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The Nintendo NX - despite analysis and predictions based on a mix of patents, press reports and vague statements from Nintendo - remains a mystery. All we do know for sure is that it'll be revealed this year, while there's a strong belief among some that the hardware will also launch - in some form - before 2016 is finished.

That's the view of some consultancy and analyst firms, though now DFC has come forward with its own take, issuing a warning that a 2016 launch could be bad news for Nintendo. It cites the existing current-gen competition, the influx of VR (Virtual Reality) hardware into the market and the negative impact on Wii U as factors.

DFC believes that Nintendo launching a new system in 2016 would be a mistake and under any scenario the Nintendo NX will not have an impact on the market until late 2017.

Of course, our perception is likely to evolve as more details around price points and launch dates become available, but 2016 is looking to be a record year for the game industry. In reviewing 2015 the PlayStation 4 met our expectations while the Xbox One and Wii U slightly underperformed. Going forward DFC believes that the potential launch of a new Nintendo system as well as new VR devices, especially the PlayStation VR will have a negative impact on the Xbox One and Wii U.

Accordingly the market is open for the PlayStation 4 to have stronger sales and forecasts have been raised accordingly.

It's a logical argument, that the ongoing popularity of current hardware and an influx of expensive but desirable products could be to the detriment of the NX if, for example, it arrived in an over-crowded Holiday period. Time will tell whether VR will have much of a mainstream impact, but among the range of manufacturing rumours and investment firms / analysts citing an NX launch for towards the end of this year, it's interesting to see the opposite recommendation in force.

Do you agree with DFC that 2016 is too soon and crowded for the NX to launch, or is the sooner the better? Let us know in the comments.

[source mcvuk.com]