It is no secret that Nintendo have struggled over the last few years, with the disaster that was the launch of the Wii U console, since then they have been plodding along releasing 2 or 3 outstanding games on the console, but still struggling to find a mainstream audience for the console. That is all set to change with Nintendo announcing a new next gen console is in the works, codename : NX, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata yesterday mentioned the company is creating a new next-generation hardware concept called NX during a media event.
“Nintendo, together with DeNA, will jointly develop a new membership service which encompasses the existing Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems, the new hardware system with a brand-new concept, NX, and smart devices and PCs, and Nintendo will be the primary party to operate this new membership service,” Iwata said via official translation. He also said that NX is not directly related to the service platform.
“As proof that Nintendo maintains strong enthusiasm for the dedicated game system business, let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename ‘NX,'” he said. “It is too early to elaborate on the details of this project, but we hope to share more information with you next year.”
In addition to this the partnership with DeNA will see Nintendo games move to mobile devices, something that the company has been vocally against for a few years now. “Nintendo has made this decision because we have concluded that the approach of making use of smart devices is a rational way for us to encourage even more people around the world to recognize the great value of the wonderful game software available on our dedicated game systems,” Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said during the press briefing.
According to the announcement today, the partnership will only develop new original games for smart devices rather than porting Nintendo Wii U and 3DS games to smartphones.
“There are significant differences in the controls, strengths and weaknesses between the controllers for dedicated game systems and the touchscreens of smart devices,” Iwata said. “We have no intention at all to port existing game titles for dedicated game platforms to smart devices because if we cannot provide our consumers with the best possible play experiences, it would just ruin the value of Nintendo’s IP.”
So while you may not be playing Super Mario Bros 3 or Majora’s Mask on your I Phone in the near future, you may get around to playing a new Nintendo brand game, which ultimately could be the best decision to keep sales of the 3DS and Wii U in the market.
