The rise of smartphones and then tablets ate into the
traditional handheld console market, and the online gaming explosion drew more and more gamers to Sony and Microsoft platforms.
Where Nintendo have always been market leaders is in
the handheld console market.
In a console market that is absolutely dominated by the likes of Sony, Microsoft, and to an extent Nintendo (which still dominates
the handheld console market with its Nintendo 3DS), it would be unwise for the company to attempt to rebrand itself as a console maker.
Furthermore, does this mean Nintendo is giving up on the purely -
handheld console market in favor of consoles like the Switch that act as both handheld and home consoles?
This I think is showing that even though the smartphone and
handheld console markets are growing increasingly similar, they still attract a unique audience.
Sony made great strides in
the handheld console market with the PSP, but they really upped the ante with the release of the PS Vita.
Nintendo has essentially dominated
the handheld console market for decades.