Nintendo’s approval process for collaborative projects has become increasingly difficult, according to Jupiter Corporation, the Japanese developer behind the Picross series on the Switch. In an interview with VGC, Jupiter’s managing director Norichika Meguro expressed the team’s eagerness to work with Nintendo on a project to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Picross series in 2025. However, they have been struggling to get Nintendo to “say yes” to their pitch.
Meguro explained that the final say lies with Nintendo, and the approval process has become more challenging than ever. While Jupiter owns the systems behind the puzzle games, Nintendo owns the ‘Picross’ name. So far, all Picross games on the Switch have been developed and published by Jupiter without any input from Nintendo.
Meguro suggested that the easier way to work with Nintendo is to publish something with their own intellectual property (IP) rather than pitching an idea to Nintendo and waiting for them to provide the IP for collaboration. This statement reflects Nintendo’s reputation for being highly protective of its IP.
However, there have been instances where Nintendo has allowed external development teams to work with its famous franchises. In recent years, Nintendo has improved its relations with external developers, collaborating on games like The Legend of Zelda: Cadence of Hyrule and partnering with companies like Xbox and movie studios such as Illumination. Jupiter itself released The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Picross on the 3DS in 2016.
Other developers have praised their experiences working with Nintendo. The team behind Metroid Dread, MercurySteam, recently described it as “heaven,” even though they had to meet Nintendo’s “super-high standards.”
The article concludes by asking readers whether they believe Nintendo should open up to more collaborative efforts, similar to Sega, or maintain a stricter approach to lending out its IP. The author encourages readers to share their thoughts in the comments section.
Overall, while Jupiter Corporation has faced challenges in getting Nintendo’s approval for collaborative projects, there have been successful partnerships with external developers, indicating that Nintendo’s approach to collaboration may vary depending on the circumstances.
How has Nintendo’s approval process for collaborative projects become more challenging, according to Jupiter Corporation?
Nintendo’s approval process for collaborative projects is reportedly becoming increasingly difficult, according to Jupiter Corporation, the Japanese developer behind the Picross series on the Switch. In an interview with VGC, Jupiter’s managing director Norichika Meguro expressed the team’s eagerness to work with Nintendo on a project to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Picross series in 2025. However, they have been struggling to secure Nintendo’s approval.
Meguro explained that while Jupiter owns the systems behind the puzzle games, Nintendo owns the ‘Picross’ name and has the final say in collaborations. The approval process has become more challenging, with Jupiter finding it difficult to get Nintendo to “say yes” to their pitch. This reflects Nintendo’s reputation for being highly protective of its intellectual property.
Meguro suggested that working with Nintendo directly would be easier if Jupiter were to publish something with their own IP, rather than pitching an idea and waiting for Nintendo to provide the IP for collaboration.
However, there have been instances where Nintendo has allowed external development teams to work with its famous franchises. In recent years, Nintendo has improved its relations with external developers, collaborating on games like The Legend of Zelda: Cadence of Hyrule and partnering with companies like Xbox and movie studios such as Illumination. Jupiter itself released The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Picross on the 3DS in 2016.
Other developers have praised their experiences working with Nintendo. The team behind Metroid Dread, MercurySteam, recently described it as “heaven,” despite having to meet Nintendo’s “super-high standards.”
While Jupiter Corporation has faced challenges in getting Nintendo’s approval for collaborative projects, successful partnerships with external developers suggest that Nintendo’s approach to collaboration may vary depending on the circumstances. The article concludes by inviting readers to share their thoughts on whether they believe Nintendo should open up to more collaborative efforts or maintain a stricter approach to lending out its IP.
