Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

The number of reports have certainly intensified in the past few weeks. If it is coming this year we're likely not far away from an official reveal.

@cookiex: at this point they may as well have the NX reveal direct next week.

Next week is the 3rd quarter earnings release. We could get some brief info then.

@cookiex: yeah the investors will probably ask about NX a lot. I do think next week they should say SOMETHING.

I mean I understand keeping your cards close to your chest but as seen with the wii u launch build up there can be too much secrecy.

This might be confirmation bias speaking, but I think this is more evidence to the NX being a handheld.

1. Bandai-Namco has been more active with Nintendo handhelds than with Nintendo home consoles. Especially when you consider the success of their games on 3DS, it makes more sense that they would heavily invest in that device.

2. Smash Bros Wii U gains very little from being ported to NX. The game runs just fine, and aside from adding extra content, not much can be improved. Smash 3DS on the other hand could definitely benefit from a graphical upgrade, and if the NX screen is higher resolution, more Smash Wii U stages could be ported over

https://mobile.twitter.com/ZhugeEX/status/692763133811781632

Interesting. This tells me two things:
-NX has some kind of screen.
-NX will use cartridges for physical games.

Seriously? If so, these are awesome news.

But that's the problem. The base game isn't built around stronger hardware. If Sony and Microsoft's system is 10 times more powerful than the handheld unit, most games are going to be too powerful to run even in a super scaled back form.

What if the NX is a toaster, and Nintendo is using it to break in to the kitchen appliance industry?

With a bunch of leaks/info coming out, it looks like a handheld is being released first.

And if that's true, it's probably a handheld.

Macronix was rumoured to be one the the suppliers in a rumour from last year. Looking at the other companies mentioned, I already said last year that they are more likely to be involved with the production of a handheld than a home console. Like @iKhan said, it might be confirmation bias, but the evidence for a handheld is very strong if these rumours are true.

@MrMario02: Not compatible with third-party bread.

But I hear the Nintendo made bread tastes amazing with it!

A frying pan would be more likely; That would explain the industry leading chips:

@Octane: and that's totally fine, and probably safer than a new home console. I can see it being a $200-250 handheld with a (sold separately for like $30) HDMI stick.

Although absolutely nothing is known yet, many signs seem to be pointing toward the handheld route. And boy does that make me glad I didn't spring for a New 3DS haha.

What about THESE chips?

I think it's a fair assumption. There's a good 6mill gap between what you'd expect to happen and what they're anticipating. So I think it's fair to assume that someone is going to launch a brand new gaming device with a built in screen. Given that NX is a thing, Sony has pulled out of the portable space and the failure of the "a screen bundled with your home console" idea of the Wii U? I think a Nintendo portable is the thing that fits the best.

The cartridge rumour is probably the bigger smoking gun however. As much as I'm fond of the idea of bringing back cartridges for home console it's fair to say that it's unlikely. I've said before that one day it'll make sense again but we'll probably be digital only before that day comes. For a portable though it's basically the only decent option they have.

Yeah, as a consumer I'd buy the same Smash Bros for a third time for a new portable. Especially if Nintendo implements some sort of cross-buy system where I get a discount for having already brought the Wii U version digitally. Or alternatively just include all of the DLC in that version and throw in a few new stages. Either way it'd be a pretty compelling launch title for a new portable in a way that it wouldn't be for a home console

I think it's fair to assume that Nintendo is going to continue the idea of the Wii U in some form. I expect we'll see it in software and possibly with other devices like tablets and PCs. But streaming FROM a portable? I think that's a very low priority option. Much more likely they'll have the ability to stream games from their next home console to this NX portable.

My current thinking in regards to what the NX will actually be:

• Dual 480p screens (I thought "one screen" but there's the issue of 3DS BC)
• Full 3DS BC, DS won't be supported. We'll get GBA, SNES and N64 added to the portable VC
• I expect they'll drop 3D though I have no rationale behind that. I just think that ship has sailed
• Dual Band Wireless N600 (5Ghz to make streaming from a home console smooth, AC is too expensive)
• Cartridges upto 32GB but they'll rarely be used, most games will sit around 2-8GB
• They'll continue to use SD cards for internal storage. There's no reason I can think of not to
• Standard console controls: dual circle pads, 4 triggers, A/B/X/Y and D-Pad. If it ain't broke!
• Motion controls and a touch screen, again for 3DS BC but also useful for Zelda games etc
• Internal specs somewhere between the Vita and 360. Because of the 480p screens that'll be plenty
• They'll launch with some Wii U ports, mostly the 2D platformers. Can be done quick and people haven't played them
• Indie support will be significant