Nintendo's Next Platform NX Combines Console And Handheld In Some Way

[Homerboy]

http://kotaku.com/report-nintendos-next-platform-nx-is-a-console-handhel-1736904323


Nintendo’s new gaming platform will encompass a console and a handheld according to a report in today’s Wall Street Journal.

According to the paper:

The exact shape of the NX hardware isn’t yet clear. People familiar with the development plans said Nintendo would likely include both a console and at least one mobile unit that could either be used in conjunction with the console or taken on the road for separate use. They also said Nintendo would aim to put industry-leading chips in the NX devices, after criticism that the Wii U’s capabilities didn’t match those of competitors.

Nintendo has traditionally sold consoles and handhelds as separate devices that have little connection to each other. If the WSJ report is correct, that would be changing. How much it’d change is hard to say. It’s unclear if the NX platform would be offered to gamers and consumers as two separate devices, or if the “console” and “mobile unit” would be one bundled offering. But it does seem like the platform would further merge Nintendo’s long-separate console and handheld gaming strategies.

Update - 10:40am: The reporter who broke the story for the Journal said on Twitter that NX platform is “likely to have... more than two devices.” That further emphasizes the idea that the NX could be a family of machines that work together rather than a single unified device. We’ve updated this article’s original headline “Report: Nintendo’s Next Platform NX Is A Console-Handheld Hybrid” to be more clear that, while the platform of the NX seems to merge ideas of console and handheld, we don’t know if there will be any one device that does that all in one. I apologize for confusion on that point.

Nintendo’s current console, the Wii U, was a figurative half-step toward combining console and handheld hardware designs. The device is designed like a traditional console to display games on a TV, but its primary controller contains a screen that can either be used as a secondary display or can display a Wii U game in lieu of using a TV at all. The catch is that the Wii U controller screen only works within several feet of the console and can’t be used as an entirely untethered portable device like dedicated portable, the 3DS.

The Journal’s report also states that Nintendo has begun distributing a “software development kit” for the NX platform. That squares with what we’d heard recently from a reliable Kotaku source that Nintendo was planning to reach out to more developers about the NX this month, but we’d been unable to confirm details about the platform nor second-source the October timeframe prior to today’s WSJ report.

We’ve reached out to Nintendo for comment (and will be stunned if they provide one). The Kyoto gaming giant had promised to reveal information about the machine in 2016. The WSJ reports that the console could be introduced next year.

The prospect of a hybrid/combo strategy for the next Nintendo console and handheld is tantalizing and also seems to be compatible with Nintendo’s current product schedule. Nintendo’s newest home console, the Wii U, is clearly winding down and its successful 3DS line of handhelds is due for a major generational advance. Nintendo basically needs a new console and a new handheld and has a wide open spot in 2016 to introduce both.

Nintendo has traditionally split development across its handheld and console lines but has hinted to Kotaku that development could be merged in the future. Nintendo’s late president Satoru Iwata also spoke last year about the company switching to an approach that used one operating system for handheld and console devices, similar to iOS working across multiple Apple devices.

 

[ghost recon88]

As long as it keeps Wii U, plus possible Wii support (upscaling?) I'd be down.

 

[mmntech]

If I had to guess at what the NX will look like, and based on what I know about Nintendo history, I'd wager it will be a product family rather than a single system. The console and handheld will be sold separately, but will be able to interact with each other if you have both. Much like how the Vita can interact with the PS4. You'll be able to stream games from the console to the handheld, and perhaps vice versa. The Wii U sort of sets a precedent for this.

I just can't see them packaging it as a single unit as it would likely be too expensive. Enough people complained about the Wii U's high cost.

I've been hearing rumours as well that Nintendo is looking to use more powerful hardware to make it competitive against Sony and Microsoft. Hopefully that means a switch to x86 processors to make porting easier. Nintendo needs to do something to encourage western third party developers. The Japanese console AAA development scene is all but dead and Nintendo can't produce enough games on its own.

 

[purbeast0]

Eh it's basically the evolution of wii u.

Having graphics that can "compete" with 3 year old technology sounds about the same was the wii u vs. 360 and PS3.

 

[Sonikku]

Would rather they just made Nintendo games for Xbone/PS4. If they want to do their own 3rd party peripheral they can.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Would rather they just made Nintendo games for Xbone/PS4. If they want to do their own 3rd party peripheral they can.

So much this, but sadly I don't think Nintendo cares what would sell outside of their home market. The 3DS does well and has done well sure but there's basically zero competition in that segment of gaming.

At this point I am not even looking at anything Nintendo does with anticipation at all. I can't care about them if they don't care about me. At least Microsoft and Sony are active in the gaming community and deliver games and software experiences that appeal to me and the people I play with both online and IRL. I just don't feel like Nintendo evolved with the industry after the release of the 360.

 

[mmntech]

Would rather they just made Nintendo games for Xbone/PS4. If they want to do their own 3rd party peripheral they can.

I'd rather they go PC exclusive.
Which when you think about it makes a lot of sense. Japanese console sales have been in the toilet over the last few years.

 

[Fallen Kell]

Well, social media and games on smart phones have taken over the bulk of the Japanese market.

 

[iluvdeal]

Would rather they just made Nintendo games for Xbone/PS4. If they want to do their own 3rd party peripheral they can.

I remember people use to say the same thing about Sega. I don't know if Nintendo would be anything like we've known it if they lose their hardware business, this could be their make it or break it moment with the NX.

Rather than turn purely into a software company, perhaps merging with Sony would be the better play for them so they can continue in the hardware business as well.

 

[Rakehellion]

The GPU in the iPhone is about as powerful as the Wii U. Might as well just jump to mobile.

Also, good riddance to that dual screen crap.

 

[Sonikku]

I remember people use to say the same thing about Sega. I don't know if Nintendo would be anything like we've known it if they lose their hardware business, this could be their make it or break it moment with the NX.

Rather than turn purely into a software company, perhaps merging with Sony would be the better play for them so they can continue in the hardware business as well.

I doubt Sony has the cabbage these days to buy out Nintendo. Back to your first point, I don't think a third party Nintendo would be anything like a 3rd party Sega. Sega ships crap games and endlessly churns out another Sonic every year like clockwork. Nintendo does not nearly squander their franchises in the same fashion. Recently they passed on releasing Star Fox in the all important holiday season because it just wasn't ready yet. Sega wouldn't have given a fudge.

 

[Lil Frier]

This is basically what I've been wanting them to do since the NX was announced--get the limited library opportunities tied together so the 3DS and Wii U aren't both lacking titles. Get Pokemon onto couches and the major titles out of the house. However, this "more than two devices" thing has me hesitant.

I basically envisioned a world where the Wii U tablet was a 3DS successor, really like a more-powerful Vita. You could take the tablet (probably in a smaller form factor) out of the house and play your home console games on the go (probably scaled down to 720p, maybe lower).

Now, what we have sounds like a W10 for gaming. Maybe they produce a heavily skinned/locked-down phone based on Android. Perhaps a tablet with the same OS replaces the Wii U. Then the home machine is a souped-up Wii U box that plays the content at higher resolutions and frame rates. So, you have the home console, a tablet aimed at the kids in the west (I know my brother plays on his tablet a lot), and a smartphone hits the highly portable crowd.

 

[RichieZ]

this is the stupidest thing ever, i'm not going to carry around anything other than my iphone for gaming

 

[Lil Frier]

this is the stupidest thing ever, i'm not going to carry around anything other than my iphone for gaming

Not sure why you're in here in the first place to rag on the idea that Nintendo isn't just going to become an iPhone company.

I mean, cool story, bro.

 

[mmntech]

Well, social media and games on smart phones have taken over the bulk of the Japanese market.

Don't forget Pachinko machines! ^_^

 

[zerocool84]

I'm really glad I never bought a WiiU. Only started getting good games these past two years and now since they are moving on to their new system, sales will fall and great games will stop coming out for the WiiU.

 

[Bman123]

They need to make a console with a controller, none of that other gimmick shit they normally do. Get back to their roots and make a good system or sell off the licensing to Microsoft so they can make the games for PC and Xbox one.

Ive wanted to play Mario games for a long time now but the Wii u was shit, I refused to buy it. Nintendo make a good console and take my money already.

They can keep making handheld devices but keep that stuff separate from the main at home system

 

[Jeraden]

I must be in the minority, but I love the touch screen wii u controller, and it's generally utilized pretty well in 1st party titles. I also love that you can play a good number of the games on the controller only and not even need the tv. Not sure why it gets so much hate. I think the Wii U in general is a great console.

 

[mazeroth]

I have nothing but good things to say about the Wii U. I have about 10 games that are all exclusive to the Wii U and all are awesome. Speaking of utilizing the touch screen. If you play Wind Waker HD on the Wii U (amazing game/remake) once you use the touchscreen for mapping and inventory you will never want to be without it. I wanted to like it for gaming offscreen but the limited range has made it almost unusable for my application.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I must be in the minority, but I love the touch screen wii u controller, and it's generally utilized pretty well in 1st party titles. I also love that you can play a good number of the games on the controller only and not even need the tv. Not sure why it gets so much hate. I think the Wii U in general is a great console.

It gets hate because it's a gimmick and Nintendo doesn't release enough games.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Not sure why it gets so much hate.

Isn't it a capacitive screen? As in more primitive than the iPhone 1?

 

[artemicion]

I must be in the minority, but I love the touch screen wii u controller, and it's generally utilized pretty well in 1st party titles. I also love that you can play a good number of the games on the controller only and not even need the tv. Not sure why it gets so much hate. I think the Wii U in general is a great console.

I agree with you. I own every platform (Wii U/PS4/XB1/PC) and I might have more games for Wii U than any other platform. There's a lot of things Wii U could've done better (inductive touch, better eShop infrastructure, etc.) but what it does is just fine.

 

[Fulle]

I think the Wii U and Xbox One made the same mistake. They released a console with a $100 peripheral that isn't essential to playing regular games.

The Wii U Gamepad, is actually quite useful, and my family enjoys using it, but I understand that other people might not have a use case scenario that matches mine, and maybe it'll be less useful to them. Just as I've seen XBO users who really like their Kinect, and I'm not interested, just sometimes peripherals are more useful to some people than others...

Anyway, it was interesting to see Nintendo and Microsoft presented with the same issue, and Nintendo stubbornly stick to their guns, while Microsoft's new Xbox leadership reacted promptly to adjust to the market. "Our console is too expensive, and many people don't want the peripheral we packed with it!" Microsoft said, and then dropped Kinect, and started bundling games, and then dropped the price at the first opportunity....

Nintendo? Not so much. Just sat on their hands, while the market completely rejected their console. They bundled some first party games, sure, but that's it.... and the system is just waaaay too expensive.

Currently, you can get an Xbox One + Game + extra controller for 350 bucks. Or Xbox One + 2 games, for 350. Wii U is at $300 with 1 game.... meaning that it's basically trying to compete with the XBO at practically the same price point? With hardware that's marginally better than the Xbox 360?

GTFO with that Nintendo, that's just pathetic.

Hell, even the PS4 is at $350 with a pack in game now. I don't know what world Nintendo lives in, where it thinks it can have the Wii U priced so close to the PS4 and sell units, but it's not a planet anywhere near North America.

It'll be interesting to see what happens with the NX... since Nintendo's mishandling of the Wii U has been so ridiculous, that the poor console never had a chance.

 

[zerocool84]

I must be in the minority, but I love the touch screen wii u controller, and it's generally utilized pretty well in 1st party titles. I also love that you can play a good number of the games on the controller only and not even need the tv. Not sure why it gets so much hate. I think the Wii U in general is a great console.

Because up until recently, most games didn't utilize the touchscreen much at all. There were a few games when it released that used it but in the beginning hardly any used it for anything other than basic maps.

 

[Fulle]

Because up until recently, most games didn't utilize the touchscreen much at all. There were a few games when it released that used it but in the beginning hardly any used it for anything other than basic maps.

While it's true that the Wii U Gamepad wasn't used often for gameplay in most Wii U games.... It was still capable of allowing you to play most Wii U games on the Gamepad at a level of latency similar to an average LCD. Literally 1/3rd - 1/5th the latency of PS4 to Vita remote play.

I keep seeing the Gamepad framed as useless, but it's actually really nice to have in practice. I wish I could buy something that performs similarly for my PS4... Problem is, people don't really like parting with their money in big chunks. I think Nintendo missed the price-point sweet spot with the Wii U by including the Gamepad.... even though it's one of my favorite things about the system.