Exclusive: Doug Bowser on Nintendo's Future in San Francisco

Nintendo enthusiasts on the West Coast have a new reason to celebrate as the gaming giant opens its San Francisco store today, May 15, located in Union Square at 331 Powell Street. This marks the second official Nintendo store in the United States, following the footsteps of the highly successful New York location. Originally known as the Nintendo World Store, the New York branch underwent renovations and rebranding to become Nintendo NY, reopening its doors in 2016.

IGN had the privilege of visiting the new San Francisco store to explore what Nintendo has in store for its fans. Additionally, we sat down with Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser to discuss the strategic timing behind opening their first West Coast store now.

Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser is gearing up for the much-anticipated launch of the Switch 2, set for June 5. During our interview, we delved into various aspects of the Switch 2, including its availability in the U.S. at launch and beyond, the controversial Game-Key Cards, and much more.