The above controller concept could be what the NX will be controlled with... or not!

As documented in depth in a recent NeoGAF thread by user Rösti, Nintendo filed a patent in October 2014 for the above U-shaped controller and the patent saw an international filing on September 18, 2015, and publication on April 22, 2016, via WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).

Somewhat reminiscent of the Xbox 360's Wireless Speed Wheel, huh?

Most likely the controller will be applied for fitness games following Nintendo's interest in "quality of life" products. It's not a regular controller either as it boasts an accelerometer, gyrometer, temperature sensor and load sensor. Time to get fit in the 21st century!

A rough English translation of the patent application reads: "The main object of the present invention is to provide a novel training equipment, training system and an input device."

Below are more images of the patent's drawings:

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More interestingly, the translations refer to "portable terminals" that can apparently be connected with the device to display a screen, exemplified in the image below (and more in the source):

Well this is definitely material for further speculations. Is it for the NX or to add once and for all the U in WiiU? What other applications will it have? And will it actually be released?

SOURCE

 

[VashTS]

this looks knuts

 

[bowser]

A U-shaped controller? But the Wii U ship has sailed. If you hold it upside down it looks like an N. Maybe there will also be an X shaped controller?

 

[Sonansune]

wii remote clone???

 

[migles]

looks like an N. Maybe there will also be an X shaped controller?

but isn't NX just a code name ?
like the wii was revolution
and wii u being project cafe

 

[trigao]

What???
Looks like this

 

[DHall243]

If this is a controller for project NX nintendo has lost my business, they havent made a good shipping controller since the Snes

 

[migles]

load sensor

wth is a load sensor?
[insert 3 letters word here] load sensor ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

 

[Ericzander]

If you thought the wiimote looking like a dildo jokes were old... Well... Let's just say that this isn't helping things.

 

[Foxi4]

Prime example that innovation isn't always beneficial. Don't reinvent the wheel, gamepads work *perfectly fine*, stop trying to fix a problem that isn't there. Uniqueness is nice, but sometimes you can be unique to your own detriment.

 

[Justinde75]

Nice concept for racing games. Bur for normal games? No way!

 

[the_randomizer]

I really hope the controller isn't shaped like that

 

[bowser]

If you thought the wiimote looking like a dildo jokes were old... Well... Let's just say that this isn't helping things.

What's better than 1 dildo? 2 dildos! For 2 player gaming...

 

[DHall243]

Prime example that innovation isn't always beneficial. Don't reinvent the wheel, gamepads work *perfectly fine*, stop trying to fix a problem that isn't there. Uniqueness is nice, but sometimes you can be unique to your own detriment.

Agree, they need to focus on hardware, hell call nvidia and intel, the two companies that the competition didnt use, work with them, throw a wii u pro controller in the box and ship it out.

 

[Cylent1]

Nntendo consoles suck ever since gamecube....
They need to revert to the cartridge again and business would probably boom for them!

 

[BurningDesire]

 

[Shadowfied]

Well, on plus side at least it looks like it uses Micro USB so at least we won't have to deal with more proprietary BS cables.

 

[Pluupy]

The "U" in WiiU means "you". The gimmick was that you don't need a TV to use the Wii U and that you can just play video games...under the covers or something. I remember when, I believe, Iwata was introducing it he said something to that effect.

 

[kumikochan]

If the new controller is gonna be like this well then i'm done with Nintendo.

 

[DinohScene]

95% this is bullshit.
If the remaining 5% does come out to be true, Ninty could use a couple of those controllers as handles for their coffin.