Arab News Japan

DUBAI: Nintendo is planning to send off Switch consoles to elderly care facilities in Japan as part of an initiative to help keep seniors’ minds active and their bodies physically engaged.

Over the past few years, the Nintendo Switch console has been very popular, selling over 130 million units thus far.

Nintendo consoles are well-known for their age-accessible gaming. The Nintendo Wii was well-known for its popularized motion-based controllers, which appealed to a wider audience rather than just gamers. Many players, even those without muscle memory and hand-eye coordination, were able to use the Wii console.

The handheld Nintendo DS console was also widely popular thanks to its stylus-driven touchscreen and its wide variety of video game titles.

The Nintendo Switch, while a more traditional gaming console, is similar to the motion-sensing Wii remotes. Nintendo’s new initiative in Japan is partnering with Gakken Cocofan, a company that operates assisted living facilities and elderly housing.

They will provide senior communities with Switch consoles and titles like Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch, Switch Sports, which recreates Wii Sports’ popular bowling activity, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

The Japanese gaming company is rumored to launch a follow-up to the Switch console next year.