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Our Big Nintendo San Francisco Interview with Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser

by Ava May 21,2025

Nintendo enthusiasts on the West Coast have a new reason to celebrate as the iconic gaming company opens its doors to its second official store in the United States today, May 15. Located at 331 Powell Street in the bustling Union Square of San Francisco, this new store marks Nintendo's first venture on the West Coast. The opening follows the success of their flagship store in New York, previously known as the Nintendo World Store, which underwent a significant renovation and rebranding to become Nintendo NY before its grand reopening in 2016.

IGN had the opportunity to visit the new San Francisco location to explore what Nintendo has in store for its fans. Additionally, we sat down with Nintendo of America's president, Doug Bowser, to delve into the reasons behind choosing this moment to expand their retail presence to the West Coast.

Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser is preparing to launch the Switch 2. Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images. During our conversation, we couldn't resist discussing the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, set to launch on June 5. We pressed Bowser for details on the Switch 2's availability in the U.S. at launch and beyond, as well as insights into the controversial Game-Key Cards and other exciting developments.