It seems that more and more information around the NX is beginning to come to light, as we creep closer and closer to the much anticipated E3 reveal of Nintendo's new platform. Just earlier today, it was suggested that there will be a Super Smash Bros. game of some sort on the device at launch, and that Bandai Namco has multiple projects in the pipeline for launch day. While there's still very little concrete information about the NX, it seems now that we have a bit more information related to its manufacturing.
Macronix is an international tech company that primarily focuses on 'Non-Volatile Memory' such as ROM and Flash. Evidently, the company has a history with Nintendo's portable line of products, having produced memory hardware for DS and 3DS game cartridges. At a recent quarterly results conference call, CY Lu – the company's president – announced that the company will be providing products to the NX and that the console will be launching this year. Here's a translation of the information, courtesy of a NeoGAF member:
Prestigious Japanese videogame console maker Nintendo will launch a new console called NX this year. General Manager of Macronix, CY Lu, said Macronix will provide products for NX and that Macronix has considerable expectations to NX.
In the afternoon, Macronix had held an online conference for investors. As Nintendo is going to launch new console NX this year, investors concern about if Macronix, which have a long-term cooperative relationship with Nintendo, is still part of NX's supply chain.
CY Lu said Macronix will supply memory slots for NX, and that the company has considerable expectation to NX.
Even though CY Lu declined to comment whether the supplied products are ROM, he said he expects ROM sales this year will be exceptional.
What do you think? Will the NX launch this year? How much information do you think Macronix's hardware will be capable of storing? Drop us a comment in the section below.
[source neogaf.com, via tw.stock.yahoo.com]
Comments 85
i hope this is a sign that we're about to be hit by a wave of NX news
@Squalllionhart bring it.
So, now... 3DS replacement? Wii U replacement? Both? Neither? One device? One combined? Two separate? NX is dedicated game platform.
The article mentions E3... did Nintendo confirm it will wait until E3 to reveal it? I don't remember that. Seems logical, I just don't remember any statement saying that exactly. All I remember is 2016 as the year we'll find out more about it.
they are gonna pull a twilight princess with the new zelda and release it on wii u and nx at launch.
@aaronsullivan I remember hearing some line during last year's E3 that said so, but perhaps I'm remembering wrong. Even if we here about it sooner rather than later, you can be sure that NX will prominently feature at this year's show.
@JHDKoopman First of all, they only ported Twilight Princess to the Wii so it would have a creative controller. Second, the Nx isn't going to be a home console.
Well one thing we can all be certain of is these are exciting times!
Seeing as there is still no evidence as to NX specifically NOT being cross-platform, I'm begining to wonder if this potential cross-plat uses cartriges, and MovieBob was actually right the whole time.
I still ain't hitching that speculation bandwagon until an official announcement is made.
People seriously build up their hype levels like this, they only set themselves up for disappointment...
Funny how this isn't a rumour but actual real news. This would mean that NX will have physical copies! Thank goodness!
@NintyMan not to nitpick but i think we should stop referring to it as a hybrid. the 3ds and wii u aren't hybrids even if they can play home console and portable games. the wii u is a console with a gamepad peripheral. if the first nx is a portable that can function as a gamepad that complements the home console it's tethered to then it's a modular system.
The way it's worded, it sounds like the press release is only assuming a 2016 NX launch while Macronix themselves said nothing about a projected release date. Although, we can't say for sure either way with such a spotty translation.
Recent rumors seem to be indicating the portable nx peripheral will launch this year followed by the home peripheral next year. This makes sense to me as Nintendo loves to slow play everyone and stay big on hype.
@Socar Nah, the console itself is digital-only. I mean, it works for the Xbox One and all of those digital console sales, right @TwilightAngel?
@Socar Yep! The previous blueprints that indicated NX won't have a disc drive may have been accurate. Looks like NX will be running off of flash cards like the DS and 3DS!
@KrakenSoup it may be accurate but maybe only for the portable, if the portable really is coming first. if that has the ability to tether to the wii u, then the wii u provides the optical drive. the home nx, whatever that might be, could still have an optical drive. or maybe we will see the old nintendo disk system kiosk again.
This E3 is going to be VERY interesting.
@MitchVogel Any reason why you guys at NL passed over the IHS "NX is a portable and it's coming out the end of 2016" news that everybody else covered?
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/new-nintendo-handheld-device-seen-likely-this-year-20160128-00463
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=ihs+nintendo+nx+handheld
I mentioned it 9 hours ago, I thought you guys, namely TW, would have reported it by now.
@aaronsullivan Don't be mean to the staff, we both know it will be revealed before E3. It had to at this point, too many "portable" rumours and speculation in the wind.
Looks like we could be wrong about Home this year, Away next. Unless that was just my prediction, not yours?
Unless NX is a portable w/ TV out, and that's it, so it is a 3rd pillar, neither Home nor Away, both = different?
@JHDKoopman Twilight Princess. Their new Ocarina of Time.
I think it will be branded as a 'the NX family' kind of things. I really do like the idea of the portable coming first, followed by the console. It gives the Wii U a little extra time (although by that point I think I'd much prefer all focus going on NX games). In any case, actual news looking more likely to be soon will at least bring an end to the slightly wearing speculation (which I'm totally guilty of myself).
If they reveal the NX this year, there'll be no chance for the Wii U to gain anymore sales. They should wait until the sales reach at least 13 million. Maybe NX is an enhancement for the Wii U.
@amiiboacid it will be both
@JosieC84 it isn't selling anyway really. It sells about half of what Xbox does which is half of what the ps4 does. It's been a sinking ship since halfway though its first year
@IceClimbers Did you just type my name cause you looked and found out i have an Xbox One? Pathetic. You're going to call me an Xbox apologist now? Like a fool?
@TwilightAngel Um, no. Don't you watch B0ND? Could have sworn I saw a commentator with the same username on one of his videos. The digital comment was referring to one of the things one of those Xbox fanboys that keeps giving B0ND content had claimed as an excuse for why multiplats are selling more on PS4.
im the one to shout dooooom and damnationnnn most of the time but i have a good feeling about nx.dont know why because we dont know anything at all about it.
I'm guessing that this will be a RTS version of Smash Bros, and the memory products will be things like items that you can send in game.
You'll be able to use amiibos, then throw items like bats, heart containers, etc, to advance your way through Master hands forces or compete against friends.
I guess I would say it will be like Project S.T.E.A.M., except Smash Bros.
Calling it now, I reckon NX will be made of 2 components:
1) Home Console, basically a much more powerful WiiU, faster/more RAM/etc., which will play WiiU games perfectly, and will connect to
2) Handheld, basically a much more powerful 3DS, which will work as controller when connected to Home Console, or as a portable on his own.
NX games will be flashcards, can only be inserted in Handheld, but when connected to Home Console will output to TV taking advantage of stronger processing power, displaying native code. When used on the Handheld, games will automatically downscale in FPS and definition, to match smaller screen.
Still not sure if WiiU games will be available in flashcards too, or as digital download only.
yeah as long its not 8gb/32gb model .... lol !!!
i think its one of the reasons why wii u failed ... 8gb model ?!!! come on
and don't tell me you can add a hard drive and buy it for extra money since i bought the deluxe at launch for 350$ which is way enough money to have 500GB at least standard with the device ....
@peeks felt the same since launch. The memory provided in each launch model was pathetic!
At least 1tb should be in the NX from launch.
@amiiboacid yet you must see that it would make sense to either move the game entirely to the NX or to have it on both systems. I'm sure Nintendo don't want all the money and effort put into making the Zelda Wii U experience to go to waste with low sales (especially if there is promise of a new console round the corner).
@Kicked2TheKirb And also potentially worrying, a new Nintendo console is always an exciting but scary prospect.
Now I'm getting all anxious like Cartman before he froze himself for the Wii
Translated by a NeoGaf member? Does that mean it's legit then?
@andrea987 through all the hype machine and cocky unfounded opinions floating about. You , sir, make allot of sense!! Everything you said about the hardware is spot on imo, I just hope the home console version has more tricks up it's sleeve than upscaled graphics. I personally hope it will link in to my Wii u somehow, maybe through accounts, so I don't loose that hardware to the console junkyard, I really like my Wii u despite its failings!?!
Nervous and exciting times. We've heard lots of rumours, I hope when the actual real NX is revealed there are some surprises that even the Internet couldn't guess. Like maybe a BodyHarvest reboot launch title. Heard it hear first
@YouSeemFRAZZLED Exactly.
I've just done my own translation and it turns out the guy said, "Nintendo is a big pile of sushi poo and the NX will suck bananas. From now on we will only supply our chips to Sega, who are about to launch a brand new series of dedicated gaming hardware, codenamed 'Cecil'."
Launching NX this year could actually be a disaster for Nintendo. NX is a completely new experience according to Nintendo, so is VR. At E3 this year Sony will be launching their PS VR and it will be going head to head with NX.
Who will win?
I've been thinking for a long time now that the NX would combine portable and console play. If two separate devices are launched with linked functionality or full use as stand-alone devices, then that sounds really good!
I really hope Nintendo decides on a more "traditional" E3 conference. The NX is causing ripples and should be revealed in a big way, I feel!
I thought that Nintendo- would release DETAILS ABOUT the NX this year, not the NX itself...
...either Nintendo- wanted this to be a huge surprise (even to the hardcore gamers!) or Nintendo- was going to release a prototype this year.
@amiiboacid Don't know where you got that idea from.
Only a week or so ago on this site, the showed a tweet from TECMO, stating. 'NX is a HOME CONSOLE, first and forenost'.
If NX handheld is download only then count me out. Nintendo is very bad about putting anything on sale, keeping prices at full MSRP 3 or 4 years after release. And even though they have been having sales lately, most of the games are indie and 3rd party. The US still doesn't have the budget line the UK has.
if game codes are available in shops with the 20% discount Amazon Prime members and Best Buy GCU get then that would be ok, but I rarely if ever pay full price for anything. With Nintendo setting prices on the eh op who can afford to game?
NX,more Super Smash Bros DLC. and amiibos,Sonic's 25th Anniversary,TLOZ's 30th anniversary...SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.Oh wait,I don't have any.
@amiiboacid There has been several references from Nintendo employees (including Reggie) and Nintendo and 3rd party developers that the NX is a home console.
If NX is launching this year I do hope we get the reveal or some news next month. I understand Nintendo likes to keep the deck close their chest and doesn't like to copy others. But we need Ninformation.
If Nintendo are going to use cartridges for NX I'm not sure how to view it. Could it be a good thing?
It seems NX will be leaked before Nintendo even gets to show it off themselves
I have zero doubt the Zelda Wii U game is being delayed for NX now. Pikmin 4 is probably getting the same treatment.
@Sample_Text I could easily see the NX as using something like an SD card in a cartridge style format. I even think a patent that someone discover had a system with a SD card slot.
Just four years after the initial release of Wii U, Nintendo makes another new console again, failing those early adopters of Wii U who tolerate over one year of early game drought.
@ikki5 @ikki5 Reggie didn't say that, if you're getting your info from the Wall Street Journal article. He said that Nintendo was working on a new home console; well, no duh. They're always working on a new home console, I can't even imagine a reason or a time when that wouldn't be the case. He didn't say it was the NX, that's speculation.
http://wiiudaily.com/2015/06/reggie-nx-home-console/
I hope he doesn't mean fiscal year
@syrilram Pretty sure it also kind of came up at E3 as well.
They made the ROMs for DS & 3DS game carts? I guess they're making the ROMs for NX game carts too then. At least, the handheld part of NX will use carts, maybe the home console part uses discs? Weird.
It's pretty much a given that NX will launch this year, and it looks more and more likely that a handheld form will be the one we'll see first. The home console variant will probably come next year. All rumours point in the same direction.
Nintendo would be wise to unveil - something- soon, before leaks will spoil everything, it's only a matter of time now before someone starts leaking vital information, what with dev kits out in the wild and hardware production seemingly well underway.
So basically, this means NX will continue the Wii and the Wii U's trend of not using an internal HDD, but allowing an external one. I expected this to be the case, but it solidifies that Nintendo will once again be aiming to create slick looking hardware with some "hidden costs" to access all features. It also lends credence to the idea that the system may be a hybrid of two devices, and will probably offer differing amounts of memory by model. More than 32 GB this time around, but probably no more than 64 or 128 GB depending on the model, to keep costs down.
A return to bulky "cartridges" is extremely unlikely, due to changes in manufacturing costs. Cards are a more likely candidate for NX physical game copies. Cards use flash memory, so they would probably only go up to a similar memory size as the modified Wii U discs, again, to keep costs down, but would of course feature load times faster than an HDD or disc.
Judging by Nintendo's foray into various forms of physically imposed DRM and DLC through Amiibo, as an answer to the digital DRM and DLC of other companies, I find it unlikely that Nintendo would choose to abandon the physical game format at this time.
@Yorumi It's looking like those who made such accusations against people who predicted an earlier release date will soon have egg on their faces.
@rjejr
The NX reveal will likely happen in March or April. I would guess April so it's after the end of the fiscal year as, no matter what, these announcements tend to be met with a drastic drop in share prices and they're not going to want to end the fiscal year on that. E3 will then be used to show off the system, in much the way Microsoft revealed XBO a couple years ago.
@Yorumi
I've been saying NX was getting a 2016 release since Iwata first revealed it's existence.
@ULTRA-64 Same here, man, same here.
@Quorthon "April so it's after the end of the fiscal year"
I'v been thinking early May since Starfox Zero is (currently) due out April 21st and they probably wouldn't want to distract from that. I know its not a big seller, but I think it's big enough that they'll want to keep focused on it. Give it a week to sell, announce the NX hardware, show the games 6 weeks later at E3.
@Quorthon OTOH, maybe w/ all the hubbub and chatter they'll make an announcement of the announcement next Tuesday, something along the lines of "We'll be revealing our new game hardware, codename NX, in the spring." Nintneod always loves to do seasons. Nobody at their company seems to own a calendar that tracks when seasons actually begin or end, but they love using them just the same.
Marginally on topic - what do you think they tell us first, the actual NX name or the Zelda U name? I haven't seen too many people think either will release under those names, and Zelda U is way overdue for some coverage. Like 13 months over due.
NX hype train will keep stronger from now on. Let's hope Nintendo deliver at this year E3.
@GammaNoises Exactly!! As I said in a recent post, HD games are costly and take forever to make. If it releases this year, it will have an even worse lineup than the Wii U did!
@Yorumi I was thinking more along the lines of -
The Legend of Zelda: Fun with Link and Linkle
@rjejr
We'll know the name of the NX console before the next Zelda, though, I wouldn't be surprised if they are done largely together. One thing I feel strongly about is that we'll get NX news before we get more "Next Zelda" news. And the HD Twilight Princess is like an almost too-obvious pre-apology: "Sorry, Zelda U is moving to NX, but we at least gave you two great HD remasters, right guys? Whatever, it's Zelda. You'd buy it even if the box was empty."
@rjejr @Yorumi Or maybe... Link and Linkle are the same person and we finally learn the true secrets of the first Link's role as... A shapeshifting gender bender!? DUN DUN DUNNNNN!
@Yorumi "NOA would censor it"
Well that's a given, Reggie has to do something to earn his paycheck while annoying US based Nitneod gamers.
@peeks thats why i dont support nintendo digital games, they charge you the same as a retail game (for most of them even more) and you have to buy the storage which adds even more to that price) and even with that the infrastructure they have for an external drive is pathetic, they used the cheapest usb slots that you have to research for cables, brands, etc, etc for a external hard drive to even work with the wii u...
@Yorumi well, things changed a bit, people now are speculating that the portable part will be released this year.. not the whole thing.. its not the same..
@GammaNoises but you cant deny that hype sells, look at the ps4, a bunch of HD versions and promises of future releases and its selling like crazy.. hype sells, people want to have "the best" even if they cant do much with it in the present.. they can brag they have it so in two years they can play it...
@Yorumi Oh man, the sorority love is too real. That would really spice up the Zelda series for once! Make it happen, Nintendo.
@Quorthon "Sorry, Zelda U is moving to NX, but we at least gave you two great HD remasters"
I realized this morning watching that new TP HD trailer that it bothers me that Nintnedo is pushing the game way too hard, as if it's a new game, rather than 8 years old and if you still own the Wii disc you can still play it today on the Wii U.
I know Sony promotes all of it's PS3 games hard on PS4 - GTAV, TLoU, Uncharted trilogy, among others - but I feel like Nitnod is neglecting everything else in order to convince gamers this game they just played a few years back is worth $50 again. I'm not opposed to them doing it, money is money, and some people are happy about it, but I'd prefer if this got more of a silent release like XCX, Devil's Third, Fatal Frame, Mario Tennis and AC;aF while they promoted Starfox Zero, Pokken Tournament and Zelda U instead.
I don't think WW HD got pushed this hard, probably b/c it launched alongside SM3DW, and that was where Nintneod was putting all it's marketing efforts. And if this came out last Nov, so be it, they neded a big holiday game, but now, w/ other new games coming out, just shut up about this, it's not that big if a deal, and move on already. You aren't fooling us about the very delayed Zelda U by putting this out.
@IceClimbers Bond? Oh BlackBond? lol Yeah i watch him sometimes and i comment with this username everywhere. You really caught me off guard with that comment fam Sorry for being so hostile towards it. I'll take the L for it XD
With the current trend of VR (gimmick or not, not the point), I think Nintendo plays the portable game (which is Nintendo's money tree) first.
A second box will be released next year sometime to fully replace the Wii U as a hub style system.
Like the Gamecube adapter, it will broadcast to the TV, with each device acting as a controller and one NX portable necessary for processing.
Wireless consoles? This is the first step.
Nintendo may or may not adapt an additional tech into this eventually, but I feel Iwata was speaking to the second screen experience with their QoL program and that the hardware may have been rushed to market with Wii U.
@rjejr It's funny, 2 of the games you listed as quiet Nintendo published and probably knew they were going to be garbage.
Ultra Smash was more like Tennis Lite.
And Chronicles X probably stung a bit too much like Bayonetta 2 (big build, could be critically acclaimed, probably going to flop).
Star Fox is a Platinum game and repeatedly delayed. Zelda has been the quiet front and Nintendo clearly wants people interested in Zelda when hell freezes over and the new game sees the light of day.
Zelda's last delay caused my abandonment of Wii U, so it's a legitimate concern.
Sure, they could easily promote a game like Pokken Tournament (doing Bandai Namco's job for them) and lose money when people realize it's the same arcade game with the same terrible controls.
Or pour the money the didn't have to spend on TP to promote the game.
To clarify, Wind Waker was the game that dropped with the price cut.
Why spend money talking about something when the numbers speak louder than any advertisement?
(Post script: complaining about an HD remake as being too expensive in the same rant as amiibo Festival gets a mention is ironic. Particularly when you failed to rant about AC's cost. Or Ultra Smash's for that matter.)
@SahashraLA Both AC and Ultra Smash are new games, TP is 9 years old. That's pretty much the end of the discussion right there. Well unless TP looked like the new FF Remake. Have you seen video of that one? It's very easy too tell the difference between the original and the remake. This HD port looks like they threw a coat of WW HD cel shading on top of the old models. That's not worth $50 for people who already paid $50 when it was new on Gamecube and Wii.
@Yorumi I still think it's coming out Wii U, in March or April of 2017. Same time as on NX. They'll announce it at E3 for Nov, but then in Aug or Sept announce the delay. Yes, similar to Starfox Zero.
And I think it's simply delayed b/c every game these days is delayed. Or sold broken. Or in parts. B/c an open world Zelda game doenn't lend itself to parts like Star Wars Battlefront or Splaloon they need to finish the entire game before release. It took them 2 1/2 years to get Yoshi Wolly World out the door, eve nthough it looks and plays just like Kirby Epic Yarn. Pikmin 3 was a launch window game that came out 9 months after launch even though it's very similar to Pikmin 1 and 2. It was supposed to be a Wii game after all, adn it was still that late to release.
Nintnedo just has isues making games these days. I'm not sure if it's the HD, or Miyamoto is getting old, but look at Mario Ultra Smash - nothing to it ;look at AC:aF - just a board game. Zelda U is an open world opus. That tkaes time. Lots and lots of time. It took Monolith abut 3 years to make XCX an dthat's mostly just XC in HD w/ the story removed. And Monolith ar eexpert JRPG game makers. For the Zelda U devs to tackle an HD open world game, that's asking a lot.
Now I do think they should have shown whatever they had at E3. And they should be telling us about it at least once a month. Is Linkle in it? How will the amiibo work? Will there be online? Couch co-op? Look at the series of XCX videos. Uncharted 4 has been delayed at least once, maybe twice by now, but Sony keeps showing it off. I can't understand the silence for such a well known IP. Metroid Federaton Force is almost getting more exposure.
@TwilightAngel No problem man. My initial comment wasn't super clear haha.
@Yorumi Have you followed The Last Guardian over the past 7 or 8 years? Things happen. I know those guys sounded so sure of themselves in that Dec 2014 video, but neither game released. They coudln't even get SFZ out the door in 2015 and that looks like an HD remaster of SF and SF64, and they showed it at E3, and it was dated for Nov, and they still couldn't get it out on time. And that's basically a linear on rails shooter.
I do understand what you are saying, I've been giving Nintendo a hard time over the past 3 years about all their delays, but when they announced Zelda U at E3 in 2014 and it said "2015" I knew way back then they were lieing. Nobody at that company knows how to do open world, except Monolith and they've been busy w/ XCX, they can barley even do 3D worlds, the whole company is based on 2D, I've just always assumed they were biting off way more than they could chew. I still think it will happen, but building it and making it function as a fun game are 2 different things.
But why the wall of silence? I have no explanation for that. Unless it's a Zelda MMO, but I don't think anybody at Nintendo is insane enough to even attempt that. Maybe 4 player side quests like MH3U? That kind of makes sense, there are enough cool characters in Hyrule Warriors. But it wouldn't be a Legend of Zelda game at that point. Maybe they are making it into an all out amiibo game w/ playable characters helping Link? jk
Look at how the cost of the 3DS range is going through the floor. Console traders and shops aren't stupid. They know what's xoming, so they need to shift them now, before they get stuck with dead stock.
I love how everyone's hyping the NX so much that, unless it can render 8k HD, have 100 terrabytes of ram, and have the ability to play Half-Life 3 on it, no one's gonna be impressed.
Calm down, folks.
I'll be interested to know details of internal specs. Then we'll get a sense of backwards compatibility to Wii U (hoping not) and the likelihood of 3rd parties really getting behind it.
@Sample_Text I would love to go back to cartridges for the NX! Adds a sence of collectivity the the cards themselves! At this point, they could hold far more memory than a disk! But what will the system actually be called? The Super Duper Nintendo Entertainment System(SDNES)? Lol
At the risk of sounding like an idiot, you do realize that the NX coming out this year wasn't specifically stated by CY Lu, right? I mean, I'm not saying it's impossible for the system to come out this year, but...still, I can't be the only one that noticed this, RIGHT?
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