Nintendo NX Latest News

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There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the Nintendo NX. Since the announcement of the Nintendo NX, many have wondered whether it’ll be a new home console device, a handheld console, or a hybrid of both. In a 4Gamer interview with Koei Tecmo President and CEO Yoichi Erikawa that it’s apparently a home console device.

4Gamer: On one hand, virtual reality requires special machinery to play, and we feel that the current state of “games” is headed to yet another way of playing. It’s almost as if it’s evolving towards the opposite direction of smartphones, and requires to “only play at that spot,” or something along those lines. Lately, it seems that [home] consoles haven’t been doing too well, but is that the case? At least, that’s what we’re wondering.

Erikawa: “Actually, I think that it’ll start doing much better. The PlayStation 4 has recently surpassed 2 million units in nationwide sales, and Nintendo announced a new ‘machine’ called the NX. From this point forward, I believe that each company will make clear commitments for these machines.”

The news gets even better on the Nintendo business side. In a message to shareholders and investors, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima shared an update on the upcoming console. He said:

“For our dedicated video game platform business, Nintendo is currently developing a gaming platform code-named ‘NX’ with a brand-new concept and our unique software-led hardware-software integrated business will continue to constitute the core business for Nintendo.”

Many people are speculating that the platform is going to be in line with the Xbox One and Playstation 4 and step away from the Wii (drawing from the “brand new concept” statement). The rumor seems to be in line with what Nintendo video game designer Takashi Tezuka told Bloomberg last week. Tezuka had said that the company “feel[s] quite strongly about creating things that are in sync with the times.” Tezuka was otherwise silent about the console and that was all he told the publication about it.

As for a release date, many in the industry are projecting a 2017 release. Taken from the Inquisitor, analysts sharing their predictions with Games Industry include the always controversial Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities, independent analyst Billy Pidgeon, David Cole of DFC Intelligence, and Patrick Walker of EEDAR.

Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities

“The NX won’t come out in 2016. Nintendo has a history of announcing consoles in one year and launching the next, and I don’t see the NX as deviating from that pattern.”

David Cole, DFC Intelligence

“In 2016, the headlines will be dominated with news about Nintendo with all kinds of unconfirmed reports about a new system. At the end of the day Nintendo will finally learn from past mistakes and reveal very little of its plans. DFC Intelligence predicts that a new Nintendo console system will not launch in 2016 as Nintendo learns from past mistakes and focuses on getting many developers on board with top-end content for a stellar launch.”

Billy Pidgeon, independent analyst

“While Nintendo is relatively late to fully embrace remote connected gaming and commerce, I believe Nintendo’s new network and hardware will deliver an evolved multiplayer gameplay experience. NX will rightly be positioned as a system and network separate from Wii U and 3DS.

…

“NX may be released this year, but Nintendo would be wise to delay launch until a number of quality launch titles are ready to ship.”

Meanwhile, EEDAR’s Patrick Walker makes no call as to when the Nintendo NX might launch but agrees with current rumors of a hybrid that serves as a home console, but also supports multiple handheld devices.

Developer and publisher support for the Nintendo NX will be critical for Nintendo as mentioned by the analysts. However, the company is probably weighing the costs of focusing on the Wii U for another year versus putting the device out in time for the holiday 2016 shopping season and possibly not having full support for the console.

As mentioned by the analysts, expect plenty of rumors regarding the Nintendo NX to fly during the coming months. Nintendo has no plans to announce anything official until the annual E3 gaming convention in June, however. Stay tuned for details!