Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto says "there's only so many people" Nintendo can reach through consoles like the Switch 2, so "we want to expand" outside of video games

April 1, 2026 - 18:45

In a recent statement, Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary creator of Mario and Zelda, outlined a future for Nintendo that looks far beyond the next console or hit game. He suggested that the company's focus is shifting toward a broader expansion of its worlds and characters, moving past the traditional boundaries of the video game industry.

Miyamoto acknowledged the inherent limits of hardware, noting that consoles like the anticipated Switch successor can only reach a finite audience. To achieve greater growth and impact, Nintendo is actively looking to transcend these limitations. The strategy is not merely about creating more games, but about building richer experiences that exist outside the cartridge or digital download.

The iconic designer framed this not as a question of "what's next" in gaming, but as an invitation to imagine "what kind of world Nintendo will expand on now." This signals a deliberate pivot toward multimedia projects, immersive theme park attractions like Super Nintendo World, and deeper character-based storytelling. The goal is to make the essence of Nintendo's creativity—its charm, innovation, and beloved universes—accessible in everyday life, ensuring its iconic franchises remain central to global culture for generations to come.