Activision CEO compares next Nintendo console to PS4 and Xbox One

According to Kotick, the successor to the Nintendo Switch is expected to perform close to the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, which is a significant revelation given that Nintendo has yet to officially announce any details about the upcoming console. Kotick adds that the new platform will use Nintendo Accounts to make the transition smoother.

The power upgrade would be a substantial leap from the original Switch, making the task of porting games considerably easier. Kotick, in an email discussion with Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa, suggested that Activision Blizzard could create compelling content for the next-generation Switch.

This comes after Kotick admitted that the initial Switch prototypes had him "concerned", which is why he made the call to have the marquee FPS skip the now-second-best-selling console of all time.

For what it's worth, you can't blame Kotick for having reservations. He appears to be a huge fan of the Wii, describing it as "the most extraordinary video game system ever created." The idea of a hybrid console that could perform just as well on the go and when docked seemed preposterous at the time. Portable gaming platforms had long been gone by the time the Switch came out, with PlayStation bowing out following the lack of success with the PlayStation Vita. To think that such an experimental console would sell as well as it has would've been foolish, although he does admit that it was poor judgment on his part.

However, the controversies don't end here. Kotick also shared that Microsoft has signed a 10-year contract with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty back to the platform. Intriguingly, this deal was made without informing the teams at Activision who work on Call of Duty, or even Kotick himself. He stated that he learned about the contract from the press, much like the rest of us.

Interestingly enough, all of this talk about the next Nintendo console reminds us that Nintendo is still very bullish about the Nintendo Switch. Thus, it remains unclear when this still-unnamed successor is coming out. However, if you ask Ubisoft, it won't be long after Nintendo asked them to hold off on releasing Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, which they obviously didn't do.

In any case, one thing that's evident here is Microsoft's assertiveness in expanding its gaming portfolio.

Whether this will pay off or it will be all for naught remains uncertain, but it's clear that Kotick and the rest of Activision will be doing well regardless of whether they're acquired or not.