Analysts debate whether Nintendo has shifted focus away from their quality of life initiative

Lewis Ward, research director for gaming at IDC:

“I think it’s been pushed to the back burner. It’s supposed to be released in the U.S. by the end of March [2016], but I haven’t heard anything. … [However,] I do think Nintendo has always had an interest in ‘Blue Ocean’ markets and health care and the intersection with their hardware and their software is something they’ve viewed as an opportunity.”

Michael Pachter:

“I think it’s probably dead—just like the Wii Vitality Sensor was before and they didn’t tell anybody. They have been completely invisible as a company since [Iwata] got sick. The whole point of helping with lifestyle was getting people to buy more Nintendo devices—and I think they’re hurting so badly in devices that they’re trying to [stop] the hemorrhaging there. …I would say they’re probably focused on just getting their mobile initiative working. That’s far more important than [QOL].”