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Why Nintendo Isn't the Next Disney (And What It Will Be Instead)

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There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and false beliefs that “Nintendo is the next Disney.” Even if hyperbolic — because apparently some people have never heard this comparison — it’s as if there is a natural cycle at play. On a seemingly annual rhythm some publication or fund with influence puts forward the idea that Nintendo — with its digital library full of invaluable IP and millions of fans around the world — could elevate itself to the next level and become something much more than it is today (like here, here, here, here, and here). As if on cue, ValueAct Capital Partners, an activist group, snatched the “Nintendo can be so much more” baton and is putting forward a modernized twist on the narrative. In a written letter, ValueAct says: “We believe Nintendo will be one of the largest digital media services in the world, in a category with the likes of Netflix, Disney+, Tencent Interactive Entertainment, and Apple Music.” It’s a tempting narrative. After all, what fan

Welcome to Master the Meta, a newsletter focused on the business of video games. There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and false beliefs that “Nintendo is the next Disney.” Even if hyperbolic — because apparently some people have never heard this comparison — it’s as if there is a natural cycle at play. On a seemingly annual rhythm some publication or fund with influence puts forward the idea that Nintendo — with its digital library full of invaluable IP and millions of fans around the world — could elevate itself to the next level and become something much more than it is today (

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