Iwata: Nintendo To Schedule 3DS Game Releases To Avoid Third-Party Conflicts

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has indicated that the company is waiting to announce release dates for certain marquee Nintendo-published 3DS titles to ensure that third-party releases aren't negatively impacted. In a press Q&A accompanying a recent investor briefing, Iwata said the precise release dates for 3DS Super Mario and Mario Kart titles would depend on the release plans to be announced by third-party publishers. The move is part of an effort to create a strong environment for third-party sales on the 3DS, and a software release schedule that "maintain[s] the momentum of the platform continuously," Iwata said. "We don't believe Nintendo can do everything by itself," Iwata said. "Of course, we are strongly aware of the fact that Nintendo's titles are obliged to drive the sales of the hardware, but we are not as arrogant as to think that Nintendo can maintain the market on its own." By waiting for third-party release plans, Iwata said Nintendo will be able to "consider how we can maximize the sales of our titles without affecting the sales of other companies in the short term." Nintendo has long come under attack for failing to adequately support third party developers that make games for its systems, with some arguing that only Nintendo games sell well on Nintendo hardware. Nintendo has fought back against this perception, routinely highlighting the success of third-party titles on its platforms and promising closer ties with third-party developers. Iwata would not even confirm whether the two Mario titles discussed would be available this fiscal year, though Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto is on record as saying a 3DS Super Mario is being planned for a release in calendar 2012.