Topic: I still think the NX is going to be more of an Operating System

Many people want the NX to be a "core-focused"home gaming console like the PS4 and Xbox One. However, I think people aren't looking deep enough into what the NX actually will be. I'm still in the camp that believes it's going to be more of an unified Operating System similar to iOS, Android, and more recently, Windows 10. Where the NX won't just be a home console, but also a handheld, a tablet, and potentialy a Smartphone or Smart TV. NX would largely run on Nintendo made hardware, but if Nintendo wanted, they can outsource the hardware to companies like Samsung or even Sony to make NX devices. If Nintendo wants to really be crazy, they can make it a full on open platform allowing NX hardware partners to make their own UI on top on NX like they seem to love to do on Android (though this would kind of be a s***ty idea and wouldn't fit Nintendo's hardware philosophy).

Many people kind of forget the reason Nintendo merged it's home console and handheld divisions in the first place, it's not just to make their games easier to transfer to other hardware, but to also unify it's ecosystem into one cohesive platform. The best part about this setup is that it allows Nintendo to do whatever they want with NX, they can make a line of NX powered Smart TV's for TV goers who want some gaming on the side, they can make a nabi-esque tablet for young kids, they can make a phone for people who want a gaming focused smartphone, and yes, they can also make that 4K PS4 killer some people want so bad.

In short, much like Microsoft's plan for Windows 10, the NX can literally be whatever it's respective device wants it to be. So that's my theory, thoughts?

I wouldn't say "Operating System", but rather a family of devices that share an OS to make porting easier and more cross-buy and cross-play.

Well whats it going to run on if that were the case? Nintendo would never put themselves in a ppsition where they have an OS they need someone elses hardware to run.

And adding a new OS to Wii U 4 years into its life sure isnt going to turn the consoles fortunes around. So they have to be releasing a new piece of hardware for it, imo

Nvm. You pretty much gave your opinion on my question already. Im just on a broken cellphone with ink covering half the screen so i misread your post.

I still wholeheartedly disagree, though

This is an interesting thought, and one that I had started concocting myself back when reading initial reports on the NX. Though I don't think it'll go the "Android" route, it could be similar to iOS in the sense that Nintendo is the sole manufacturer of these devices built upon the same OS.

Incremental updates on consoles or even upgradeable hardware would definitely be interesting.

"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."

• Satoru Iwata Mar. 17, 2015

Is NX the hardware system or the brand new concept or both?

@shaneoh: I'm not sure.. I think it will be a conventional console that will be integrated in some way with a broad system that will be spread across different media.

I didn't expect you to, I was just highlighting how a statement could mean multiple things, not just the one we think it means.

@shaneoh: If you're talking about that specific statement that I quoted, then yes, The NX will be a ''the new hardware system with a brand-new concept''... That much is very clear..

@shaneoh: That quote was alongside this slide. So yes, the NX was the "new hardware system with a brand-new concept" they were talking about.

I know the NX is most probably hardware, I've seen that pic a dozen times

@shaneoh: Well sure, I was just pointing out where that quote came from. It was that slide alongside this:

An OS still needs hardware and Nintendo needs to make money on hardware. They aren't going to make a smartphone or a "4K PS4 killer" because they wouldn't make any money on it.

I think the NX is going to be more traditional and conservative than a lot of people are expecting. Whatever new concept or "lateral" tech it uses, it's still going to be a console and/or a portable gaming device. That's not going to change.

I'm simply waiting until Nintendo gives us concrete answers in 2016 because everything else right now is conjecturing and guessing. However, I doubt the NX is going to be as game-changing and revolutionary as Nintendo and industry insiders claim it will be. We'll see.

@SpookyMeths: Not right away at least, But I remember Iwata saying they plan to branch out to other form factors once the NX has time to establish itself.