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While the focus of many Nintendo fans is often on upcoming releases and new game announcements, it's easy to forget that the big N is planning to unveil a brand new platform in 2014 — its QOL (Quality of Life) product. It's still a mystery, yet the company is planning to release its health-driven product in the next financial year (1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016) following a 2014 reveal; it may not be too long before we learn what this platform is all about.

It'll apparently be separate from the Wii U and 3DS as a standalone platform, though there may be some interaction between the various devices. In any case, Nintendo seems keen to use that QOL moniker as the brand, with trademarks on the name now filed in North America, Europe and Japan. That certainly makes sense as an over-arching name, which can conveniently be expanded to clarify its aim of improving lifestyle and wellbeing; it also continues Nintendo's recent history of short names — DS, Wii, 3DS and Wii U.

We still don't know what QOL will be, beyond the company's statements that it'll expand its business and revenues and potentially achieve "blue ocean" success around the world. It'll incorporate a health-driven approach, non-wearable technology and will utilise Nintendo's experience in gaming, and the trademark filings for the U.S. cite games media, parts, accessories and systems as potential parts of the product; bear in mind that these filings generally cover as many bases as possible.

We broke down the announcement and researched the concept of non-wearable health equipment to put together our thoughts on what the QOL platform could be earlier this year. Details shouldn't be too far away, however, and it looks like QOL will become a familiar brand.

[source neogaf.com]