The former head of PlayStation claims that Nintendo understands its audience more deeply than Sony does its own. If he were to lead Nintendo, he wouldn't change anything, as there's nothing to fix.
The pandemic era was one of the best periods for video games, benefiting both companies and players. But the consequences of the lockdown hit the industry hard, exacerbated by the economic downturn, leading to the current crisis.
Only one major company remained unscathed. According to Shawn Layden, no one feels their audience like Nintendo. This allowed the company to withstand the post-COVID decline.
In an hour-long podcast with HipHopGamer, Layden was asked what he would change if he were to lead Nintendo. His answer surprised many:
«If it ain't broke, don't fix it. In my place, I would just watch».
The former head of PlayStation emphasized that even compared to Sony, Nintendo knows its audience better.
Regarding the consequences of the pandemic, he noted that Nintendo was wise not to increase its team, as people had less time for games after the restrictions were lifted. This helped avoid layoffs and project cancellations.
