Arc System Works Producer On How The Nintendo Switch Is Bringing Back Gamers

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle producer Toshimichi Mori talked about wanting to add NieR: Automata’s 2B and 9S, but he also shared more tidbits about his thoughts on the Nintendo Switch, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and going from Unreal Engine 3 to 4 in the recent interview with Forbes.

Mori talked about the studio’s shift from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 4:

“I think UE3 was designed from a programmer’s standpoint, where UE4 is more geared towards people who work with graphics. I think there’s always going to be certain members of the team who aren’t satisfied. I’m sure there were some difficulties in the transition, but like most things, you get on with it and adapt.

As a creator, I’m definitely on the visual design side, so I think it’s great, but as a programmer, it’s apparently a little harder to do what they want to do. Especially in the beginning, I think it was very limited, the space in which they could operate. So, I heard some complaints from them. Going back to personal experience, though, UE4 was a lot easier for me to find my way around. Easier to see. Easier to navigate.”

While on the subject of Unreal Engine 4, he shared his two cents on Dragon Ball FighterZ:

“Talking of UE4, I also think Dragon Ball FighterZ is a wonderful game, but I think we over-committed all of our company resources into it. Like… really over-committed. But, it’s a great game. That’s all I can say right now.”

Lastly, he shares his thoughts on the Nintendo Switch and what it means for gaming in general:

“It’s hard to say what the future of the Nintendo Switch is, but I think its current role is pretty clear; it’s bringing back gamers who forgot what it meant to game. It’s putting gaming back on the radar of those who didn’t consider it.

How can I put this… game morals? The Switch is obviously a console for younger audiences, and you hear about it in the news sometimes because of what it does to the young generation, but I still think it has a place. I think it’s good to have these dialogues, as long as the content on the Switch isn’t too extreme.

However, I think it’s a good opportunity for the younger generation to experience what a “game” is and the industry needs more young people interested in games. Our demo had a lot of downloads… a lot. And, we looked at some of the demographics. People who we thought wouldn’t even play a fighting game were downloading it and trying it out. We saw a lot of that.

It would be great if we had more fans like that and of course I have a Switch myself.”

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is available worldwide on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.