has elements I wish the Pokémon series had by now, like voice acting, better 3D animations, and a stronger storyline.
I’ve also been looking into buying a used Wii and 3DS to enjoy the Nintendo franchises I do love, in hopes that will satisfy my itch for those specific games. But I will not be buying a Switch 2. If things change in a few years, I might look at getting one secondhand, but at this point, it goes beyond just being disappointed in Pokémon. It’s the principle. I don’t want to support a company that doesn’t support its fans.
The Bottom Line
Nintendo makes some great games, I’m not trying to say otherwise. But their business practices seem to be getting increasingly… unethical. They’re pushing people toward their competitors instead of giving fans a reason to stay.
Sadly, I don’t see this getting better anytime soon. But I am glad so many people are speaking up about it. Fans will always want the new Donkey Kong, and kids will ask their parents for the new Mario or Pokémon game. But there might be hope in all these competitors—if Nintendo doesn’t sue them into oblivion first.