Iwata: Nintendo to remain hush-hush on Wii follow-up for now

Satoru Iwata has said in an investor's Q&A the firm's working on a follow-up to Wii "behind closed doors".

According to the statement published on Nintendo's website, Iwata insinuated the company didn't want to reveal too much regarding its plans due to the industry's "history of imitation".

"Naturally, we are developing new products all the time," he told investors. "Whenever asked, our answer is yes, (we are making new products.) Our development departments are dedicated to developing new products. Once we release a product, we will soon move to the development of the next.

"Since the launch of the original Nintendo DS, the company has introduced you to several new models, but we have to anticipate the life span of the Nintendo DS series will eventually come to an end someday. We have been studying and developing the next product for that day. In this context, Nintendo 3DS has been under development for the six years (since the release of the original Nintendo DS.)

"Speaking of other products, we are of course studying and developing the next console to Wii. However, there is a big difference between studying a product and announcing what it is and when we will release it.

"I am afraid to say that the history of entertainment is also the history of imitation. A great idea will promptly be copied unless protected through patents. At the same time, it is really important for our business to positively surprise people. Will you be surprised by our completed product if we told you how it is surprising three years in advance? Therefore, we basically disclose information on our products as late as possible. We believe this is the best approach for the entertainment products we are developing.

"Again, we are planning the next products for Nintendo's continuous growth, but we cannot tell you what, when and how we will release it here."

Iwata's statement backs up the one made by SCE WWS president Shuhei Yoshida last month, when he prognosticated Microsoft or Nintendo would release a next-gen platform before Sony.

Thanks, Develop.

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