Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

The NX shouldn't be one device to meet all needs - there's no way that's ever going to work. If what Eurogamer says is remotely accurate then I hope that docking station is an add on and not part of the package (especially if all it does is allow big screen gameplay). Just make the portable device entirely portable and not some half assed setup that tries to be a home console but fails. Which it would.

As to whether the NX is powered by the Tegra X1, I keep jumping backwards and forwards between yes and no. It'll be a custom design what ever it is and probably not be as powerful in order to be more energy and heat efficient.

@FragRed
It's worth pointing out that the Tegra X1 is Maxwell based and was a 2015 chip. The NX is launching next year so is far more likely to be based on Pascal. And if the jump from Maxwell to Pascal in the desktop market is anything to go by? We're talking about around 2x the performance per-W.

What the actual performance is would be anyone's guess. But in theory it could be twice as powerful as the Wii U and entirely passively cooled. At a decent price point. Or something approaching the XBOne, need a little fan and underclock when not docked to save power.

@skywake But wouldn't Pascal based chips go against Nintendo's ways of using old tech in their portable consoles? They'd need a really good cheap deals with NVidea to pull off something like that if it's to be both affordable to produce and allow them to generate profits on each system sold.

@FragRed
In terms of performance sure and for their platforms to this point more power = more recent chips. But in terms of power efficiency Nintendo are known for pushing things to their limit. Pascal in particular is most notable for the huge improvement in performance per watt. So I wouldn't rule it out.

Plus there's that WSJ article from a while ago. The one where they said the NX would feature "industry leading chips". A mobile chip based on the Pascal architecture would definitely fit that description.

@Therad It's not really. There hasn't been anything that supports this rumour. I know many media outlets are saying the same thing, but that's just copy+paste work mostly (especially when they're all part of the same media network). When Nvidia's shareholder's conference from yesterday clearly pointed in the other direction, it became pretty clear that the Eurogamer rumour has nothing to stand on. Nvidia has clearly no plans for the gaming market is pretty much focussed on AI and high-end car tech. They would've mentioned if they had something coming in the near future; One would expect that they would have to ramp up production for the NX this fiscal year if there were any plans, but there aren't. The Shield Tablet is ditched and they lowered their forecasts. There's no conspiracy either, even if they were under an NDA, they still would've mentioned custom chips for ''gaming device'' or something along those lines.

Meanwhile we know that AMD has secured three design-wins for semi-custom chips for this fiscal year; one for the XOne S, which has been confirmed, one for the PS4 NEO and one that is still available; take a guess (and no, it's not the Scorpio, that system won't enter mass production this fiscal year).

Currently there's nothing to suggest that the Eurogamer rumour is even remotely true. We may learn more by next week, at least so I have been told. But as of now, all options are still available and Nvidia is not more likely than any other option.

@Octane Contrary to public opinion, a company is under no obligation to disclose and divulge business with another company, especially if it the information could potentially damage a key strategy. Just because it was not mentioned does not mean it is not happening. They were not under oath lol. I would like to stress I am not in #teamtegra or whatever. I am waiting for Nintendo to tell me as opposed to a random source on the internet.

@GrailUK True, but as a public company, that's certainly doing no good to your image. They still could've said that they had an order or design win for Tegra chips without mentioning anything at all. That wouldn't have broken the NDA, but they wouldn't withhold information either. Like I said, if next week doesn't reveal anything from Nvidia's side, then I'm seriously starting to doubt the validity of Eurogamer's ''inside sources''.

@Octane Turns out their source was the Star Fox Zero anime short hahahaha.

The tegra part of the Eurogamer leak is the small part. Basically, they can use the same concept with many other chipsets. And it wouldn't be surprising to see them use something else in the end, I.e broadcom.

But many of the rumours and patents does fit with the leak. I also checked the old Q&A with Nintendo investors, it fits even there. That Nintendo would concentrate on a common platform has been appearant for a long time, at least for some of us.

And why has everyone started to distrust Eurogamer but believe in super metal Dave? Eurogamer at least have contacts in the industry, they would be able to verify a story like this from multiple sources.

@Therad I don't trust Super Metal Dave any more than I trust Eurogamer or anyone else. The problem I have with the NX rumours by them is that it comes across half assed in trying to cater to two different markets.

@GrailUK Wouldn't be surprised

@Therad I'm not really talking about the what the NX is, I imagine that software will be shared to a bigger extent than between the Wii U and 3DS; how far they will go and whether they will merge their two systems is a completely different issue. I'm not commenting on that. I'm specifically talking about the idea that Nvidia will be the main supplier for NX, the evidence doesn't support that, hence I don't buy that part of the Eurogamer leak. Not until something is officially revealed at least. Maybe they're using X1 to emulate the final hardware? I don't know; all I know is that the final product probably won't feature Nvidia's Tegra chips.

I would believe people with contacts in the industry, if they didn't contradict each other. We also have users verified on both reddit and NeoGAF that claim the NX is an x86 based console. There's no way for me to verify whether these ''inside sources'' actually know what's going on or even tell the truth. Until we know more, I think it's best to look at things we can verify ourselves; currently that is that Nvidia has no plans for their Tegra chips in the gaming industry and is completely focussed on different tech branches. AMD still hasn't revealed all of their clients; Therefore I have to acknowledge that there's a possibility. Next week is the Hot Chips conference, we'll probably learn more by then.

We still don't know if it will have one or more form factors. Remember, they are still leaks, they are not the full picture. And not everyone will be happy with a product. It simply isn't possible to cater to all people. And it would cater those that want an handheld as it stands now. See Skywake.

Well from the beginning of the new 3ds announcement I've wondered about Nintendo stretching that lifespan. It adds to the speculation that the two separate ecosystems are merged.

That's why many of us talked hybrid. Portable, but home pluggable.

Perhaps these rumors only seem more real because they confirm our biases. One system that does both is what that hybrid talk was all about after all.

@FragRed I would argue it's only one market. Nintendo fans.

@faint Even with Nintendo fans it's still two markets. Not everyone who owns a 3DS/2DS owns or wants a home console and not everyone who owns a Wii U owns or wants a portable console. And the types of games you produce for both consoles are different. Expectations are different.

@FragRed well if the expectations are ps4 level graphics I can tell you that won't happen. Only once has Nintendo made a stronger console than its competitors in its entire history and they still nerfed it with mini discs. Only 13 million people picked up a wiiu. 57 million picked up a 3ds. The way I imagine this product is slightly better than the wiiu as a home console and as a portable the strongest ever created. I own a 3ds and a wiiu. Personally I will be happy to only have to buy one console in the future. The best part tho is zero droughts. All Nintendo titles and vc on one system will be a great thing.

@faint Why would there be zero droughts? The merging of the teams doesn't mean more titles it just means cost savings and bigger teams not necessarily more games. I imagine with games like Zelda Breath of the Wild needing so much resources, Nintendo realised they need bigger teams and best way to do that is merge them.

Also they are recruiting for 2 new positions - one for portable and one for home console. This thing is going to be more than a single device even if not straight away.

Nintendo has next to no market in the consoles right now, and their handheld markets have always been bigger. I'd argue that they have no reason to pursue the home console market anymore.

Again, why would it be better to keep them separated and guarantee another set of droughts?

@Lzeon And their portable side is also loosing market share due to smartphones and tablets. In fact it's really Japan that's keeping them going with sales right now as the West really don't care anymore.

I see loads playing on their phones but next to no one on a handheld. And the 3DS only started selling due to drastic action on Nintendo's part. The way this NX IS sounding that 3DS price tag isn't going to be achievable.