Nintendo is not 'in a dead end,' already planning for its next hardware release

Nintendo is "always developing new hardware" and has already begun to plan the direction of its next release, president Satoru Iwata said during a recent Q&A.

Speaking about Nintendo's recent financial briefing for its fiscal term ending in March 2014, Iwata explained that once a platform is launched, the company begins preparations for the next one.

"The most difficult question for us to answer in public in concrete terms is when we are going to launch our new hardware and what kind of hardware we are going to launch, and I am afraid that I cannot talk about this in more detail," Iwata said. "However, I can certainly assure you that we are not at a dead end of any kind in which we are out of ideas for developing new hardware."

The Nintendo president added that the launch of new hardware won't produce favorable results unless those who own the system are satisfied. Fiscal earnings continue to spiral downward in the company's third consecutive annual operating loss. The Wii U continues to have a "negative impact" on the company's profits.

"We will continue to work hard to ensure that consumers who already own our platforms are satisfied, and make sure that people will continue to see great value in our software," Iwata said, "but I would like to say that we are preparing for our next hardware system, and in fact, we already have a clear idea to some extent about the direction our next hardware is going to take."

According to Iwata, the company's basic philosophy that consumers buy hardware only for appealing software "remains unchanged." Nintendo plans to discuss more Wii U titles at this year's E3.

"Our internal software development teams directed by Shigeru Miyamoto are committed to developing several titles that focus on offering unique experiences only made possible with the Wii U GamePad in order for a large number of people to understand the Wii U GamePad's significance," Iwata said. "The titles we are preparing to show you at E3 vary from being nearly complete to still in the early phases of development but with the core of its appeal noticeable."

Nintendo will once again skip an E3 press conference and instead hold events for people attending the convention and for those watching online. The company did not hold a press briefing at E3 2013, but instead opted for smaller announcement sessions in the form of Nintendo Direct presentations.

In March, Nintendo announced that its first-party hardware and integrated software is part of a 10-year plan to boost the quality of life for users.