Pokemon CEO Doubts the Nintendo Switch: “One Shouldn’t Overestimate its Potential.”

The President of the Pokemon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, had some interesting things to say recently about the Nintendo Switch and its potential.

While the hybrid console is performing very well since its March release, Ishihara warns fans about overestimating the potential of the Nintendo Switch. He said this during an interview with Bloomberg, where he followed up by admitting, however, that he has been wrong about the initial success of the platform.

"I told Nintendo that Switch wouldn’t be a success before it went on sale, because I thought that in the age of the smartphone, no one would carry out a game console. It’s obvious I was wrong. I came to realize the key to a successful game is quite simple: software with absolute quality leads sales of hardware. Playing style can be flexible if the software is attractive enough. Currently, it’s popular among the early adopters, but there needs to be one more step to attract a wider audience. I see more potential in Switch, but one shouldn’t overestimate its potential."

The Switch has performed amazingly, despite these claims. “Nintendo always strives to offer consumers something fun, new and different,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and COO said. “With its various play modes and the innovative features of the Joy-Con controllers, Nintendo Switch provides unique experiences that people can take with them anywhere and share with anyone.”

While Ishihara and Fils-Aime are talking about the same features, one speaks negatively on it while the other praises it. Having the President of the Pokemon Company state something so surely is significant, but we can't help but notice the glaring contradiction in the Switch's 4.7 million units sold.