Cognition Dissemination: A Clearer Picture of NX

Amidst the massive amount of rumors that were circulating earlier this year, it was tough to pinpoint exactly what Nintendo’s upcoming NX would be. That’s no surprise, as Nintendo tends to be in a league of their own when it comes to keeping secrets from seeping out. Though it appeared the controller might have slipped through the cracks in March, that was the result of two individuals with good Photoshop skills and 3D printers who duped a good portion of the internet.

It’s tough for a company to keep any kind of secret these days, though, and Nintendo it’s no exception to this, as believable and substantial rumors about NX emerged from reliable sources earlier this week. Though some fans had a semblance of an idea of what this system could be, me included, the rumors posted paint a surprising picture of what Nintendo could have under their sleeve. Eurogamer posted that NX will primarily be a handheld reliant on cartridges similar to those used for the DS and 3DS for physical media. “Primarily” because unlike them, it will come equipped with a TV out while in a docking station. In other words, this could somewhat be the hybrid people have wanted out of Nintendo for years. And if that’s the case, it’s a good direction to go in.

They also mentioned that the system will be powered by NVidia Tegra technology, meaning it could indeed have a state-of-the-art graphics chip, as a previous rumor said — state-of-the-art for mobile technology, that is. No one would want them to choose from tech so advanced for a mobile device that its battery would only last an hour. Another nice feature is how NX could have detachable sides that combine to make a controller while the main device is connected to a TV. While this sounds like the main product’s design will contain shades of the Wii U Gamepad, it also brought to mind one of the prototypes shown in the Wii U “Iwata Asks” installment, which contained detachable Wii U Remotes on its sides. Perhaps this is where the idea first manifested, if this rumor is accurate.

Sadly, the change in format and internal parts means the system won’t be backwards-compatible with either Wii U or 3DS games. While sales of the PlayStation 4 have proven that lacking BC isn’t a deal-breaker for most consumers, it’s always appreciated when a company can implement it. Since that won’t be the case here, look forward to repurchasing a bunch of Nintendo games through their digital services, especially Virtual Console games. At the very least, hope for a dedicated account system to give users more ownership over their digital products this time around.

The biggest takeaway from these rumors is how Nintendo could be putting the console market behind them, which shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The company hasn’t had a console that’s performed especially well in terms of sales and third-party support since the Super Nintendo, which mostly faded into the sun almost precisely two decades ago. Though Wii came close to breaking this, it never reached its potential in terms of software support, especially from — you guessed it — third-party publishers. But their handhelds held on fine, despite 3DS not quite measuring up to its predecessors in terms of hardware and software sales. Going with a primarily-handheld device seems like the right move.

What surprised people is how these rumors hint at a device that goes in a different direction compared to what Nintendo originally wanted — or, at least, it seemed that way. When the company merged their console and handheld hardware development districts after the Wii U launched, they were gearing up for this system. But Satoru Iwata mentioned how Nintendo wouldn’t be going with any kind of hybrid, according to articles and especially message board posts across the Internet. But they misinterpreted his words: He never explicitly said they wouldn’t be going this route for their hardware future (Note: that post is from an editor for Wired’s Game|Life blog). Even online, messages can get easily muffled along the way.

Going this semi-hybrid route would also be a good idea because Nintendo has been straining themselves in terms of software development and support over the last half-decade. It wasn’t too difficult for them to support two platforms in the past, but it became more arduous with 3DS and Wii U. Game development isn’t getting any cheaper, especially for hardware manufacturers with a system to sell, so combining their ecosystems could work out for the better in terms of software development.

Nintendo still needs a second pillar for them to rely on as a large company and hardware manufacturer, a niche mobile games should fill. Chances are, they’ll be raking in some cash from Pokémon Go’s success for a while, and potential also exists for future titles like the Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem games to perform well. It’s worth noting that their mobile titles are rumored to also be playable on NX.

You may have noticed the amount of uncertainty throughout this post, which is due to me not taking rumors at face value. There’s still a chance of these rumors being dead wrong, so I wouldn’t recommend getting too excited for the possibilities of NX just yet. But these are admittedly coming from sources that have been bang-on in the past (like with PlayStation Neo earlier this year), and others with similar credentials have reaffirmed it. The rumors say it will be revealed in September, which sounds about right for a system planned for a release six months after that time. Given Nintendo’s recent financial loss and how the Wii U’s upcoming lineup is a barren wasteland (and 3DS’ isn’t that much better), they can’t afford to delay it. Combining the console and handheld ecosystems could be risky if it’s one they’re taking, but we’ll see if it’s worth it.

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