Nintendo to launch new health business
Nintendo has announced plans to launch its own health division in an attempt to broaden its user base.
The Japanese gaming giant has revealed it has plans to launch a health division as part of its aim to improve people’s quality of life (QOL).
Satoru Iwata, Nintendo President said the company is redefining entertainment as “something that improves people’s quality of life in enjoyable ways”.
The new health business area will be run separately from Nintendo’s dedicated video game business, but will be the company’s first step at improving their customers’ QOL.
“We have set health as the theme for our first step and we will try to use our strength as an entertainment company to create unique approaches that expand this business,” explained Iwata.
“Through our new endeavours with the QOL-improving platform, we strive to further promote our existing strategy of expanding our user base, create an environment in which more people are conscious about their health and in turn expand Nintendo’s overall user base.”
In January, Iwata revealed that Nintendo’s health sector will not follow the usual trend but will instead take the form of “non-wearables to monitor your health.”
Basically, don’t expect a Mario-themed smartwatch or fitness tracker to arrive in the near future. Perhaps the company will focus on more game connected fitness ventures along the lines of the Wii Fit and Wii Fit U board.
Nintendo still maintains that despite the new health business, videogames will be maintained as the company’s primary focus.
“Nintendo has continued to try new things, and with a history of experiencing many failures and small successes, we managed to pioneer the home video game market.”
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