Iwata: NX is not a continuation of either 3DS or Wii U

http://kotaku.com/what-to-expect-nin...rob-1693052456

In an interview with Nikkei, Iwata briefly mentioned the hardware, saying he wouldn't go into particulars about the NX. "However, if you only expand upon existing hardware, it's dull," Iwata said. "In some shape or form, we're always thinking about how we want to surprise players as well as our desire to change each person's video gaming life."

Here's the original article in Japanese: http://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/artic...20/278995/?P=1

Sounds like they intend to start a new hardware line altogether, much like the DS did back in 2004.

3rd pillar, anyone?

Fad incoming?

another VR headset?

So new console?

Won't happen because if I recall nintendo or some nintendo employees are not interested in VR like Miyamoto.It's also will drive up the cost of their next console which will lead to another WiiU situation.

@charizard1605: Going by the now scrapped Nintendo Fusion concept, likely a convergence.

fixed

To be fair, Nintendo said the same thing of the DS brand not being a continuation of the Gameboy Brand and look how that turned out. Back to square one on what this thing is.

Not in the mood right now, eating cereal.

Sounds like he's just wants to make Wii 2 with an even better wand.

Must be a phone.

I am worried.

I defend Nintendo's first party content endlessly, but their hardware decisions scare me.

He's already said it's a dedicatedgaming system.

Then what could it be if not a console or handheld? A PC?

No, it's definitely a console or a handheld. It's just an all new concept instead of being a continuation of the DS or Wii lines, just as those two were originally a break from the Gameboy or Nintendo lines of handhelds and consoles.

Whatever. They really need to get a grip.

given that the wii and ds brands are dead and and buried it's not like they have much choice other than starting from scratch

3rd what?

Good, you have to get away with what made you lose money. Yes, the 3DS is a success, but the beginning lifecycle was plagued with bad decisions and their efforts to push the 3D gimmick to seek the hardware was terrible.

It took games and the Vitas' faults as well as sacrificing and losing money with a price drop.

IMO, Nintendo seemed to be focusing on there Unified Account System working on Smartphones, tablets, and PC's for now. The "NX" news will probably come next year in greater details.

The only thing I admire about Nintendo's hardware philosophy is its idealism.

Nintendo new hardware = dedication to gaming + handheld + F2P(DeNA) policy = dedicated mobile gaming phone?

I hope not it's not a brand new type of phone. *frowns*

DS brand isn't really dead, but yeah, it may be time to move on regardless.

Mobiles will be dedicated gaming systems for Nintendo soon. It might be a handheld, it won't be a console. Not a chance. They won't spend the money to make a console work they have given up on trying to get people to buy junk hardware for their next Mario and Zelda fix.

Right, and don't forget Japan is losing the grip on the consoles and has embraced the phone gaming.

If it is hardware, it needs to be more powerful than the Xbox/PS consoles. If it isn't then it will be a disaster. But I'm thinking that its not even hardware.

I'm feeling like it's another fad.

The Nintendo Xstation. It's a hybrid console and handheld hence the "X" symbolizing cross. The station part is to trick people thinking it's a PlayStation product.

I don't think Sony would let it fly. It would be like if Sony immediately changed their name to the PlayStation Thrii to get on that Wii bandwagon.

I am positive it was meant to be a joke..,.

Plus Nintendo isn't stupid anyway, it has already contested for the rights to the PlayStation name before and lost.

Oh boy , will they gamble again with gimmick controls and low end hardware or theyll get their shit right this time with full 3rd party support , decent hardware and all ?

All in all im sad for Wii U owners that their system will eventually die in 2016 and beyond ( as i predicted day 1 of Wii U release and some sheep were laughing on me ) , yet another dust collector , forcing them to game on other platforms that now sheep bashing. Oh well , considering same thing happened with Wii despite its amazing sales ... QQ.

Im very curious about this NX but im not excited at all because once again they dont talking about hardware and/or 3rd party deals etc but rather for a "new" way to play games ( more or less ) ... I want to play awesome games and that alone , 1st AND 3rd party , both quantity and variety. I dont care if i play them with X controls scheme or Z or whatever .... Can Nintendo do this ? Im sold ... Cant do it ? Sorry i pass. Simple as that ... I had enough with gimmicks and low end hardwares and fancy controllers . Lets talk about games and hardwares that can push those games to the next-level and i dont care if i play those games with a SNES pad .

"3rd pillar" is Nintendospeak for hedging their bets. If it takes off it becomes the main platform. If it flops then it was just an "experiment."

@AzatiS: 2016? 'll love to see receipts on that. If Wii U goes to 2017, thats 5 years. Which is a fair console cycle.

Sounds like he's trying not to give a definitive answer for what I imagine to be a very understandable reason. I think he doesn't want to give either potential Wii U or 3DS owners reasons to not pick one up. After all, if Nintendo admitted that the NX was to replace the Wii U or 3DS then sales of either would probably plummet. And, given that Nintendo just released the New 3DS here in North American just a few weeks ago I don't think that's something they want to happen. Furthermore, the announcement might actually cause a falloff of support for existing owners. So, I imagine they're going to stay pretty tight lipped about this as long as possible.

Here are the excuses now , fair console cycle..ok..

2017 Wii U will be dead , 2016 in life support with very very few titles worth to mention ( 2-3 titles for the year ? ) IF thats what you were looking for when you first bought Wii U ... fine ... if its fine with you :) Its your money ! But dont tell me Wii U having a fair console cycle when Iwata himself calling it a ....secondary console...

Please nooooooo! Just make a proper console that people want!!!

I agree on 2017 because NX/whatever will be coming out then. (My guess) 2016 will probably be dry, but at least the Wii U has more worth while games to play atm, At least Zelda and a few others will make it though 2015 easy.

It reminds me of the Gamecube.

This is my guess as well.

You said the right motto , ATM ... With the amazing 3rd party titles that coming ( MGS5 etc ) along with AAA exclusives on all other platforms ... Well its tough and you know why im afraid NX will fail ?

Because PS4 and why not X1 , in 2017-18 , theyll be established consoles in the market with highly competitive price and libraries in both 1st and 3rd party releases. Wii U will be totally out of the picture by then and NX needs to be highly competitive in price the moment it releases in order to even consider to compete.

For Nintendo to do that need to be focusing ( and thats what i predict theyll do ) on day 1 releases and systems price. Theres an issue again here though. In order to be competitive vs 3-4 years old consoles price they need to provide something ...low end for its time or something as low as competition at least ... If they do that ... i dont see how theyll establish NX in the market even if they have 2-3 massive 1st party AAA titles .. Why someone to move to a low end system or as low even , with way less games to play with ?

And the biggest bet is ... what about 3rd party games ... Will NX provide the multis everyone love ? Will consumers trust NX at the crucial start after Wii and Wii U premature deaths ? Will mario/zelda/kart/smash etc save the day when they couldnt do it with Wii U ?

Nintendo is in an messy spot if you ask me and since they wont provide all the above in order to compete ( most likely ) head to head with Ps4/X1 ( by that time ) theyll try to lure casuals yet again with something fancy. Call it new controls , gimmicks , VR ... i dont know what but it seems that will be the bet from Iwatas latest statements about NX... And that will be either the end or the comeback of Nintendos console gaming.

Sounds like it is just the next console. Not sure where it says the NX is not a continuation.

It's a smart phone I tells ya!

Calling it, announced at E3 2016, released Fall 2017, 5 years after the Wii U

@AzatiS: Many great points in your post. Its kind of a scary time for Nintendo, but I'm sure they can pull something off. They have some of the most noticeable IPs on the planet. They're kind of like Disney of the gaming world. Ninty still isn't hurting like Sony, but I know the pressure is on since the Wii U with shareholders.

I was guessing it would be an updated version of the Wii U gamepad, slimmer, lighter, better resolution and could probably play the mobile games they were planning. If they're saying it's not a continuation, then I guess it's a separate device but I'm thinking it could still be used as a Wii U gamepad.

So pretty much Nintendo is going to try to do a third pillar that will inevitably become the successor to the Wii U or the 3DS whether Nintendo likes it or not.

Everyone seems to immediately assume a handheld/console hybrid. While that may be true i kinda hope it isn't something so obvious. Unless they do something really cool with it. Nintendo seems to be far less successful when they play it safe.

Regardless the DS was a third pillar too. So all that means is that it won't immediately replace either system. Kind of curious though. If he is already declaring it a ''third pillar'' does that mean, that a launch next year isn't out of the question?

If it's not DS or Wii U, then it's Virtual Boy, meaning it's VR.

YEAH