Yeah, this was before it was even known as NX. Iwata suggested a strong sentiment to create a platform with more "portable" software (ie it can be moved to new hardware without needing to be ported) and a platform where the different machines are similar to iOS devices or Android devices
https://www.vg247.com/iwata-discusses-n ... ld-console
Iwata then cited Apple's iOS architecture - which works across iPhone, iPod and iPad devices, allowing the same games and experiences to be enjoyed across all formats. He wants this technology for Nintendo via a shared platform.
"To cite a specific case," he concluded. "Apple is able to release smart devices with various form factors one after another because there is one way of programming adopted by all platforms. Apple has a common platform called iOS. Another example is Android. Though there are various models, Android does not face software shortages because there is one common way of programming on the Android platform that works with various models.
"The point is, Nintendo platforms should be like those two examples.
"However, we are hoping to change and correct the situation in which we develop games for different platforms individually and sometimes disappoint consumers with game shortages as we attempt to move from one platform to another, and we believe that we will be able to deliver tangible results in the future."
He explicitly refers to the problem of old Nintendo platforms having to start with a library of 0 games there due to the lack of software portability and how the company is working to produce a new platform that addresses the issue. Only issue I see is Nintendo is tied to Nvidia, the lowest level 'NVN' graphics API on the Switch is co-written by Nintendo and Nvidia, and I doubt it would run on non-Nvidia hardware. So future machines will need Nvidia graphics for software to be portable, surely?
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The 3DS store closing wouldn't be such a big deal if 3DS software was "portable" and existed on the Switch eShop, but it isn't. The platform was extremely bespoke, almost nothing like anything at the time or anything that followed it, so Nintendo's decision not to keep the crusty legacy 3DS shop and Nintendo Network accounts running is very disappointing. When the DSi shop closed (it's still open for redownloading stuff but not for buying stuff) most people shrugged because all the games were available on the 3DS eShop via BC.
It's almost certain the Switch's library will carry over to Switch 2 at this point, based on the platform as it exists in today's multiplatform world, and how Nintendo has much more to lose from starting from 0 this time than they did coming from the weird 3DS and Wii U systems. Wii U was a dead rock and 3DS had its lunch eaten by mobage, so Nintendo could easily just tear it all up and start over without hurting.
So it's extremely unlikely that Switch software will disappear into the ether. The current eShop runs off a modern online networking system with modern accounts, quick region swapping, and stuff like 2FA, while the legacy Nintendo Accounts were left to rot after 2015. It's just deeply disappointing that Nintendo isn't committed to keeping legacy stuff alive. It was acceptable with Wii because Nintendo was using GameSpy and they got bought out and the services deprecated, but this is just poor form. hopefully they'll listen like Sony did last year and the decision will be reversed.
