The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Nintendo has begun distributing software development kits for the new NX to developers.

The article also reads that people familiar with the project say that the NX consists of both a console-like device and handheld unit, as per the rumours; and that Nintendo is planning to use "industry leading" components after criticism with the Wii U regarding its graphical capabilities.

Expect more details on the NX to surface next year, presumably around E3. GBAtemp will keep you updated on any new developments.

Source (WSJ)

 

[nl255]

As long as my nephew is content with Splatoon/Wii U, I won't be buying another console.

You will once they shut down the Wii U servers and games such as Splatoon and Mario Maker become useless. I fully expect them to do so about 6 months after the NX release.

 

[KSP]

Said this from day one.

NX is a Wii U in reverse, they've moved the gut of the console into the tablet portion of the console, and the moved the AV output into the Console essentially rendering the console portion as a dock.
The NX is a Tablet console, plays games off of a proprietary SD card, hence no optical drive, it can connect to the console portion of the device and stream the data so games can be played off your TV when you are at home.

This was always the most logical step for Nintendo, considering their handheld market is the strongest. Nintendo said that they wanted to use lessons learned from Wii U for the NX, the biggest lesson learned from the Wii U was the console should have been entirely built into the Tablet not the opposite way around.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Said this from day one.

NX is a Wii U in reverse, they've moved the gut of the console into the tablet portion of the console, and the moved the AV output into the Console essentially rendering the console portion as a dock.
The NX is a Tablet console, plays games off of a proprietary SD card, hence no optical drive, it can connect to the console portion of the device and stream the data so games can be played off your TV when you are at home.

This was always the most logical step for Nintendo, considering their handheld market is the strongest. Nintendo said that they wanted to use lessons learned from Wii U for the NX, the biggest lesson learned from the Wii U was the console should have been entirely built into the Tablet not the opposite way around.

Nintendo has confirmed that the handheld and console are separate units, not a "Fusion" console

 

[Simplicity]

Nintendo has confirmed that the handheld and console are separate units, not a "Fusion" console

I wouldn't be too happy with another standalone handheld. There are very few N3DS exclusive titles, and the console is quite powerful. Unless there is something unique about the 3ds line that prevents development, I don't know why they would push a new handheld.

 

[KSP]

So, they plan on selling 2 devices one for handheld and one for your TV, what greedy bastards. They could have easily streamed the Handheld device to the TV via a stream dock.
Sounds like a suicide move, one console for both home and mobile may have saved the company, 2 consoles one for home and one for handheld is suicide. Which one do you buy? How about none.
I think they are finished anyways.

 

[Smuff]

Oh whooppeee doo - another sodding rehashed Wii clone with rehashed versions of Brawl, Mario Bros/Party/Kart, Animal-fucking-Crossing and fuck all else.

 

[Chary]

Nintendo needs to reign in the customers they've lost, and honestly, I don't think that'll be TOO impossible, if they play their cards right. They need to release a console that's at least minimally better than the XOne/PS4, and very similar in architecture, so it's easy to port games to. That way, they draw the console gamers that are picky about performance. Then, they incentivize devs to bring over some third party titles released in the past. (Fallout 4? Assassin's Creed: Syndicate? Something along those lines) There, you've got the kind of patient gamers who wait a while to pick up the big name titles. Throw in a console Zelda game, maybe even a Metroid or Pokemon game, you've got the hardcore Nintendo fans, and I think that'll jumpstart sales. Heck, if it's possible to do, have the NX be bc with Wii U titles. Also marketing and a good name.

 

[Xzi]

got excited about the handheld unit part but then i realized it's probably another Wii U. Knowing Nintendo by "industry leading components" they probably mean Xbox One which wont really be industry leading by then.

The Xbox One doesn't have industry-leading hardware now. But both it and the PS4 will be around for another good 5-6 years, so Nintendo has the chance to join the current generation of console hardware for the first time in a good while.

I wouldn't be too happy with another standalone handheld. There are very few N3DS exclusive titles, and the console is quite powerful. Unless there is something unique about the 3ds line that prevents development, I don't know why they would push a new handheld.

"Quite powerful?" It's actually quite weak compared with the specs of a PS Vita or newer smartphones. The biggest advantage would be only needing to optimize games for one system but then essentially releasing them on two systems at the same time. If that's the direction they're going with the NX, anyway.

 

[Selim873]

hmm "industry leading components" "nintendo NX"
nintendo NX= nintendo Nvidia X1 ?

maybe they use the x1 chip in the portable portion and there is another chip in the stationary portion that gives it more power for home gaming
which can be accessed through streaming to the portable portion
like streaming PC games to a shield

That's actually a good concept! Nvidia's mobile chips were always way superior to AMD, even for cheaper manufacturing costs.

 

[Foxi4]

Here's for hoping the console will be up to scratch - the Wii U would've been an excellent system if its specs were comparable to the PS4/XBO.

 

[Axido]

What I really would like to see (even though I think it is totally unlikely) is a secret revival of the N64's expansion slot, but this time capable of utilizing a whole proprietary GPU.
Nobody officially knows what this slot is for until Sony and MS put out their next generation of consoles a few years after the NX' launch. And then Nintendo just releases the NXpansion Pak to more or less get even with those new competitors.

Since this is more like a dream rather than a real guess, I'd be fine if the hardware was less crappy than that garbage Sony is trying to throw at us as next gen. Instead of "1080p or 60fps" I'd recommend a choice like "4k/30 or 1080p/60".
Would be nice to have a Fury Nano in a home console to achieve this, but that'd be way too expensive for the masses. =(

 

[Hielkenator]

I always lol when some people compare specs to the PS4 as it being the holy grail of Graphics.
The PS4 really is NOT that very powerful at all, Sony did good telling everybody that.

If Nintendo wanted they could easily top current specs, hopefully they will realize the Wiiu gamepad is a great control interface but only along side traditional controls like
Wiimote and Nunchuck and "classic" controls like PS4 and Xbone.
Also they REALLY should bring back analog shoulder buttons or something better.
( driving games, or the controls speed of running etc.)
Also hopefully they will explore the VR realm, because I think in the hands of Nintendo they can really push the tech forward without it being "just technology".
Also Miiverse was and is a golden idea and works perfectly for casual and adult gamers.
Also NO more DLC!

 

[stanleyopar2000]

Sounds like the 3DS is being replaced. Damn. I'll be pissed if 2016 is the last year for 3DS

 

[Xzi]

I always lol when some people compare specs to the PS4 as it being the holy grail of Graphics.
The PS4 really is NOT that very powerful at all, Sony did good telling everybody that.

The PS4 and the Xbox One are basically the same console. It was never about being the most powerful. The most powerful is a $1200+ gaming PC. For consoles, it's about getting the most power out of the lowest possible price so that parents are willing to buy their kids these consoles for birthdays/Christmases. An APU (combined GPU/CPU) is a good way to go about that.

TBH Nintendo could fit the same APU the PS4/Xbox One have in to their next handheld if they wanted.

 

[Hielkenator]

they just posted a pic of the NX

No this is it...

Still I do not get the power issue...
Games nowadays look excellent imho

 

[Hyro-Sama]

It will interesting to see what the final product will look like at least. E3 2016 reveal probably in the cards since devkits are being pushed out now.

 

[Selim873]

What if the physical games were... CARDS?!

 

[TotalInsanity4]

Supposedly handheld will be released first in 2016, then console in 2017. Games will most likely work via an account system so you can play them on both consoles, one with more portability and one with better graphics and processing power. It may be that the Wii U will be absorbed by the NX lineup until 2017

 

[Haloman800]

You will once they shut down the Wii U servers and games such as Splatoon and Mario Maker become useless. I fully expect them to do so about 6 months after the NX release.

There's no way Nintendo would shut down severs after less than a few years. The Wii's servers lasted 8 (from 2006-2014).

 

[DiscostewSM]

There's no way Nintendo would shut down severs after less than a few years. The Wii's servers lasted 8 (from 2006-2014).

Not only that, but Gamespy was the one handling the Wii/DS online games services, and they were ultimately the ones that shut them down, not Nintendo. The online services for the Wii U and 3DS are ran by Nintendo themselves.