Rumour: Nintendo NX Could Use Google's Android Operating System

Oh dear, I hope not. All technical details aside this would ruin the console in the eyes of the hardcore. Putting it alongside dead ventures like the OUYA.

I don't buy this at all. the only games ported would be mobile games - knockoff Flappy Bird Part 682, anyone? How is that going to help get ports of PS and XBone titles? (It's not!!)

I'm not exactly sure how this would work with a proper Nintendo developed console...but it sets alarm bells ringing for some reason.

IF there's basically nothing noticeable at a surface/user-interface level about it that looks/feels like your typical Android device/service then fine, it may not be an issue to even worry about, but I fear something very "Android" will slip in there and imo Android is a convoluted mess in so many ways; at least as it appears on mobile phones anyway, which is the only real experience I have with it, but I have no idea at all how that translates to consoles.

Also; giving Google even more power/control, as it were, just doesn't sit right with me. What I don't want is a Nintendo console that in some/any ways is at the whim of some random decisions Google might make that only serve its own best interests of total global world domination at any cost; like it forcing people to create Google Plus accounts just to use any/all Android based eco-systems or something like that, even on a first party device like Nintendo's next console. It might sound ridiculous but it probably could happen; if Nintendo has to sign up to all the terms and conditions that everyone else does when developing with Android. I mean once you sign on the dotted line as an Android developer, or however it would work for Nintendo, Google basically owns you to a degree. I don't want Google being a 'back-seat passenger' at Nintendo, in any way, shape or form.

God no! Seriously.... android sucks. That simple.

Micro stutters here we come... Too much hardware fragmentation ruins operating systems and prevents developing getting the most out of the system. Carmack has for quite some time expressed his lack of desire for anything developer related on android.

It wouldn't surprise me if true. People need to open their eyes about these mobile operating systems. There are tablets and phones with better tech specs than the Wii U already. An android OS wouldn't be holding them back at all. Android is getting more 360/PS3 titles than the Wii U is right now. It's probably perfect in Nintendo's eyes as they can open themselves up to those 90 million that bought a Wii and then moved onto mobile.

OUYA and GameStick both tried to leverage Android to "bridge the gap between home and mobile".

It's not a bad idea, but both of them proved that it takes a lot of strategy and funding to pull off, in that neither of them had enough of either.

I should find it very unlikely for Nintendo to go with an OS developed by a large US conglomerate, and very unnecessary too, now that they're doing so many deals with middleware developers anyway.

@Ferret
Well it's better than iOS. My wife have an iPhone and I can't stand using it. Android>Windows>iOS.

Plus this will be a modified Android OS if the rumors are true so who knows.

One word "piracy", even a child can root android and enjoy free software.

Didn't they say the same thing about the Wii U before release?

The Android system is very vulnerable. I would be surprised they actually went through with this given the fact that there's constant bugs and issues that crop up. Compatibility would be scrapped for something more benign and I don't really think Nintendo would have been working on this since the development of the Wii U to warrant too much thought for me.

Although it sets warning bells that the industry is basically choking itself on what it believes to be "Good games" I believe that Nintendo need to stay true to themselves (like they have always been) in order to succeed on their own and not succumb to the fast and easily broken mobile industry.

Hopefully Nintendo are /smart/ about this if it does go like this.

This aligns with my pet theory that the NX isn't a replacement for the Wii U but is the replacement for the 3DS (which has been out quite a while at this point), or else maybe a "3rd Pillar" like the DS was claimed to be when it came out.

It's still to early to talk and make rumors about the NX...only nintendo knows what is being done with it. It's good that nintendo is looking on getting back the 3rd parties, but hopefully they do it the right way and not give themselves an even bigger mess.

No chance! Nintendo will do their own thing, like they always have.

@Peach64 Sure, talk about specs, but don't talk about how bloated and vulnerable the OS is. Do you know how many bugs are compatibility-based on an Android phone?

Needless to say, this is why I'm moving away from Android completely next mobile generation.

I wonder if this has to do anything with Nintendo and establishing some kind of partnership with Google. Does not seem feasible though, as future consoles may lack backward-compatiblity, and even make them very prone to homebrew development and piracy by extension, despite any form of advantages of such a unified platform. I mean, would Nintendo consoles be really open to Google Play's entire library of apps and games, the good and the horrid alike?

It is a much more logical to presume that Nintendo are working on an in-house, proprietary OS platform inspired by Android rather than working with Android directly. I mean, how many Apple iPhones uses Android, by the way? Then there is Microsoft, who managed to make modern Windows flexible with every kind of device, from PCs, to mobile phones and tablets, to their current generation Xboxes.

@Peach64 that's not the case. Eyes open or shut that's not the case. You can't compare passively cooled ARM chips with console chips, it doesn't work that way.
The ninth difference is just as much software as hardware and this would make them hostage to whatever decision google makes in future design

Called it.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/02/talking_point_the_new_nintendo_3ds_nintendo_network_and_wii_u_could_point_the_way_for_future_hardware#comment2862665

@outburst Are you sure? I used to use Android, and it was horrendous! I now use iOS and it's a million times better.

What insider knowledge? I am the one spreading the rumour. I talked about it 2 weeks ago in the comment section of https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/nintendo_committed_to_making_smart_device_gaming_one_of_its_key_revenue_pillarsn

I still use my Ouya when I go on holidays and such. The Ouya experience is very different to the phone experience, it doesn't rely on the "Google" part of android, which in some ways is a bad thing because it limits comparability of some things even if you side load them onto the system, But Ouya's store front works really well with games that have not only been specifically ported to the system some are exclusive. The problem with the Ouya is that it is a small fish trying to be a big fish in an extremely large pond. Nintendo would be a large fish in the exact same pond. Ouya may not have been successful on the surfaces, but have shown a lot of promise. Nintendo have shown what it can do with its range of "Nindies" and a bespoke version of android in a walled garden Nintendo shop front could be successful. People who don't use Ouya just seem to imagine its just Google play with a physical controller running through a TV. When infact it is a closed environment where you can only purchase through their own shop front. Sure you can root it and use it like any other Google device, and Ouya encourage people to use it as a development box as well, but side loaded stuff doesn't work aswell as fully optimized software and I'm sure Nintendo will make sure the walled garden storefront would have incredibly high walls and prevent rooting and side loading altogether. I suppose all I'm saying is that Android doesn't always have to mean Google.

Where does it say that? It could be referring to games using hardware more advanced than what the Wii U can handle

@Zerodactyl
Hundred percent. iOS is solid but very limited to my needs. Android is more open and customizable to what I need.

Also not all Android phones are the same. You probably went with a crappy phone or crappy modified Android OS in it. So yeah, not all Android phones are the same.

@nostalgianinja But Nintendo would definitely be using a customised version of it. If they put out one box to plug into a TV and one handheld device, they'd only need to make sure it ran well on those two devices. Most bugs come from the same android OS being run on hundreds of devices. They can't possibly optimise it for them all. I imagine it would be like the kindle's Fire OS but taken even further to make it look at feel like Nintendo product.

This won't be an off the shelf android OS so people can play existing games on their TV and nothing else. Nintendo can make a console with a regular controller, and still make their usual games on an android system.

This would be great for me as a dev as it'd make it super simple to make games for the NX. Conversely, I think no matter what, Nintendo should have quality control on their next console. Be selective in the devs and games they bring onboard, then make it super easy for devs once they are there. I have literally wasted weeks on bureaucracy and fiddling with settings and installing tools with WiiU instead of actually making games. It's an appalling waste of time and resources for 3rd party devs and is at least part of the reason for lack of 3rd party support on WiiU IMO. So if Android solves that, brilliant!

Clearly, Nintendo are great at making games and that's what they should spend their time doing, not making operating systems. Doesn't matter too much whether it's Android versus say SteamOS or some other flavour of Linux, so long as it allows them to focus on the stuff players really value like friends, leaderboards, achievements, video streaming, system UI, storefront etc.

Also with Android, there's an outside chance NX might support VR, especially as Oculus have committed to supporting Android for the long term.

Basically an Android NX would be all sorts of awesome so long as Nintendo don't just throw open the doors to any and every mobile dev.

I'm no tech expert but would games not have to be generally smaller?.most mobile ports I've seen don't have the same size/features as the ps/Xb versions and nintendo fans have had enough problems with gimped ports in the past.

Running Android doesn't mean it will all be Android driven games. Nintendo can customised the User Interface to their own liking (it's an open source mobile OS) and use specialised internal hardware for console quality games.

The ability to run mobile games will open up lots of possibility including their own mobile games. Nintendo will have this sale pitch "Yes you can play Nintendo mobile games on your phone and tablet, but they run better on the NX." Not just that, Mobile developers will support NX's hardware for their own games, thereby increasing 3rd party developers. Probably all NX 3rd parties will be mobile developers. Konami?

The retail Nintendo games will still be sold through eShop, and they will have full API access to the hardware processors.

Could be a good idea , Nintendo are different to Ouya because they have a massive following already and have a Stella back catalogue.
Having Android as an operating system is a smart move, it will be really customised to Nintendo's needs so it won't be instantly recognisable as Android anyway but will have the benefit of having loads of 3rd party games.

I highly doubt that.
Its Nintendo, the company who which shut down a PN service because people might send offensive content, the company which foregoes voicechat, because people might swear.

They are extremely protective and overly carefull. I highly doubt that they will base one of their platforms on an open OS that is just screaming to be "unlocked".

Also, Nintendo is not known to use 3rd party applications, OSs, services on their system. They declined EAs offer to base the WiiU on their Origin service, the biggest publisher in the gaming industry which is literally swimming in money.
They made their own "Social Network" to be independant from existing ones.

Eh I'd rather not. I've never been particularly fond of Android's OS. When it comes to mobile, I greatly prefer iOS. I'd be very surprised if Nintendo goes this route....but as this is just a RUMOR, I'm simply going to assume that Nintendo is going to develop their on OS, as they always have.

Given that Nintendo are control freaks, turning over your OS development* to, perhaps, the most easily-hacked, sliced, and diced OS in the history of OS' seems a bridge waaay too far on the believability scale.

IOW, try harder, rumor-mongers.

*Even if heavily-modified, this would be extraordinarily foolish.

I think this would be a disaster, and I for one would NOT be interested in the NX console AT ALL if it was running Android. It would make much more sense to me that Nintendo would want to program their own OS.
That said, I won't even use google as a search engine. DuckDuckGo for me

On a related note; I posted this on IGN the other day but here's one of my ideas for what I think Nintendo's NX could be:

Note: Be patient and read all the details—I promise there's some good stuff here—and let me know what you think.

First: Think of the NX as basically being the Wii U console stuffed directly into the current Wii U GamePad (either pretty much exactly the same power as a Wii U or a little bit more powerful if necessary). The main differences would be making the screen at least 1080p; 3D without glasses; adding multi-touch to the screen, which would work with both the stylus and multiple fingers; and possibly adding analog to the triggers (not the shoulder buttons; just the triggers). Everything else would pretty much stay the same. It still supports amiibos too. Oh; there'd also be a tiny dongle you can plug into your TV so you can play the games directly on the big screen too. That's basically the NX.

All the cool stuff is in the details however...

Right out the gate, you could basically emulate/play digital versions of old NES, SNES, N64, GC, GB, GBC and GBA games pretty much straight-up directly on the system, which you'd download and/or stream from the new connected service Nintendo is developing.

To run Wii games you'd download them like all the other games and for any of them that use full motion/pointer controls you would use a proper Wiimote by pointing it at the sensor bar and/or camera that's built into the NX (this is already built into the current GamePad and would be on NX too), and you could either stream the game to the TV or view it directly on the GamePad (a bit small and awkward but still possible). So for some Wii games you would need to own/buy actual Wiimotes but that's not really surprising. At least you don't have to own/plug-in a separate sensor bar.

For DS/3DS the 1080p screen would be used to recreate/mimic the two-screen DS/3DS setup directly on the NX screen and because of the size and resolution it would pretty much be just like looking at a normal size DS/3DS (regular; not XL/LL). The fact the NX screen would be both 3D without glasses and touch capable means it could mimic all aspect of the DS/3DS on that single screen. A lot of this would also be done in firmware/software, so it all displays correctly. If you want you could also stream the top screen to the TV, or use any other screen variation/setup that's currently available for running DS games on Wii U now. The 3D no-glasses could even be used to emulate the Virtual Boy system too

See how the 2DS screen in this image could basically fit into the current GamePad (both screens at once):

(With a screen that has a 1080p resolution, along with glasses free 3D, you could basically emulate a DS/3DS directly on the GamePad-esque NX no problem, but there would also be many other display configurations available to choose from too, as is already the case with current DS games running on the Wii U GamePad)

To run Wii U games it would simply do what the current Wii U and GamePad do; with the main game content being displayed on the TV, streamed via the dongle, and all the map and touch screen stuff or whatever on the NX screen. Obviously any games that have off-TV play could similarly be played just directly on the NX, like they are now when played directly on the Wii U GamePad.

The new NX would also be compatible directly with the current Wii U and could be used as a secondary GamePad (or third and forth too), which will be a feature that will be activated on Wii U via a firmware update that adds in all the new Nintendo network stuff, this whole "connected" system, and a few other things. Because the NX is obviously able to connect to other NX systems for multi-player games (say up to four at a time), you would also similarly be able to use up to three of them with the Wii U now too; allowing you to play four player games on Wii U, where one person uses the Wii U GamePad and three other people use NX systems, so each person could have a custom screen but at the same time the TV could display another view of the action. Think of a Madden type game where each player can call plays on their controller in secret by drawing on the screen, with the main action on the TV. Or something like 4 player local multi-player Splatoon, with each person playing on either the GamePad or an NX controller and the TV showing an overview of the map. Because the NX systems are basically self contained Wii U consoles, it wouldn't take much processing power for the main Wii U to handle a four player game like this (unlike now where it would basically be impossible to have 4 GamePads on Wii U), since each system is basically a Wii U in and of itself and would be doing its equal share of the leg work. The whole Wii U/NX/TV setup where you have three NX systems plus the Wii U is obviously a very rare scenario as most gamers would just use four NX systems for multi-player but for anyone that already owns a Wii U it means they can use it in place of another NX system, which is a nice bonus, and it means they now have the ability to play new multi-player games on Wii U where each person actually has a proper private screen (poker and Scrabble would be fun, with the cards or letters shown on the individual player's screens and the main deck or board shown on the TV).

Nintendo would now of course be able to make plenty of games that take advantage of more than just asymmetric local multi-player by default—these would just be regular multi-player portable games for NX, that allow you to link to other people online or near you with NX systems, but at the same time because the NX is in fact just a Wii U built into a GamePad, you could play those very same games as multi-player games on current Wii U, using the Wii U and the GamePad as one controller, with a private screen, and up to 3 NX systems as the other controllers with private screens.

NOW...as a little aside here, and something that I think would basically tip this over the edge and turn it from amazing into literally a literal revolution in the industry; I would build into every single NX system directly, in-the-box day one, a complete Creation Suite—which would be something like the old Mario Artist series for N64. This would allow people to use the NX controller and stylus/touchscreen directly to draw/paint art, including sprite/pixel are and textures for polygons; create music (a bit like Mario Paint's music mode); create animations; create/edit movies (using the camera etc); make polygon models; and even make full, albeit relatively simple, video games (anything from NES level up to N64 probably, and maybe even a bit beyond)—all for FREE and installed in every single new NX system out-the-box. All these creations could be shared among all NX users and even Wii U owners via Nintendo's new single connected service, and possibly 3DS owners in some cases—where those people could then play and enjoy them or modify them even further—as well as just shared to the general Internet and on sites like YouTube (if it's a video or animation you made). Just imagine all that content, some of it potentially brilliant, being made by users and available to other NX users from the get-go. This suite would also be added to the Wii U and 3DS too, via that firmware update I mentioned earlier; so it really is one complete unified and connected system/service that works across all Nintendo's main consoles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmW9Ipc2FhA (An example of one of the packages in the old Mario Artist series for N64—in this case Polygon Maker—for reference).

Now, imo, THAT's how you sell people on the idea of—a "controller with a touchscreen"—or in this case the NX.

So, "basically"; you have a single self-contained portable console, at least as powerful as a Wii U, that can play games from every single console Nintendo has ever made with very little hassle. For some of the more convoluted stuff, like Wii motion-centric games, you can basically use your old Wii controllers directly on it. It even works as an extra controller for anyone that has a Wii U too (up to three can be used, plus the GamePad as the forth). The connected internet service will work on NX but also be added to both Wii U and 3DS too (via a firmware update), so that all three systems now share many software/firmware and online features—this whole unified/connected system Nintendo has been going on about—such as using a single account for everything and for cross-play on many of the titles. Then the cherry on top is the entire creation suite built into the console from day one, out-the-box, and available for every single Wii U, NX and 3DS owner to use for free.

This system would be sold quite simply as Nintendo's brand new next-gen portable console, code named NX—although I'd call it something way cooler and funnier like the P-NES; Portable Nintendo Entertainment System. This is a great throwback to Nintendo's best name for a console ever (Nintendo Entertainment System or NES)—that describes what the console actually is better than any other console name its ever went with since—and it's also a funny play on the fact the original Wii name sounded like a penis/peeing. It's also just an accurate acronym of what the system is: A Portable Nintendo Entertainment System (not actually a portable version of the original NES however).

Going forwards—ignoring the kinda jokey PNES name for a second—I would actually call any new Nintendo console systems NES 2, NES 3, NES 4 and so on. Probably written as NES2, NES3 etc.. In fact, I'd probably actually just call this system the NES2 (regardless of the fact it's a portable). It's basically like the rebirth of what the NES started all those years ago (a gaming revolution), and combines the best of every single Nintendo home console AND handheld since, into one super—yet amazingly simple/elegant and easy to understand on the surface—portable (where Nintendo dominates anyway). NES2 would just ring SO true for me

PS. This is a system and solution where I don't think it would matter one sh*t how powerful Sony and Microsoft's next consoles are. They simply couldn't touch this concept imo, if they're just more of the same but with more power. If this system—the proper next-gen Nintendo PORTABLE basically (an area where it has utterly dominated for 26 years) but so much more too—wasn't lapped up by third parties out the gate then I doubt anything Nintendo could do would be a notable success at that point.

@outburst @zerodactyl Apple will never allow iOS to run on any non-apple devices, so forget any chance of iOS on NX.

It should also be said that different companies redskin Android for their devices. All Amazon devices (kindle, FireTV Fire Phone) use a heavily modified version of Android - heavily modified to sell you stuff

I personally hate all the Samsung redskins of Android I've tried. I use 'vanilla' android (the standard Android that google makes) on my Nexus 5 and it's snappy and responsive and maybe doesn't look super cool, but it doesn't look bad either.

The main thing for any Android based console is allowing navigation with a controller, since Android is obviously designed for touch, and also making an attractive store front. I remember when OUYA was coming out having many debates within the OUYA community about how to stop the store having the whole self I reinforcing chart system where the more popular a game, the more visible it is and so the more popular it becomes, causing the charts to get stuck solid with the same few titles for years (who could then spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars a year on advertising to prop up their chart.position). As it transpired, OUYA did a bunch if cool things to prevent that, but a). they never got the sheer flood of games from mobile anyway and b). the store front aesthetics looked crap IMO. If people have a nice store experience, I really think it does contribute to a console's success.

Also just backing up what others have said about OUYA in that they mostly made sure all games on their store were designed for TV and console controls and not for touch.

The main thing that killed OUYA was perception and people's perception of Android fed into that. Ultimately it's just an OS but people associated it with the mess that is Google Play, piracy etc. If Nintendo do go with Android, they need to make a bloody good communication job on exactly how and why these things won't affect NX. I'd also recommend they de-emphasise Android. Only devs really ought to know and care what's underneath so long as users get a good experience. It might even be worth lying and saying it's not Android but modified version of linux, such is the stigma that Android has with core gamers

"No, please, God, no. No... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" (Michael Scott).

@Peach64 I think I still disagree for a certain aspect: We don't know what chips are going to run the NX. If they're ARM-based, then sure, but with the Wii U being Power PC based, it blocks the compatibility aside. Perhaps a sacrifice that needs to be made (or have an extra chip that handles the Wii U Dolphin hardware) for compatibility?

One never knows, still, building from the ground up would be better than building on the basis of an Android Operating system, it means removing hundreds and hundreds of lines of core programming to get to the designated system.

Still, I think once we know what the system runs off of completely, we can make a definitive decision on what will be done with this... thing. I don't think Nintendo would even use the Android System as a whole, but would probably use integral parts of the OS to build on their own OS. Open to interpretation and speculation if you will, but I don't think much of the Android Operating System will be left once they put it in as a final product at all.

Honestly, I hope not! I don't think Nintendo could keep up with yearly releases of Android update, and which, if major changes occur, could break a game. Even in the controlled realms of iOS, I have seen too many games that doesn't support iOS 8 in their review section (not that I have confirmed it btw, I don't buy game on my iPad). Same could be true for Android.

Also not to mention, the crazy fanbase of Android. See yourself for every single manufacturer that uses Android, every comment on their social media is full of: "When Lollipop update comes? When Android M comes?". If NX uses Android, they will inevitably fell to this as well, there'll be too many people ask to update their Android version. Means, Nintendo would spend a lot of resource updating their Android, testing against their games, etc and could eat away time better spent on game development. There's a reason why a huge manufacturer like Samsung with who-knows how many programmers they had and they still couldn't update their flagship in a timely manner.

There's also numerous exploit in Android, which I guess if Nintendo ever do that, their hardware will be rooted in a week or less, opening piracy to themselves.

Of course, it'll a different situation if they fork over Android and develop their own version and cut ties of Android from that very moment. I would be supportive of that. However, I still think their best bet is to develop their own software. They were capable of that, so I see no reason why not to. To get over indie developer, they only need to support popular framework like Unity, Unreal Engine, etc. Don't need to open themselves to the crazy world of Android, it's a loss-loss situation in the long run.

End rant.

All that needs to be said is if this is like the Ouya then it wouldn't be a "brand-new concept" right?

So, chill everyone. Nintendo aren't going to be creating an android micro-console like Ouya, and all the other so-far unsuccessful examples. It may well take elements from them though - chiefly, the ability for developers to port games easily.

I think @kiigu is hitting the nail on point here. The only thing REALLY required here is to make sure that the frameworks are there and compatible for the system.

Nintendo still do keep a very strict guideline for their work in regards to Quality Control and in terms of those guidelines. (Lest we forget 1983) Android's lack of standards is what makes me disgusted at people throwing their arms up towards Mobile and the reason why I think the Mobile industry deserves a crash before anything goes.

Yes please, that would be huge !

Surely going android would love only make 3rd party system worse? Sure there would be more games but they's be ported tablet games not AAA titlesalso wasn't it rumoured the Wii U gamepad featured android OS?

I knew this would happen! I talked about it on my YouTube channel. No one listens to me of course, popular YouTuber's dribble on about what the next controller will be, and all that guff pertaining to the 'old' style consoles. I didn't know for sure if it would use an OS such as Android. Nintendo (and consoles in general) must move towards a more smart device like architecture, if there not going to become a niche platform that just serves an 'insignificant' hardcore gamer minority. It's about time the home and handhelds shared a common system, because one game can be developed and run on both systems. Freeing up resources to make twice as many games! This is how I wanted the NX to be, and I hope the rumour turns out true.

Nintendo's next OS will be an evolution of the one found in the Wii U, all the groundwork is done and all they have to do is create a unified online network that brings together the Miiverse, the Eshop, the Friends List, the Virtual Console Emulators and your Download Lists. Also there has been talk about the new Online Membership Program that will be replacing Club Nintendo as well so we would have to take that into account.

One Last thing in regards to Android my colleague at Cancer Research doesn't seem to get that from a software developers point of view that ISO completely kills Android when it comes to familliar hardwrae and carrying all your content over to the next IDevice, whereas Android struggles with this due to all the different standards with that OS.

@JamesCoote Yup, I was just saying that iOS is much better.

OH HELL NO.

Android, good idea.......I think

Has anyone told Nintendo that Android OS no longer supports Wii remote functionality since 4.2.

Google knows about this problem but has been VERY SLOW to bother fixing it.

Gives you real confidence in their OS.

I am fascinated at this possibility. I've thought for awhile that Nintendo could co-opt the Android OS. One of the biggest issues with Android is that there is no standard for gaming, especially when it comes to external controls. You can buy any of a host of bluetooth gamepads, but few except perhaps the Moga approach the quality of a Nintendo controller.

Nintendo could easily use AOSP instead of Google's implementation giving developers who are already familiar with Android the ability to easily code for the platform or port to it without having to bow to Google's whims. Face it, most of the indie titles on Nintendo systems are ports either from other systems or from IOS and Android mobile titles.

If Nintendo DOES do this, there's a really good chance they could greatly influence the development of the Android gaming platform which, let's face it, will eventually eclipse consoles. I'm looking forward to see how or if this develops.

@kenzo
Google may not support it, but AOSP is open source and Nintendo, I'm sure, has the expertise to fix the code in the open-source version. At that point, there's no good reason for Google not to include the code in their closed-source fork.

@boatie considering the new 3ds is here i doubt that

@jamesplusgames DSi sure did expand the time of the DS!

If they were smart, they'd just make it run a modified version of Windows. Then they could easily port almost anything.

I don't find it too surprising considering the DeNa deal. Android works well on high end devices - it's always the inability to have apps running smoothly simultaneously that bothers me (and storage). Pretty sure Nintendo could fix those issues easily. They could then have all their mobile content on the NX natively and there's nothing to say that it couldn't be adapted or sit alongside another OS for more traditional console type games. Or it may me nothing of the sort. Not enough info yet, but I'm not yet going to worry about Nintendo not creating quality games no matter what platform they decide to put them on. An android-based device which could allow games from all consoles would be a thing of beauty provided they could get it to work as smoothly as a console and the damn licensing issues could be sorted.

@Kirk That idea sounds simply amazing but I do have to wonder how financially viable it is since I don't know how much it costs to build a system like that. If they could pull off something like that though I would be fully on board for it!

@Pod My stance on this in a nutshell.

I few othrrs said this already, but even if NX did run android, Im sure wed never know it unless we went looking. It would be a retooled reskinned specialized offshoot like thd Amazon device, as @Peach64 said, only more so. It wouldn't be the same android thats out now.

Didnt Dreamcast run Windows CE? I dont rember people ever complaining about that. It doesnt matter what OS is behind the scenes, only the graphical interface matters to most. And that white themeless Wii U screen wont take much to improve.

Like most here, my initial reaction is DEAR GOD, NO, but like others have said, Nintendo never goes with the crowd; even if they did use an Android OS (which is find extremely unlikely but admit that it's possible), but would definitely do so on their own terms and in their own style.

@rjejr You're spot on with the Dreamcast Windows CE analogy; despite the Dreamcast's tragic fate, that was one of Sega's best decisions for the console since it made it so easy to port and develop games for it. Android can work for Nintendo's next console (which I'm still not convinced is what NX is), but I think they'd opt for a different OS if they were going to use a 3rd party's software (which, again, I find unlikely).

This is never going to happen. Nintendo is, just like Apple, all about building their own hardware with their own software.

No thank you.

I love Android but only in the form of Replicant and Cyanogenmod. This is just a rumour. It would be a bit rubbish anyway as Nintendo would just lock it down so there was no root access and they probably wouldn't even allow sideloading of apps. It's pretty unlikely in the first place.

@Kirk
You don't need to give Google power and control over Android, as evidenced by Replicant and Cyanogenmod, and even Amazon's version of Android for the Kindle Fire. You can use Android without Google: you do not even need a Google account to download applications, there are plenty of alternative appstores such as F-Droid, the Opera mobile store and the Amazon Appstore for Android. I use Cyanogenmod on my phone: it is quicker, more powerful, more secure and updates are daily rather than twice yearly. Android is made by Google but is not something that is controlled by them.

Personally I think they should have some form of pc based os/architecture, rather than an android os (although it could work well...) then somehow get Nintendo working with Steam......serious money printing potential there!

@AirElephant
I would not buy anything that is not AOSP, due to privacy issues with Google. They could do so much with it that is not possible when partnering with Google, and customise and optimise it greatly. Yet it will never happen. This is a rumour, nothing more, nothing less.

Powered by testosterone fuelled hamster wheels.

@BinaryFragger
FreeBSD is Unix, but AT&T never allowed them to use the name. As for Linux, it's GNU-Linux. People call GNU 'Linux' due to misinformation spread by Linus Torvalds (who coded Linux, the kernel). GNU is the OS, Linux the kernel used by the OS. Android uses the Linux kernel but not any GNU software. The good thing about UNIX and UNIX-like systems such as GNU is that it's all coded in C- so if Nintendo based their code off something like that then it would make porting games easier- they just recompile it for that platform. Which is maybe what they do already, but their consoles and handhelds being closed source we would never know.

@nostalgianinja
Android is no more vulnerable than Windows or (shudders) Apple Mac OS or iOS. At least anyone can patch the bugs, rather than what we have with Windows where bugs persist for decades or Apple where they patch bugs, and the patches don't work. If you are using an OEM version such as that of Samsung, updates do take forever. This is down to the OEM, not Android. If you use a custom ROM such as Cyanogenmod, updates are very frequent, and bugs get patched frequently.

Afaik Dreamcast doesn't run Windows CE, it's just compatible with it and almost no software used it.

This could make sense if the NX is more on the portable side, basically being a NintendoPhone without the phone part. In other words, they double-down on Miiverse, have a FaceTime like thing, heavily eShop oriented, and have agreements with mobile operators so it can run on either 4G or wireless. It could make sense as a super-powered smartphone with proper inputs and the ability to still read some form of physical media (I think they'll need that for one more generation).

NX using Android could be interesting. I would wonder if the 3DS's successor would also run Android. We'll see what happens.

@Vineleaf You don't get it?

If they're going portable with NX it has to have a phone. Mobile gaming is taking over the world because everybody carries their phone with them all the time. The days of single-application gaming portables are nearly gone. If Nintendo wants to hit the market hard with a new portable it HAS to have mobile telephony built-in (or easily added-on). People don't want to carry around a phone and another device. It's that simple. The market for handheld gaming devices without telephony is dwindling and getting smaller by the day me thinks.

Maybe it'll make more sense once we see what the Nintendo NX actually is, but for now I'm not real fond of this idea.

I can't judge the NX OS until I see.

I don't like this idea Hopefully it's not true.

@gcunit I'm saying I would be surprised if it had a traditional telephone number and operated as a phone. Nintendo would have no advantage trying to compete with Apple and Samsung. Here they get closer to that functionality while still being a games company.

It won't be like the Ouya et al. It's a "brand-new concept"

@turbo409uk - Gizmondo? Isn't that the inter-dimensional machine from Buckaroo Bonzai?

@Vineleaf It's not like Nintendo need to get into the world of mobile communications, they just need to put a sim card socket in, a mic and an antennae, and have basic call making functionality built into the OS.

Nintendo can't embrace mobile without 'going mobile'. If they start targeting the mobile phone market but release a new portable device in 2016/17/18 without the ability to make phone calls it would be ridiculous. Unless they're going down the 'wearable tech' route.

@Dpishere By the time the NX comes around, I'm guessing 2017 at earliest, I expect it would be pretty affordable. I guess it would be the equivalent of what the PS Vita was and what it cost relative to it's times, in terms of the tech and the price of it in relation to what's on the market when it releases. So, whatever the Vita cost at launch, I think the NX, as I have described it, would be pretty much on par with that and possibly even a bit cheaper to be honest.

@ZenTurtle Well if Nintendo does decide to go with Android it will be interesting to see what it does with it.

It's simple. Android is freely available to use, not tied to Google in a meaningful way (they can branch off all they want) and gives them a ton of functionality for the non-gaming side of the device with very little work.

Makes sense to me.

All this other reactionary speculation is just that.

I will say that it does suggest that this is a portable machine we are talking about and Nintendo wants to fit in to a mobile space with a dedicated gaming focus. That's not to say that the next console won't also have android. Nintendo is unifying the efforts on all hardware.

I don't see it as an actual phone though. Too much of a headache for very little gain.

Nooooo! I always said Nintendo and Apple are to much a like! Android is so freaky cheap garbage broken operational system!!!

@gcunit That's a bit where I would see it going, yeah, to wearables. Assuming NX is portable, I feel like the only way that market segment can survive is with increased connectivity to social media. But I think they have to position it as a supplemental device to phones and tablets, one that also docks for home use. Video chat, etc., stay, but if you try to position this as though it were a phone, it dies right out of the gate.

That said, and actually on topic, I hope the OS is nothing like the Android we see on our daily devices.

@aaronsullivan

"I don't see it as an actual phone though. Too much of a headache for very little gain."

You do realise quite a lot of people, globally, carry mobile phones. Have a guess how many of them would, if given the choice, prefer to carry a separate android gaming device in addition to their phone, rather than an all-in-one (particularly given that their phone will likely be a gaming device anyway).

@Vineleaf

"but if you try to position this as though it were a phone, it dies right out of the gate."

Let's imagine Nintendo had included telephony in the DS series of hardware. How many people who have bought a DS would not have bought one because it had the annoying inconvenience of also being able to make/take calls?

I don't see what the headache is. It adds little to the production costs. It can be disabled/enabled by the user to preserve battery life.

@gcunit Now reduce the number down to those who want game controller buttons and sticks raised to their face or facing outward as they talk to someone. And who want to pay for a device that has phone connectivity as a secondary feature that is very poor compared to competitors. And those that can afford a contract or don't mind paying a premium for phone chips that they'll barely use.

Maybe Nintendo is looking at a premium $700 device for those who want it all in one with a contract or whatever, but it seems dubious to me, at best.

@gcunit I absolutely agree with what you're saying, that most will choose not to carry two devices. But I can only see Nintendo working with DeNA to get even more of their games, including new ones, onto existing platforms rather than sinking a ton of money into making their own device.

I think the only way such a concept could work is with a home dock to make it a console. Almost no one I know carries a 3DS, even, because they're happy with the games they already have on phones and tablets. Nintendo needs to have a compelling reason for us to carry the device. If they don't take the huge gamble that is a phone, then they have to have a compelling reason for its use. I think that would be massive social integration and home docking.

You're bang on with the DS thing, too. That would have worked brilliantly. But I think that ship has sailed too far to try to get it back.

@gcunit
"I don't see what the headache is. It adds little to the production costs."
How do you figure this? Not to mention the design decisions that need to be made around cell and wifi antennae. It's been tweaked and perfected for years by very experienced hardware makers in the field so it feels commonplace but it is expensive in money and design.

I'd rather Nintendo put that effort into something I can game with primarily.

Sure, if it was just $10 more and no thought or effort and it worked as well as my actual phone, I'd buy 4 of them, but that's not remotely the case.

The DS would have been bulkier, had a shorter battery life and cost at least twice as much, in my estimation. So figure that into your speculation.

This would make so much sense, and its great news. The OS on the Wii U is buggy and slow, and it is obvious that Nintendo lacks the skills to make a proper console OS. It can only get better with Android underneath.

Android can be what you want it to be. It could be the perfect base system for a new Nintendo Console.

Basic Android is Open Source, and you do not need to use Google services if you don't want to. Nintendo could easily fork Android, and use the good parts as base system, while putting their own layers and modifications on top of it. Amazon does the same with their devices, and have their own shop etc. Nintendo would probably do it the same way.

Nintendo would still make their own dev tools for this new system, that would allow developers to get the best out of the console hardware, and make great optimized games. Android underneath as base system would not change that.

@Kirk Definitely agree with your first comment (#3) and some interesting ideas in your concept of what NX might be and should/could offer. Don't agree on the power part though: they don't have to go into an all out battle with Microsoft and Sony for that, but I honestly think that they really can't sell a console that's on par with or slightly more powerful than the previous one anymore.
@manu0 It's a bit more nuanced than that, so your comment is not entirely correct:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:b-74IMuixeUJ:segaretro.org/Windows_CE+&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=nl&lr=lang_en|lang_nl
ON TOPIC and in general:
Android in it's official form should be a definite no, but like a lot of you have already said: there are so many options with the possibility of not having anything to do with Google that it might be interesting to see where that could lead to. On the other hand I think going with x86 is a way better option: when powerful enough it will allow for backwards compatibility of ALL previous systems and other virtual console software, it is easy to develop for, could once again open doors with third party developers and there are probably some other advantages that I forgot to mention.

But to be honest, the source of this article is nothing more than someone guesstimating and reading between lines, so the rumor mill has started up once again, and as far as I'm concerned based upon nothing but assumptions. This more than likely stems from putting some things together from information found in a report (as mentioned on NeoGAF) and the things we (think we) know so far about the deal with DeNA.
As far as I know based on FACTS, the only two things that DeNA will be involved in for the next couple of years is helping Nintendo set up a solid online structure and they will be a partner in the 5 or 6 mobile games that Nintendo is going to make within the next 2 years. Other than that, there is nothing else upon which you could base that Nintendo will be using Android for it's next gaming platform. And since nothing will be mentioned this coming E3, it's probably going to be quite a while before we will hear something...

You guys are crazy to think Nintendo will make a phone. They don't even allow voice chat for online games. No parents will buy it for their kids.

If Nintendo made a phone, you can't call anyone if they aren't on your friend's list.

That will be such a smart idea: put android based os on Nintendo console can be a brilliant way to solve the lack of third party problem. Lots of people develop games on abdroid. I am sure that the prospective system will be much more powerful than Oyra. However, please scrab the idea of the gamepad. I have not seen many games that really use it.

@Nintendian

A fair few parents do buy phones for their kids. They like their kids to be contactable etc. A parent, I think, would quite like the choice to buy one device rather than buying a phone and a 3DS. Parental controls can be implemented.

@aaronasullivan Adding telephony to an already sophisticated device would be peanuts. A budget phone can be had for £10. Smartphones cost more because of all the fancy extras, but a 3DS has most of them already built-in, apart from the screen and camera being lower res. The cost implications would be minor.

Am I the only one who read "Nintendo NX could use Google's Android Operating System" and immediately felt uncomfortable and let down?

@Hordak
No, as you can see in the comments, there are other ill-informed and confused individuals like you. Why are you uncomfortable and let down by this?

Android can be an fantastic foundation, and help Nintendo in areas where they do not have the skills. Look how awful and buggy the Wii U OS is.

Nintendo NX would probably not look much like Android, but have its own interface made by Nintendo. There wouldn't be any trace of Google or Google services, because Nintendo would probably just fork the basic Android system.

No matter what people are saying about Android, it is a fantastic system, that runs great on the right hardware. And Nintendo only needs to make the system work on one particular hardware setup. Not thousands of different phones or tablets!!

This would be amazing news. Problem is, this is too good to be true. Nintendo is way too stubborn to use someone else's OS for their own, even as a base. They're more inclined to attempt improving their own horrible crap than to use something superior and more accessible.

What kind of Nightmare Fuel is this?! Google is probably the least trustworthy company on the planet, having them involved in ANY console is a guaranteed death sentence!

@manu0
Unfortunately, unlike Apple, Nintendo has absolutely no idea what they're doing when it comes to software OS.

@AVahne Well, I wouldn't say so. At least Nintendo's OSes run smoothly unlike Android...
They also don't crash very often..so I'm not sure why you're saying this. I agree that the user interface design could be better in some cases, but I think the core OSes are fine.

What I really would like to see is: Apple designing a premium quality console or hand held (including the OS) for Nintendo and Nintendo making games for it.

@manu0
Smooth? What dimension do you live in?
The 3DS and Wii U OSes run slowly and tend to crash every now and then (or at least freeze).
Android has hiccups, but that depends entirely on which OS version and the ROM that you're using and the hardware you're running it on. On great hardware with the better versions, Android is absolutely superb and leagues ahead of anything Nintendo could ever produce.

@AVahne I could write an OS that runs smoothly on the most powerful hardware...just throw better hardware at an OS so it'll run better...that has nothing to do with the art of OS design. I'm pretty sure Android would run TERRIBLY on the Wii U and 3DS hardware. The Wii U and 3DS OSes make the most of the hardware they're running run.
Every OS I ever owned crashed on me, 3DS and Wii U are no exception, but they don't crash more often than other OSes.
The Wii U still has long loading times, yes. But when the menus are loaded they run smoothly (and I'm VERY picky about this stuff, that's why I don't like Android), so I have no idea what you're talking about.

-looking through the comments most people seem to dislike the idea, which i don't understand.
-Android OS gives so much freedom to the manufacturer to customise, design and optimise the OS to their liking and gives them the base of the OS which will be a great starting point for Nintendo.
-The Android OS gives the users so much personalising options ( which is why i like android so much) and with google's own Play store the amount of services and application (like spotify, crunchyroll, etc) open out of the box is huge. With google's own books, music, news, tv/movie services the users will have tons of content available to them.
-Google has its own achievement system which nintendo can use with their games and content which means that all the android user bases can see the nintendo games that are being play so will have great advertising incentive for nintendo.
-Android has a feature where you can purchase and send command to download to any connected android device from any device.
-If NX is going to be both handheld and home console (i have this idea of the controller being the portable handheld device) the games and content can be linked together, so you seamlessly transition from playing games or movies on your tv to your handheld as you leave your house android can keep them connected just like i do when i switch watching a movie between my tablet and my phone.
-the possibilities and endless

@AVahne Never had the 3DS OS crash on me, slow down or freeze. And I have a ****load of games on it.

If true, this would be great news. Android is a great open source OS. The big negative reactions seem to be from people who immediately think of smartphones. Thing is, just because you are running Android does not mean it has to look like or resemble Android on smartphones in any way. If anything, it'd be more like Nvidia Shield. Nintendo would obviously have it be heavily customized, with some customization for the user.

There's many advantages to open source Android:
-Emulators are easily run (meaning the Virtual Console games don't take any effort unless it's some sort of Duck Hunt or Pokemon situation)
-Not required to use any Google services, but they do have the option for it, including Google Play Store
-Compatible with multiple engines, some of which the Wii U struggles with
-Ease of porting, which is excellent for indie devs
-Access to countless apps like Youtube, Netflix, Spotify, Twitter, Skype, etc.

There's plenty of others. Now, as far as disadvantages go, there's one major one: Piracy. Nintendo would definitely have to find ways to counter that, some of which we may not like.

@TheRealThanos I actually think they could stick with Wii U power (my entire concept is basically based around this approach)—potentially it might need to be a little more powerful depending on how powerful the hardware would need to be to run/emulate VC versions of GC games (and maybe get some ports of current PS4 and Xbox One games)—and especially if you think about what I'm saying...

It's really just an alternative Wii U, ultimately, just in portable form. So the Wii U generation doesn't come to an end with the release of the NX; it actually continues on for another whole generation. It lives on as the NX (in terms of the home console there technically would be no "next-gen" with the new hardware; just the Wii U version X, as it were). This NX would exist as a thing on its own for some people (it's basically their next handheld), or as a way of expanding their Wii U functionality by the addition of the NX as additional controllers (as well as them still being proper handhelds in their own right for those people too); alongside the firmware update that greatly enhances what the Wii U is all about in general too.

Nintendo won't then be competing with Sony or Microsoft in the homes space directly at all, as the NX is primarily a portable; Nintendo's next-gen handheld (that can also stream to the TV and be used as an extra controller for the current Wii U too)—it's an entirely different space from those home consoles and in that space I imagine it would compete well enough with any handheld the likes of Sony puts out next-gen (in terms of a handheld). It takes Nintendo completely out of the arms race and focuses back on all the stuff that will make people care about a new Nintendo system imo; in light of Nintendo not trying to basically directly compete with those other guys for another generation (as these all-out cutting edge multi-media hubs/boxes under you TV).

It's basically Nintendo saying "We've utterly dominated in the handheld space for 26 years and here is our next-gen handheld, which is now also combined with our home console; so we don't need to compete with you any more". It's also a way to help save/turn the Wii U into a platform that potentially has far more years left in it and could make it basically a 3-pillar approach: The NX; the Wii U; the 3DS—all of which work together via Nintendo's new unified/connected service and the creation suite I mentioned. Any games made for NX would basically automatically also work on Wii U by default (the digital versions), which would be a brilliant turn of events for Wii U owners going forward for another however many years because that's a whole lot more games/support, and any games for Wii U would automatically work on NX too (again, the digital versions), which gives it a great start right out the box, with some genuinely stunning software to choose from (not even mentioning the libraries of every Nintendo console ever).

When you give gamers a system like that: A system that can basically play game from every single previous Nintendo console (every console; home and handheld); helps make the Wii U fresh again (giving it proper 4-player local multi-player with 4 players each having custom screens; which could lead to some very cool game ideas); works in tandem with its other consoles in various ways (unified account, cross-play, sharing creations and more); and opens up user creativity on a scale never seen before in the console market (via the creation suite toolset), to basically all Nintendo gamers...I don't see how having even more power than say a PS4 really matters to be honest. A little bit more power than a Wii U might be useful in some way, possibly/maybe, but I don't think there'd be many people upset with what is basically Nintendo's next-gen handheld—looking at it on a surface level; and this is how I imagine Nintendo would market it to the casuals to keep it nice and simple—that is basically as powerful as a Wii U (running in at least 1080p, with hands free 3D, multi-touch and a full software creation suite in-the-box for free...).

PS. I was just thinking that this also fits in with a few other things Nintendo said too: About it being a new console yet doesn't replace either Wii U or 3DS (Well my idea certainly fits that bill nicely); it's codenamed NX (which often means cross-over; kinda like my idea is); they're looking into making the NX region free (makes sense for a portable device and this was historically the case with its previous handhelds before DSi); they said they'd recently merged the console and handheld hardware divisions to create greater collaboration between them; the rumour about going with Android would work well with user creating and sharing content made directly on NX (possibly even charging for it; with Nintendo taking its cut)...

PPS. This is just ONE idea I have for NX by the way. I actually like my other one better in many ways—boy could it be cool—but that's a whole other beast and is really just a personal dream idea lol

Thinking about it more, this rumor might have some credibility. About a year or two ago, Iwata talked about wanting their future hardware to run a common OS to make ports as easy as possible. This rumor fits the bill.

Look at Microsoft right now with Windows 10 - they're making it run across all of their platforms (PC, tablets, phones, Xbox). That's exactly what Nintendo wants. Using an open-ended Android based OS would make sense.

If true, then it provides a full media center right out of the box and ease of porting for 3rd party devs - AAA and indie alike.

@Project_Dolphin It seems that you misunderstood me. I said: "they don't have to go into an all out battle with Microsoft and Sony for that, but I honestly think that they really can't sell a console that's on par with or slightly more powerful than the previous one anymore.." The emphasis is intended to be on the second part of that sentence, which is unrelated to the other two systems. I'm simply saying they shouldn't release a new console that is basically a Wii U power-wise. They will definitely NOT be able to pull off the Wii sales trick again, that was a damn lucky shot, and they know it.
With progress (and gaining market shares) in mind, it is to be expected that games on ALL upcoming consoles will all be rendered in 1080p native (at least), they should also easily run in 60fps and obviously everything should be a step up, not a step down.
Besides the fact that the other two will also release more powerful successors when the time comes (presuming that they actually will release another console) it just wouldn't be a smart thing to do for Nintendo.
I really like the idea that Kirk has proposed here, but I would couple that with a x86 environment and enough power for all necessary emulation and/or backwards compatibility. Powerful enough does not necessarily mean more powerful than the competition. That does not have to happen, but more powerful than the Wii U is a given and it must of course last them quite a few years, so another tough to sell product is not something that Nintendo should want to put out there.
The things proposed by Kirk are interesting and nice, and I'd probably sign up for it, but people that haven't been interested in buying a Wii U so far, are not going to be swayed by a couple of fancy extra's.
Nintendo does not have to bow to convention and they should stay their own course without going head to head with the competition, but they do have to step it up quite a bit, on several fronts.
@Kirk if it is going to be a sort of a handheld, that can be connected to the TV in some way, then being as powerful or slightly more powerful than the Wii U might be more than enough. I once theorized that it could be a powerful handheld system with a docking station to connect it to the TV, but in my opinion the docking station would have to have additional hardware in it to make the home console experience a more powerful one in comparison.
So, for the home experience I stand by my previous comment: they just can't sell it to the public anymore to put out new hardware that is on par or only a bit more powerful. Especially considering it's going to be 5 years later, hardware with similar power is significantly cheaper, so making a considerably more powerful console for the same cost as a Wii U is completely within the realm of possibilities.
And going with x86 ensures options for third parties, whether they will come or not; there'll be no programming/development related excuses this time around. And think of all the things you could do with emulation on a platform that is more than powerful enough: full backwards compatibility, there are more than enough emulators for nearly every legacy system out there, so besides all the good things you've mentioned, they'd have that as well and THAT could very well be the ultimate package. Just sayin'...

EDIT: And with the current range of game engines, most of which are scalable, they could program the games to "auto-adapt" to the platform they are running on, so for example medium settings on the handheld and on ultra settings when the handheld is placed in the docking station at home.

@Kirk

I think NX will be a tablet too, and agree with most of what you say, but they can't squeeze the Wii U into a handheld yet and do it for under £250 - the Wii U's processor runs so hot, that the bulk of the main unit is a massive heat sink and an extractor fan. You think the gamepad has a bad battery life now? You probably don't remember sega Game Gear.

But nintendo are talking about a scalable software development platform, not unlike PC gaming. I think at some point there will be a handheld, a tablet, an iphone/android app and a set top box - they'll all run off variations of the same AMD chipset, but the set top box will have a fancy GPU, so you can play the same games in 1080p, or stream your device to the TV with upscaled graphics.

The actual next-gen Nintendo OS won't look like your android phone. The 'android os' headline is missing the point a little.

Android is a linux-based OS. Remember that Wii and Wii U are also linux-based systems, it follows then that whatever NX is, it's linux-based, and Nintendo are running Android on it at a development stage, until they can get their own development environment up and running.

This is very very good news for developers, and for gamers. Linux is free, open-source and easy to use. Its compatible with your phone, your mac and your PC. Its very home brew friendly, it's developer friendly, and it's the go-to OS when you want cross device compatibility since it's designed to work on multiple scalable platforms.

What is interesting is that Wii U currently runs its OS on a separate CPU (you'll remember the infamous 1GB reserved for that purpose). With all that heavy duty attention devoted in 2012 to the OS when the Wii U was designed, had nintendo planned this all along? Will this extra 1GB be reserved for communicating with 3DS and NX?

@TheRealThanos Yeah, I personally don't think it matters at all about competing with Sony's and Microsoft's next-gen home systems in terms of power when it comes to an idea like I'm specifically proposing, but for emulation/bc stuff—basically playing all the games from every previous Nintendo console ever—then obviously I'd want it to certainly be powerful enough to manage that without any issues. Also, yeah, I guess it would probably be a good idea to make it around as powerful as the current-gen PS4 and Xbox One, ideally, so it could easily get ports of all those games too potentially. It obviously couldn't be anywhere near as powerful as whatever Microsoft and Sony put out next anyway (if it's to be this handheld I propose), so I think devising a third party support model/plan that doesn't rely on cross-platform ports of those next-gen games would be smart; hence where I'm coming from with getting support for ALL Nintendo's previous consoles (home and handheld) on there, along with giving every single NX/Wii U/3DS owner the ability to create their own games and whatever other kind of content/media they want basically, out-the-box for free on NX (but via a firmware update for Wii U and 3DS), and to be able to share it with other NX, Wii U and 3DS users (as well as easily post videos/animations online, and maybe some other content, to sites like YouTube etc). I think having access to the entire history of all Nintendo's previous console's games, the entire current Wii U library, as well as any new games that are made specifically NX, or Wii U going forward and probably 3DS too, should be plenty to set the system up on a strong footing; and if third parties don't support Nintendo's next-gen handheld with that kind of mind-boggling running start then they likely never would imo

Note: The dongle to stream to TV would in my mind be really simple; like that Chromecast thing or whatever. Literally just a little dongle that takes the video signal and outputs it to the TV, or whatever

@tysonfury I'm pretty confident that by the time the actual NX comes out, probably 2017 at earliest imo, fitting something the power of a Wii U into a device the size of a GamePad won't be an issue.

@tysonfury That is incorrect. There was an article about that on Ars Technica. I've found it and they too say it's incorrect: just check the update above the article: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2006/10/7939/
P.S.
The link in the update isn't working, so here's that page as well: http://saruwatari-wii.blogspot.nl/2006/10/
If Nintendo had tried to use "a proprietary form of Linux kernel" they would have been in breach of the public license conditions under which permission to copy that software is granted to everyone.
EDIT: There are a couple of homebrew programs that offer Linux emulation on Wii/Wii U, and on the Wii U you can even install Linux (Ubuntu), but that isn't the same as the console's OS running on it, obviously.

@Kirk We think the same for the most part, but for optimal performance in the home, I'd still go with a home base/docking station that has a wired connection to the TV and preferably its own additional hardware, to upscale games for home use. Seems like a best of both worlds solution to me...

@TheRealThanos I'd def try to avoid that to be honest. My whole idea revolves around the concept of making the NX basically as simple and clear to understand as possible, for all types of gamers—mainly just don't confuse or scare the casuals. So for me, just having that single handheld unit and a tiny dongle that plugs straight into the back of the TV only when you want to stream to the big screen, is ideal. Simple but effective imo. I don't think anything else is needed and I'm confident Nintendo could get everything to run very smoothly with just the dongle.

Remember; normally with multi-player games, NX owners would either just play system to system on via online; so the dongle is really for streaming one video stream to the TV for the most part. There's also the option for people with a Wii U to use the NX as an additional controller, up to three of them, but in that case they would already have the Wii U as the "box" as it were

Nintendo would literally just market/sell it as its next-gen handheld console, NX (or whatever it calls it), and the successor to the likes of Game Boy and 3DS. Simple, clean, and no customer confusion or muddy messaging etc. All the cool secondary features would just be details in the instructions—"You can also stream the image to your TV using the provided dongle..."—and stuff that hardcore gamers like us will obviously be well aware of upfront. As long as the core handheld is an attractive enough proposition at face value, which I think it would be, then the casuals will likely lap it up (it is after all the next Nintendo handheld), and with all other features, that will be detailed/covered by sites like IGN and Nintendo Life etc, then we'll all be clued-in to how deep the rabbit hole really goes, which I think will sell it to all the more "core"gamers too.

PS. No need to "upscale" with a 1080p capable handheld Unless everyone has 4K by then lol

@Project_Dolphin Yeah, imo, there's no chance Nintendo is stepping back into the cutting-edge hardware race. I think those days are over, and have been for a long time

Shame, because it was so cool when Nintendo used to boast about how powerful machines like the SNES and N64 for were compared to the competition

But; with a little bit of smart thinking, I believe Nintendo can basically sidestep that debate altogether this time around

@Kirk I'm pretty sure Nintendo would be more than capable to get it to work, especially with all they've learned recently but I still have to kindly agree to disagree on the home part: a Wii U could not offer the step up needed to play host to several, let's call em "extended" GamePads having options such as you describe. The home station with added hardware could easily do that. I did say that Nintendo needs to stay on their own course, so I already agreed that they definitely do not need to go head to head with the other two, but they DO need to move forward and keeping the exact same hardware is standing still and that is running the risk of making another bad mistake that might even cost them more than the Wii U is costing them now, even though that is now finally but slowly climbing out of the dark.
I think their best bet is to ditch the whole proprietary PPC hardware and go with the flow, for all the reasons I previously mentioned. Having similar hardware does not exclude them still being able to do their own thing.
And you also have to take into account that the largest part of the market is definitely NOT going to accept anything less than what current gen consoles already promised but hardly delivered on (1080p & 60fps native). Besides that, I don't think we need to have a very large upgrade in graphics: anything similar to a decent game PC would be fine.

https://seanmalstrom.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/unlikely-that-nintendo-will-adopt-an-open-os-like-android/

Oh you kiddos...

"Protects his old Nintendo systems to ensure they last for years to come" say this ain't so.

@manu0
On 3DS, yes it will run terribly if no optimizations are made. Same with Wii U if no one builds a version compatible with PPC. The beauty of Android is that it's very flexible and can be made to run well on a wide variety of hardware. Of course you can say any OS can be made to run well if the work is put into it, but Nintendo has shown that they're just not proficient in OS design. Using Android as a BASE would do wonders for them, as it's more efficient than anything they've ever made. Android is constantly evolving at an extraordinary rate both officially and through custom ROMs made for many completely different devices; it would serve Nintendo well to absorb all the good Android has and build upon it. Things like proper multitasking (which Vita's OS is also sort of capable of) and a proper notification and settings system for example.
I'm also picky about my OSes. Android does have issues every few versions, but when it's good it's wonderful. Unlike the 3DS and Wii U OSes, where I continue to wonder when they'll fix stability issues.
Our use cases are likely different, so I wouldn't know how lucky you've been with Nintendo OSes.

@Ferret Hey! I really like android, and I've never really had too many stutters with my devices, which mostly run jellybean. And I've heard Lollipop is amazing. But I agree a console like Nintendo would totally wreak the purpose of an android operation system, the customization it all. That's the real reason why people buy an android powered device.

Going Darth Vader: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I don't want Android! I don't want stuff from those Google criminals! What's with good old Nintendo making their own operating systems?! This must be a sick rumor. If it turns out to be true, its disgusting!

I love my Ouya, but it's really nothing more than a hacking box in my house. I have more stuff sideloaded onto the poor thing than I ever got from the actual Ouya marketplace.

As a standalone console, it's pretty awful, but for 99 bucks I wasn't really expecting much either. With a better processor, it could be a great platform, though. If it is true, NX might just be a 'third pillar' device instead of a hardware replacement for either Wii U or 3DS.

@TheRealThanos Again; this is a handheld and not a home console, so I genuinely think the large part of the consumer market in the handheld space would be more than accepting of a full 1080p, Wii U level graphical power, 3D no glasses, multi-touch dedicated portable. No one expects a handheld to match next-gen home console level specs (or 'current-gen' when it comes out obviously), or even come close to be honest. Certainly I personally don't think that's the case. I think having Wii U level power and visual quality in Nintendo's next-gen portable, or PS4/Xbox One ideally, would be more than enough for most people.

I also honestly don't think the Wii U (acting as a "base station") would have any major issues with taking the input from 3 extra "GamePads", as it were, IF those extra "GamePads" (NX systems) are doing all their own work and it's really just the player input signals and some simple data from each unit that the Wii U has to track for the most part.

I mean the Wii U doesn't have to worry about entirely processing the games running on each of these systems. In fact; think of how Wii U handles multi-players using separate Wii U systems now via online. You can have games with multiple Wii U players, each essentially using their own GamePad (like in 8 player Splatoon for example), and yet the Wii U can still show/run the game on all ends, including anything the other players are doing, without any hassle. Basically the same thing would be happening here except the Wii U would be tracking essentially 4 wireless controller signals (3 of which would just be NX systems), which it already does no probs. I mean you can also already have Wii U games with 4-player split-screen, so it's kinda running 4 independent instances of the game from each person's perspective, in essence, as well as tracking the GamePad and whatever is on that screen, plus multiple additional Wiimotes or Pro controllers. I don't see a problem with it tracking 3 extra NX console signals as long as the NX units are doing pretty much all the processing work for the particular instance of the game on their end, which they would be.

That's the beauty and indeed the whole point of these "extra controllers" being NXs—basically entirely self-contained and fully working Wii U consoles in their own right—as opposed to just trying to get a current Wii U system to work with 4 current GamePads at one time (which is basically impossible for all intents and purposes). This is my solution to getting multiple "GamePads" on Wii U for current Wii U owners, where it simply wouldn't be possible via traditional means (using 4 GamePads).

Also; just as a reminder: The Wii U would also receive a firmware upgrade that includes any necessary code and stuff required to help get this working smoothly—obviously it's not capable of such a thing out-the-box just now—along with all the cool 'creation suite' stuff I mentioned too

Does that make sense?

@Kirk Makes a lot of sense, actually. Most of it did, which is why your idea appealed to me in the first place. For the most part anyway...
But I need to clarify some of my own comments: I totally agree with you on the first segment about it being a handheld and thus not needing to be that powerful. I already agreed with that in the first place, so there is a little misconception going on there.
The thing that I very strongly suspect is not going to be accepted 5 years after the original Wii U is that if you play these games at home on a large screen, that there isn't going to be any improvement whatsoever hardware wise or graphics wise. That is why I proposed the docking station with its added hardware to amplify what's already done by the "Wii U's in a handheld" to make the home experience a richer and more "next gen" one, so to speak.
I assume, but correct me if I'm wrong, that in your concept we also keep the original GamePad, so coupled with three Deluxe Wii U Pads that would certainly equate to another version of Nintendo's own asymmetric gameplay...
I do have to wonder about the proposed firmware update though: it could work, since you explained that the bulk of the work doesn't have to be processed by the Wii U itself anymore, but I will bring this back to what I said before in this and previous comments: the handheld experience sounds really great to me, but on the big screen we must see some progress, and the same hardware is not going to bring that, so coupling your handheld Wii U's with the added power of my base station (doesn't necessarily need to be a docking station, since we need all the Game Pads) will provide that superior experience that a home console needs to have over a handheld.
I do think that people would like that option to be available instead of playing a handheld game on your TV. I personally wouldn't want to play anything that is meant for a smaller screen on my HD TV. Our ideas combined result in a somewhat similar concept as the rumored Nintendo Fusion, that also has a separate base station with it's own hardware to differentiate the on the go and home experiences from each other, and I'll stick to my point of them really needing new hardware, at least in these new handhelds, to at the very least offer both Nintendo and third parties some options and re-open some doors that have been shut very tightly these last few years.
So, in turn I hope that makes sense to you too.
(by the way: if not, let's not debate this into infinity because we will probably both stick to the respective parts that we don't agree upon, so it's probably better to reach a compromise on the points that we do see eye to eye on, and as far as I'm concerned we're already there for the most part)

Seriously no. Pointless

NEWSFLASH!
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/06/02/will-nintendos-nx-adopt-android-company-says-no/
I guess that's that then for all you Android-loving tree huggers...

@TheRealThanos Well; regarding the NX vs the GamePad: Even though the NX has some extra functionality I would think if a developer is going to create multi-player games that also work with Wii U then they wouldn't worry too much about any of the extra features, just the main control stuff basically. So you wouldn't expect to be able to use multi-touch in a "cross-compatible/cross-generation" game, as it were, during 4 player local on Wii U for example. It would really just basically be used like playing with 4 "GamePads" on Wii U (It just happens that 3 of those "GamePads" are really NXs acting as such).

I mean let's be honest: The amount of games that would be made to specifically take advantage of the 4 player local multi-player using one GamePad and three NXs as additional GamePads would be pretty small—it's a very special case scenario for the most part (as cool as it is)—and in those specific cases I'm pretty sure developers could find ways to make their games fun without having to force multi-touch into the gameplay if not entirely necessary. I mean what do we really use multi-touch for most of the time outside of menu stuff, looking at pictures and browsing the web (all usually solo experiences)...?

The main benefit of NX being like a Wii U, in both power and general functionality, is that it means developers could basically just make games that work for both NX and Wii U at the same time; which gives current Wii U owners a supply of new software for quite a few more years than the Wii U would have seen otherwise—if the NX was an entirely new console and architecture.

I'm still not convinced at all that just because you can stream the NX to the TV, people would suddenly be annoyed if it didn't go above Wii U or even say PS4/Xbox One level of quality. I don't think they'd think of it like that—like a [gimped] home console experience—but as what it actually is; streaming your handheld to the big screen for convenience when in the house. Remember; NX, as I envision it, would be marketed very clearly as Nintendo's next-gen handheld—not a new home console.

Also; to be clear again: Just because these games are made for a device with a small screen by default, they are still running in 1080p HD; so it they look absolutely perfect on any large HDTV, as any 1080p Wii U games do right now for example.

What you are saying makes sense, I get why you want more power, but I honestly think these are non-issues that you are bringing up (or at least they don't have to be issues, with the right solution)—and having the additional base console unit (the "docking station"), that now creates two different spec versions of the console basically, is an unnecessary extra and over-complication imo (I intentionally/deliberately removed the idea of a main "console box" for that very reason). I mean as soon as you introduce the "console box that sits under your TV" element, even if you just call it a base station or whatever, then people will see it as a home console that should be competing with Sony's and Microsoft's next-gen consoles and therefor they will expect next-gen power; which Nintendo is simply not going to do, and it creates the exact problem I'm trying to bypass with my idea—the very problem Nintendo has suffered from for the last two home console generations. You also add another thing for third party developers to worry about in the CORE NX experience; "Do I make my game take full advantage of the base station power; so it won't be the full experience when on the go. Or do I gimp the base station version to make it fully match the portable build?". Again; another thing that I'm trying to avoid. All the extra Wii U stuff I'm suggesting is totally a little bonus feature, for legacy Wii U owners, and can be completely ignored by most next-gen developers (99% of the games would still run on Wii U anyway). With what you are suggesting it becomes and essential consideration to have to worry about—support one or the other or both.

With my "it's clearly a handheld" version of the design, it's simple and elegant (for the most part), and I really do not think the vast majority of people would be sitting there and going "This 1080p HD Wii U quality stream of my handheld NX game to my TV just isn't good enough!!!"

@Kirk Then we're just talking past each other, since I actually DO see this next edition Nintendo as both a handheld and console, and for my console I want a superior experience as opposed to what I'd get with a handheld.
And you must have noticed all the anti-Nintendo love at the Wii U's current power level, so no offense, but I think it is rather short-sighted to think that anyone other than someone who is a Nintendo fan and potential buyer already is going to accept that. For a handheld okay, but in the concept that I have laid out that is definitely not going to be accepted by the mass market.
Maybe I should have also specified that I'm at least partially looking at this from a sales & marketing perspective as well, so it really has to be quite something to woo the crowd and gaming press. And that is something that Nintendo has had some trouble with of recent years, so being even more niche is not going to do them any good at all.
But again, if you disagree, then let's just agree on that. I would buy your handheld no question. Maybe not day one, but it looks like I would definitely enjoy it. But I would also buy my own home base add-on, for the extra oomph on the big screen that you would naturally expect from a next gen console...

@TheRealThanos So you've not got the point of my design at all then? lol

Technically yes, it is a Wii U home console squished into a GamePad format, but ultimately it's Nintendo's next-gen handheld that is designed in such a way that it means Nintendo basically doesn't have to make a new home console next time around. It doesn't have to make a new home console that's matter of default going to be judged alongside whatever Sony and Microsoft put out next; which we all know would inevitably just fall short (at least in terms of specs). That is the entire point of design—avoiding that particular losing battle and finding a unique all-encompassing solution that basically circumvents it entirely, while not forgoing anything from Nintendo's past in the process.

The Wii U would technically STILL be Nintendo's home console; for another entire generation, under my concept. Hence why it's still supported fully by 99% of new NX games (pretty much any new NX game is also a new Wii U [digital] game by default); why there's a firmware upgrade for Wii U that adds this genuinely amazing ability for all Wii U owners to intuitively create virtually any content they want out-the-box for free (as well as distribute it to other NX, Wii and in some cases 3DS users, or online); and why you can now also use additional NX systems as extra controllers for Wii U if you decide to buy an NX as your next portable.

It makes the NX something worth buying in its own right imo, the next great Nintendo handheld, and also makes the legacy Wii U a bit more satisfying and rewarding to people that already own it. It actually gives the Wii U a much needed boost and a bit/lot more life imo.

Going forward; ALL Nintendo would need from now on is the NX line (there would simply be the NX2 next; or NES3 as I'd personally like to call it, with the current NX being called NES2)*. It can get rid of all the superfluous separate hardware devices and extra controllers, for the most part, and just consolidate it all into this one solution from now on. I'm basically tidying up the entire convoluted mess Nintendo has created in the last few gens; as I see it. Just this one portable device covers/serves every single feature and purpose of all Nintendo's previous consoles/controllers and future consoles/controllers going forward basically—except for the frikin Wiimotes! lol Although it still supports them as extra wireless controllers.

If you think about it...

It runs ALL Nintendo's previous consoles/games (in one simple little box—hence no "dock"); includes all the controls/features from every single previous Nintendo console/controller in one nice neat form factor (except those frikin Wiimotes); is a single all-round hardware unit (so less devices for Nintendo to worry about developing for and supporting going forward, and it's simpler and ultimately cheaper for consumers too); it goes to Nintendo's biggest strength and competitive edge (handhelds) and runs with it; it eliminates the need to compete directly on the tech front with Sony and Microsoft in a battle Nintendo is quite simply losing; it gives the Wii U a potential boost just by virtue of being compatible with it in some way, be it as an additional controller or because all its games also become additional games in the Wii U library (alongside the universal creation suite firmware update); it allows people to stream it to the TV for those times when they just want to chill back on the couch and play their new portable Nintendo games in the comfort of their living room (in full 1080p HD), or for any games that might be designed to use both the controller and TV screen at the same time (like a new NX Splatoon or whatever); and so on and on...

As I see it: THERE IS NO NEW NINTENDO HOME CONSOLE NEXT-GEN!!! LOL Just the NX. Let Sony and Microsoft fight for the media-hub space and let Nintendo do exactly what it does best—making great handhelds (but this time the best handheld they've ever created); without actually eliminating a single meaningful element/feature of any of its consoles as they have existed up to this point (not even the Virtual Boy).

PS. If you're interested in buying a next-gen Nintendo handheld at all and wouldn't buy that handheld ^^^ day one—a handheld that supports basically every single Nintendo game ever created to date out-the-box (and does a whole lot more to boot)—then I don't even know what to say

*If you ignore my other idea for Nintendo's next console for a second

@Kirk Oh man, don't do this to me. From my previous experience talking to you, you seem like an intelligent person, but what I said was actually quite simple, so I don't understand why you don't seem to get it. I COMPLETELY get your point, AGAIN, which is why I was interested in the handheld part of it in the first place, and I'd totally buy one of those "portable Wii U's", but I (and more than likely the market would) want a home console as well, and NOT a handheld that can stream to my TV.
And retaining the old Wii U in the new handheld concept? That would keep Nintendo in the situation they are now, and that is not a good thing AT ALL.
In 2017, the estimated time that this new platform will be out, 1080p and 60fps should be the bare minimum that consoles are able to pull off, and preferably some 4k abilities as well, seeing as UHD TV's will also have become more mainstream by then.
I agree fully that they should not get into a direct competition, but besides that, progress NEEDS to be made, and keeping hardware that is already old and niche for yet another entire console generation is not making any business sense whatsoever, trust me on that part. Unless they have some magical marketing spin doctor hiding in the woodworks somewhere, which they don't.
So in short: agree with you on Nintendo not going into the console race, and I agree with you and would love to see the handheld concept you've drawn out, but besides that I also want a true home console as well and how that should be done in my view is what I tried to explain to you.
That last part is my opinion so I would really appreciate it if you would stop trying to debate that, because like I said in my previous comments, that is NOT going to change and I truly believe, along with the necessary changes in hardware/architecture that this is what needs to be done. And even with Nintendo wisely sidestepping the competition, they should in my opinion still keep an open mind and offer possibilities to third parties whether they will take them or not; at least the options will be there, and all that might bring Nintendo back to a larger audience and a more favorable position in the console market which in turn will provide them with some nice profits as well...
Look at it this way: you've scored two out of three points in a debate, which seems to be a rather positive outcome and more than you could expect to get out of a discussion with the average stranger on an internet site... The third part we'll just gather under "agree to disagree" and "let's stop arguing about that"...

@TheRealThanos Well, my whole idea revolves around the idea of there specifically NOT being a new home console—not in terms of recognisable hardware anyway; as in a console box of any form outside of the handheld unit)—so if you don't agree with that then you don't agree with my idea.

That's totally your prerogative but I'm just clarifying that if you think you're in agreement with my handheld concept but still want a home console, in any recognisable form, then you're missing the point and not grasping that my handheld concept is about more than just the hardware; which is exactly why it can afford to lose one pillar of hardware, as it were.

If Nintendo's still going to go down the route of two new devices again next-gen, handheld and home console, then it's probably just more pointless convoluted Nintendo garbage that's pretty much already destined to lose imo. That's why I'm suggesting a revolutionary new way of looking at things. It might not be totally apparent just looking at the core hardware design but that's why I've tried to detail more than it being just another new piece of hardware. It's an entirely new strategy and paradigm imo; that also happens to manifest physically in the form of a single new handheld.

So, I think fundamentally, we actually don't see the same solution at all.

Also; let's just be clear here: It was me who made the first post in this thread regarding the whole handheld only concept for what the NX could be; so it's you who's still debating my idea and not the other way around. I'm not saying there couldn't be two consoles—it's probably more likely there will be two consoles than what I've come up with (or maybe a new home console with a controller that also acts as a handheld too, which is basically what you were talking about earlier)—but that wasn't what I originally proposed. You're modifying/adding-to my idea with ideas of your own, which is fair enough, but I'm challenging them because there's a lot of reasons why I chose every aspect of the specific design/solution I chose in the first place. I think there are fundamental flaws/issues that will become apparent if Nintendo simply goes with the obvious next-gen home console with a handheld controller solution (that many people have come up with)—or even worse; the two console solution again. That's why I tried to think a little outside of the box (no pun intended) lol

I mean it can def still work/happen other ways too, home console plus handheld controller for example, but I'm trying to come up with an idea that actually fixes most of the numerous problems Nintendo has created for itself over the last few generations rather than just compound them.

But as you said; let's agree to disagree.

Look, I respect your ideas and all, but I would hope that we can get to some positive end result here. The way you compose your comments can have no other outcome than people continuously reacting upon them. Not an accusation, just a simple observation, so it's a bit of a "the chicken or the egg" discussion as to who is continuing the debate. I could refrain from reacting (obviously) but there are some things in your reaction that are at the very least viewed from your point only and not reacting would mean me not defending myself, which is something I would never do.
You proposed a wonderful idea which I was certainly not challenging. At least, not intentionally. I even said I would love to have one, but that was me speaking as a Nintendo fan. As a professional, I just gave my view on it from a marketing standpoint, with the ultimate goal of bringing Nintendo to a larger market share and healthy financial situation again. I understand full well that my addition more or less "ruins" your concept (a bit heavy-worded, but you'll get the point) but it only stems from me honestly questioning the viability of a handheld only concept for Nintendo as a company. Sure, they are still king in that department, but people expect them to come up with some form of home console again, either virtual or physical, and probably rightfully so.
Obviously everything we propose is theoretical, but for it to work we probably need to think broader to a point where we can assess if it would actually work and that is the only thing that I debate, and I brought up some good points as to why that is.
In the end, I'm sure that Nintendo will come up with some interesting concept (or concepts) that may surprise us yet again, but it has to be a solution that speaks to the mass market, or else they'll have another Wii U debacle on their hands, and that would just not be good for the company that we all know and love...
I honestly do understand your sentiment, but rest assured that it was absolutely not my intention to sabotage your idea. It was more an idea of giving my two cents on what Nintendo could/should do, which turned into a whole lot more than just two cents...
Oh well, in any case, have a pleasant evening.

P.S.

If you're interested in buying a next-gen Nintendo handheld at all and wouldn't buy that handheld ^^^ day one—a handheld that supports basically every single Nintendo game ever created to date out-the-box (and does a whole lot more to boot)—then I don't even know what to say

Besides from the fact that (except for the GameCube) I have NEVER bought a console or handheld on day one, there could be multiple legitimate reasons for not doing that, and that has NOTHING whatsoever to do with me not wanting it bad enough or whatever, so I think it's hardly fair for one to be judged on that...

@TheRealThanos Regarding the buying the handheld part: I'm just talking about a person wanting it in principle as opposed to any financial or practical reality of them being able to get it. I mean I personally couldn't actually afford it anyway—I couldn't afford ANY new Nintendo handheld or home console—even if I really wanted it.

I'm just saying I'd be genuinely surprised/shocked if there was someone out there claiming they want a new Nintendo handheld yet if they saw what I'm proposing above, they'd be like "Nah; I don't want that new Nintendo handheld" or "I'll wait and see".

Pretty much because I don't think anyone is going to come up with a better all-round idea for Nintendo's next handheld, as far as I'm concerned, so that's about as good as you're gonna get imo.

@Kirk Yeah, blame life and REAL responsibilities for grown men not being able to indulge in their hobbies as much as they want to anymore...
I'd be surprised too: a handheld with Wii U capabilities will probably be a very interesting product, so no disagreement there whatsoever.
Maybe I should leave my marketing hat off and just forget about the viability of it all, since we're just theorizing anyway...

@TheRealThanos Well, to be fair; I have little illusion that Nintendo will go with my idea. It has "ignored" a lot of my ideas in the past (much to its later detriment imo). So why break the habit of a lifetime.

I don't doubt for one second how successful it would be however, but that's because I can see the idea better in my own head than anyone I'm trying to explain it to. It's only a fault in my ability to explain to people exactly what I envision and to make them see the bigger picture.

We'll see in time what picture Nintendo has in its head but if it's like the Wii or Wii U picture then imo it's just digging a deeper and deeper hole to keep having to try and climb out of down the line

@Kirk Have you ever even bothered to actually propose anything for real? See how Reggie feels about it...
But for that to work, you indeed do need to be able to translate your thoughts and ideas into a clear cut plan. I know how difficult that can be, and that it's not everyone's forte, so I won't judge you on that.

@TheRealThanos Well check this out...

I used to work for Rare, around 1999-2000 as I recall, and I suggested to the guys there that I thought it would be a cool idea to add tilt control into Nintendo's handhelds (I was working on DKCC for GBC at the time) but they said it was a bad idea and dismissed it.

Shortly afterwards Kirby Tilt 'N' Tumble came out.

When I applied for a job a Valve I sent them an idea for a controller I had; that used dual circular touch pads with customisable displays and additional click control. I didn't get the job but I did post this video on YouTube a while later: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5CcwQP7RnY

I also did this and no one really cared (although technically it did get funded): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inceptional/namespace

Pretty much no one has downloaded any of my games either:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=iNCEPTIONAL (Android)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/kirk-johnston/id908692477 (iOS)

For whatever reasons, I'm a guy who can't quite get myself into the right place at the right time. Can't catch that break. Probably because I'm an opinionated argumentative douche and even when I do get an opportunity to communicate my ideas I mostly guff it up in some fashion—as you can probably tell lol

I do however have the [good] ideas (of that have no doubt whatsoever): http://uk.ign.com/articles/2005/08/24/predicting-the-revolution-reader-submissions?page=6

Guess when I originally came up with that idea...?

Hint: It's in the comments below the article.

If only you could clearly see my full vision for what I imagine Nintendo could do next...

PS. On a kinda not-even-related note (but sort of; in a roundabout way): Check out this short story I wrote recently—if you can be bothered—and if so; let me know what you think of it: http://www.inceptional.com/Outside.pdf

PPS. How would you suggest I actually go about proposing anything to the likes of Reggie for real? It's not like people can just send in their ideas to some emai address; that I'm aware of...

I mean if I could actually get a job at Nintendo, I'd propose my ideas to them all day long; but it's near impossible to get past even their job submission forms.

This is why I forcibly post my crap all over the Internet of sites like this every opportunity I get—just in case someone at Nintendo is maybe reading the comments and actually sees some merit in what I'm saying lol

@Kirk Almost sounds like you're a one man version of the Dutch company Philips: they often have great ideas, but most of the time other companies make money from them. (for example Sony with the CD player)
You can reach Reggie on Twitter and he also has a LinkedIn profile. If you have one too, just send him an invite to connect and go from there. Even him refusing could open up a conversation as it doesn't exclude you sending him an email. As for a job: does it have to be in the UK or would you also look abroad? Take a look here:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/06/despite_the_rumours_nintendo_nx_will_not_be_android_based#comment3025915
Don't know if that position is still open, but you could always use that as a conversation opener. Another good site to keep checking is gamasutra. You might already be on there, but if not: it's a very good site for the business side of gaming and they post job vacancies on a regular basis as well.
I've got some other stuff to take care of now, but I will read the short story and get back to you on that.

@TheRealThanos Coolio

Cheers for the suggestions.