4 ms·

This is likely due to contract issues - there are many contracts, especially for digital distribution, which have an SLA built in for patching security issues f

This is likely due to contract issues - there are many contracts, especially for digital distribution, which have an SLA built in for patching security issues for DRM content. These are basically provisions which allow the contract holder to claw back fees etc. if DRM is broken on a platform for a certain amount of time. Apple has these with music publishers, especially when the iTunes Store first launched.

Salgat 3y ago
I can guarantee you that if Nintendo says they aren't patching the console after it's sunsetted, publishers will still happily publish games on the console without that clause in the contract. This is still 100% on Nintendo.
zamadatix 3y ago
Why would anyone agree to an distribution SLA which extends past the distribution lifetime? It also seems odd for such a contract to not matter for nearly 4 years while distribution was active. That's kind of lag would seem to defeat the purpose.
- jeroenhd 3y ago
  It's hard to say how long "distribution lifetimes" are. If the 3DS flopped like the Wii U, it'd be foolish to sign a 5 year contract. Instead it became a success that went on to stay popular for ten years. Nintendo also isn't giving you a detailed timeline of their upcoming consoles if you're trying to sell games through their console. For all you know, the Switch 2 is right around the corner and signing a distributor contract now will launch your game onto a dead platform. Vagueness can be good in these cases.
  - zamadatix 3y ago
    In this case I'm referring to the distribution channel itself being shut down earlier this year. If I were going to pick any set amount of years, be it 5 or 10, I'd want the contract to include "or until the service is shut down" so I didn't have to keep updating it once it's gone (assuming this is really even the reason, as the previous 4 years seriously put into doubt).

Salgat 3y ago

I can guarantee you that if Nintendo says they aren't patching the console after it's sunsetted, publishers will still happily publish games on the console without that clause in the contract. This is still 100% on Nintendo.

zamadatix 3y ago

Why would anyone agree to an distribution SLA which extends past the distribution lifetime? It also seems odd for such a contract to not matter for nearly 4 years while distribution was active. That's kind of lag would seem to defeat the purpose.

jeroenhd 3y ago
It's hard to say how long "distribution lifetimes" are. If the 3DS flopped like the Wii U, it'd be foolish to sign a 5 year contract. Instead it became a success that went on to stay popular for ten years. Nintendo also isn't giving you a detailed timeline of their upcoming consoles if you're trying to sell games through their console. For all you know, the Switch 2 is right around the corner and signing a distributor contract now will launch your game onto a dead platform. Vagueness can be good in these cases.
- zamadatix 3y ago
  In this case I'm referring to the distribution channel itself being shut down earlier this year. If I were going to pick any set amount of years, be it 5 or 10, I'd want the contract to include "or until the service is shut down" so I didn't have to keep updating it once it's gone (assuming this is really even the reason, as the previous 4 years seriously put into doubt).