Could Nintendo NX Release As A Console-Handheld Hybrid?

For generations, Nintendo has happily released console hardware that was significantly less powerful than its chief competitors – but that could be about the change with the Nintendo NX. Wall Street Journal reports that the Big N is tailoring its new system as a console-handheld hybrid, one with “industry-leading chips.”

According to the outlet, development kits of the NX – the console’s current codename – are on their way to third-party studios, indicating that a 2016 release could be on the cards. Here’s a snippet of the report published by WSJ:

The exact shape of the NX hardware isn’t yet clear. People familiar with the development plans said Nintendo would likely include both a console and at least one mobile unit that could either be used in conjunction with the console or taken on the road for separate use. They also said Nintendo would aim to put industry-leading chips in the NX devices, after criticism that the Wii U’s capabilities didn’t match those of competitors.

While this is all merely conjecture at this point, Wall Street Journal’s piece is not unfounded, as one only needs to look at the production slate for both Wii U and the company’s 3DS to locate where each hardware stands. Boasting a meagre 10 million lifetime sales, it’s evident that the Wii U’s days are numbered. Despite incorporating the tablet-like GamePad controller, the Big N’s flagship home console is waning in popularity, and even the announcement of the Nintendo NX is enough to have even the most ardent of Nintendo fans keeping one eye on the future.

Now, with the prospect of a console-handheld hybrid emerging, the company’s new hardware appears to be closer than anyone expected. And at least on paper, the concept of merging two platforms together with a unified operating system is something that Nintendo has merely flirted with in the past, but should everything fall into place, the Nintendo NX could be on course to revolutionize the handheld gaming market.