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[GhostTrick]

My concern is directed at the type of support this might bring and Nintendo's reasons for using Android. It's tough to say more because we know so little.

On the flip side, this does actually give support to the idea of a dual handheld/console system which could be very interesting.

I suppose this direction is really the only thing Nintendo could do to stay relevant. I'd rather Nintendo eliminated a user accessible OS altogether (outside of basic settings management) but that's just silly these days. The Wii U was already too "pure" a games system and it has failed completely.

Wii U's failing has nothing to do with its OS being "too game system". The only thing they need for an OS is to play games, have system management, friends list with communications such as text based messaging and cross game chat. As for the rest, Miiverse and web browser do the trick. And the usual apps such as Netflix.

 

[GamerJM]

they're making their first dena games for release this year. i really can't see them creating a new market for themselves and keeping it there for two years before a new platform launch. the 3ds will be nearly six years old in fall 2016. i think it's coming out sooner than some may expect.

The biggest reason I could see it taking until 2017 is because console R&D takes a long time, and I don't think Nintendo wants to rush or mismanage hardware development again.

 

[boiled goose]

This is a great move.

Unified dev environment.
Makes porting easier.
Etc.

Great great move.

 

[jaosobno]

I hope this is true. I'd be more than happy to be able to play mobile games on NX aswell as big budget games. In fact, this is the only possible design decision if Nintendo wants to remain relevant in today's mobile world. I also hope they have a decent app support (Skype, Whatsapp, Youtube, etc.).

 

[Zombie James]

Nothing wrong with taking an established open source OS and building on top of it. Worked for Apple, working for Sony, and it can work for Nintendo.

 

[Vic]

Well Nintendo accounting or management might have realized develpment & maintenance cost if they continue to make OS in-house would largely exceed the license fee of Android plus some risks involved in it. With this plus DeNA's involvement (I'm sure DeNA would be MUCH happier if Nintendo decide to live with Android) on network services we may see unified account system on NX.

Android is open-source https://source.android.com/

 

[Nanashrew]

This is a great move.

Unified dev environment.
Makes porting easier.
Etc.

Great great move.

Yep. That's pretty much what Iwata stated before in an investor Q&A a year or two ago. It will make cross-platform much easier as well for things like Smash Bros. 5 and whatever else they decide. Hopefully VC is on that list too. They're seeking the straightest path forward.

 

[Entryhazard]

Given that Android itself is derived from Linux, a fork that lends itself to a console (hendheld or home) purpose is really feasible and would really ease some porting issues.

 

[Interceptor]

And queue people jumping to absurd assumptions, making wild claims, spreading general misinformation, and generally freaking out about a single claim/rumor about hardware that's probably 1.5-2.5 years from completion/release and a lack of knowledge on numerous subjects.

Oh... I'm 8 pages too late.

Sounds like a standard Nintendo thread. ^^

Yep, I'm almost sure NX will be a tablet-like device with an HDMI-dock and a controller for both home and portable gaming. Would work best for them.

Jesus, it will never die eh? There is no hybrid.

 

[big_z]

NX is likely to be a handheld first. So ARM makes sense. And if I'm not wrong, it'll be followed by a NX console, based on the same ARM cores and GPU, but with more cores and higher frequencies.
Easy way to boost power capabilities while retaining compatibility.

Here's the shortened prediction I sent in to the Nintendo voice chat predictions based off what I heard. (mind you all I heard was its a high powered arm based console, not a handheld)

Mobile games replace Nintendo's handheld game strategy. NX is a console.

Hardware Spec: best ARM based hardware they can get for their price goal in 2016.
Controller: Adaptable Wii U like shell that you place your phone into.
Stream mobile only Nintendo games to your tv using the NX controller or play elements of NX only games(not the full game) on your phone when on the go.

NX will not be backwards compatible but games from all previous Nintendo platforms will find their way onto VC.

With Nintendo wanting to streamline development and unify its platforms their next console will be built on ARM as that's what cell phone chips are based on. Yes that means NX wont be as powerful as some are hoping but does it really matter? To the average consumer it wont and you know you'll buy it anyways.
Launching December 2016-Summer 2017

 

[DXB-KNIGHT]

Slightly Mad Studios slightly sad.

Fixed

 

[Clefargle]

So much ugly talk in here, what did you guys expect? Windows?

 

[Entryhazard]

Mobile games replace Nintendo's handheld game strategy.

Lol it won't happen

 

[Crema]

It's hardly unbelievable that Nintendo would look at the drab (and bizarrely slow) OS on their own systems and reason that they need to find a better solution for their next consoles. Android makes the most sense and ties in with the strong working relationship between Google and Nintendo.

I think it's a sensible decision and easily the best for consumers.

 

[Delusibeta]

Gonna call bullshit on this rumour, on the grounds of piracy so rampant it'll make the PSP look like a small beach party.

 

[big_z]

Lol it won't happen

and the ds was only a third pillar.

 

[crinale]

Even Sony's PS4 OS is based on something already exists (heavily customized FreeBSD), no?

 

[Nibel]

First the Final Fantasy 7 remake thread and now this one: the amount of people who spend a lot of their time with this hobby and yet have no idea what game production or console production mean is fucking sad.

Personally, I think this is a surprise and interesting move. They will probably modify the shit out of Android to create a videogame OS and not a OS for everything. If this turns out true then it is safe to assume that their handheld will use the exact same base architecture which is exciting.

I'm way more excited for NX stuff than for their E3, lol

 

[Mik317]

I'm going to do something crazy and wait and see before losing my shit.

because this could be something bad but I am far too stupid to know from this information.

Shit Not Lost Confirmed

for now

 

[cheezcake]

You're saying that it's not easier to hack something if you know the kernel?

Yes. "Security through obscurity" fallacy. Software security is based on quality of programming, good open source is as secure as good closed source, bad open source is as bad as bad closed source.

Besides people don't break software by using source code lol, they use disassemblers.

 

[ArtHands]

Nikei is right often enough to make me think that this is now much more probable than possible, but it is still hard to believe. The biggest issues I have with this are:


1) It will be hacked. Fast.
2) This would NOT be a solution bringing back 'traditional' third parties. Ubisoft is not going to port the new mainline assassins creed to this. However, it would conceivably court Android devs, which are somewhat of the 'new' third party. The thing is though, at least in the west, iOS is devs primary platform, not android. This wouldn't necessarily be a natural transition for all the devs who mostly/exclusively make mobile games for iOS.




You're saying that it's not easier to hack something if you know the kernel?

There's no disadvantage for using Android here in all your points though.

 

[Peru]

Only think I hope they don't do is build their system around the idea of 3rd parties returning. They should say goodbye to western third parties and focus on their own games and JP third parties, using resources to make one game for both handheld and console device instead of two separate ones, meaning more games available at all times, more Nintendo properties utilized.

 

[jaosobno]

Here's the shortened prediction I sent in to the Nintendo voice chat predictions based off what I heard. (mind you all I heard was its a high powered arm based console, not a handheld)

Mobile games replace Nintendo's handheld game strategy. NX is a console.

Hardware Spec: best ARM based hardware they can get for their price goal in 2016.
Controller: Adaptable Wii U like shell that you place your phone into.
Stream mobile only Nintendo games to your tv using the NX controller or play elements of NX only games(not the full game) on your phone when on the go.

NX will not be backwards compatible but games from all previous Nintendo platforms will find their way onto VC.

With Nintendo wanting to streamline development and unify its platforms their next console will be built on ARM as that's what cell phone chips are based on. Yes that means NX wont be as powerful as some are hoping but does it really matter? To the average consumer it wont and you know you'll buy it anyways.
Launching December 2016-Summer 2017

And how would that controller idea work? Smartphone dimensions vary wildly. You have huge 6" phablets and more compact 4.x" types. That controller would have to be size-adaptable and I don't think that will happen.

 

[SpecialAgentZ]

I would like if their next portable was more like a modern Smart/Tablet system wise.
Some multitasking, apps, messenger, media playing capabilities, SIM Card slot, stuff like this. I could receive emails while gaming, friends could talk to me... you know what I'm saying.

I see this as a good move (if true). Don't really care about which OS it's based on as it means absolutely nothing in terms of security and things like that.

 

[Jonny Rizzo]

they're making their first dena games for release this year. i really can't see them creating a new market for themselves and keeping it there for two years before a new platform launch. the 3ds will be nearly six years old in fall 2016. i think it's coming out sooner than some may expect.

Nintendo isn't desperate enough yet to rush a new device and platform to market. Historically Nintendo has never shown a brand new console and released it in the same year. The closest its gotten was the 3DS when they showed it off E3 2010 and released early 2011. If its coming out next year then they would be showing it or demoing it sometime this year.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

I think this is first and foremost yet another indication that a lot of people have severely misjudged what kind of device this is going to be. I really don't think NX will be the next generation Nintendo home console or anything like it, it's not going to replace Wii U or 3DS. If anything I'd guess it's more connected to their new mobile/tablet ventures, and I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be some sort of tablet you could connect to your TV or maybe link to the Wii U or something like that.

 

[whipihguh]

and the ds was only a third pillar.

But the DS was clearly a dedicated gaming device with (mostly) traditional games. Nintendo's mobile collaboration with DeNA sounds like nothing of the sort.

That being said, your concept doesn't sound that off base. I just don't think Nintendo is going to want to take that radical of a shift with it's handheld gaming branch, at least not so soon.

If anything, I just see two mostly ordinary Nintendo consoles to come from this, a handheld and a console. I think some concepts here could be incorporated (using smartphones ala the gamepad for games), but I think they'll have a traditional handheld that will be able to do the same too, and with more lengthy, traditional games for it's library, many of them being cross-gen compatible (i.e. Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Animal Crossing etc.).

As to what their power and controller inputs will be, I honestly don't think we're gonna get anything different like the touchscreen or motion controls or whatever. I think this is gonna be the generation where Nintendo takes the best qualities of these concepts and refines them into a handheld-system duo that'll work seamlessly. The next handheld will be an evolution of the 3DS, higher resolution screen, more shoulder buttons, an secondary analog nub, maybe a removal of the 3D feature, about the power between a Vita and PS3. The console will be still probably be lower power than the PS5 or Xbox Whatever, but the gap will be small enough to allow ports of next-gen games if they're wanted. Probably use a traditional controller, but one that allows GamePad-esque features with smartphones, tablet, and the NX handheld. I think the biggest thing will be cross-compatibility between the games on smartphones and each of the NX systems.

 

[Aroll]

I read the article this morning, but even they claim to have an insider, I still call bullshit on this one. I'm not seeing Nintendo embracing Android just like that for NX.

I honestly don't think it was a "just like that" choice. They decided to make mobile games, correct? They parterned with a Mobile company to help bring them to market. That means that Nintendo is working on android already to bring new games to mobile platforms. Nintendo doesn't like the idea of developing games over multiple structures and OS's, because then you can run into quality concerns (a game running better on say, Sony's platform versus's Microsofts).

So, from Nintendo's own logical standpoint, if they are going to be developing on the android platform for mobile devices, it makes sense to then take said OS and extend it to their own hardware. That way they are still singular focuses on a universal OS as they have stated they have wanted to do for some time every single time they bring up iOS. They have said repeatedly that what iOS does is the ideal future for them - and using Android would certainly allow for that. Especially given how customizable it is - it may be android, but on the surface we wouldn't know any better. It will only matter for development purposes.

So... it makes complete sense they would go this route.

 

[cheezcake]

I think this is first and foremost yet another indication that a lot of people have severely misjudged what kind of device this is going to be. I really don't think NX will be the next generation Nintendo home console or anything like it, it's not going to replace Wii U or 3DS. If anything I'd guess it's more connected to their new mobile/tablet ventures, and I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be some sort of tablet you could connect to your TV or maybe link to the Wii U or something like that.

Using it for mobile would make a good deal of sense as Androids memory management scheme is geared towards maximising battery life.

 

[Bots are better than you]

I could need some insight, because i was asking myself ... wasn't the strange/unsusal hardware the reason for the more difficult porting/development?
I always thought that if Nintendo would have used more "off the shelf"-components, that are basically the standard, it would have been way easier to port.

Does the OS really have such a huge impact? And i'm interested how the other two are using a more "standard" OS ... well not so much for MS, the XOne OS is a derivative Windows version, right?

 

[Gonzo The Great]

I think this is first and foremost yet another indication that a lot of people have severely misjudged what kind of device this is going to be. I really don't think NX will be the next generation Nintendo home console or anything like it, it's not going to replace Wii U or 3DS. If anything I'd guess it's more connected to their new mobile/tablet ventures, and I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be some sort of tablet you could connect to your TV or maybe link to the Wii U or something like that.

Iwata reportedly announced the NX so prematurely to quell speculation that Nintendo is no longer making traditional hardware. It's going to be a console and/or handheld hybrid.

 

[baterism]

And how would that controller idea work? Smartphone dimensions vary wildly. You have huge 6" phablets and more compact 4.x" types. That controller would have to be size-adaptable and I don't think that will happen.

Like this:

I have one and it work wonder. But I don't think Nintendo would adopt that, though. How can I put it, it feel to brash for Ninty.

 

[big_z]

And how would that controller idea work? Smartphone dimensions vary wildly. You have huge 6" phablets and more compact 4.x" types. That controller would have to be size-adaptable and I don't think that will happen.

Im not sure but its something I thought about for a while. I think a split controller that has soft pads on the left/right sides for the phone to sink into slightly and an adjustable back brace for tension might be the solution. It would fit a majority of modern phone sizes.

EDIT: baterism's pic is basically the idea in my head but I would expect nintendos solution to be more elegant and friendly looking.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

What I wonder is if there's any way to curb the rampant piracy of Android.

I don't know if this is even possible but while the NX can play Android games the Nintendo games on it specifically require a more specialized or some custom hardware in addition to off the shelf parts.

 

[Halabane]

If they use an off the shelf operating system that gives them everything from voice, payment, security, graphics, apps like netflix/hulu/ etc. would free up a lot of dollars for them in development instead of rolling their own and having to support it. Also help with hiring and not having to train people on your own architecture.

This in turn could mean they wouldn't have to use ARM for a home console but could use something much more powerful that could scale also to something for mobile that would include arm.

The next hint of this being true and taking a real wild turn would be if one of the mobile carriers started to get involved.

The con to this is the third party developers who are not making mobile apps. They want their tool sets running on this and right now they don't run on android. So maybe the money they saved on developing the OS could be used to supporting porting of common game developer suites?

Its not a bad idea. Honestly it would have made more sense for Sony to do this. Wonder why they didn't. I understand Microsoft for not doing this but Sony could have. It actually sounds more like Sony than Nintendo. This would be wildly out of Nintendo's comfort zone.

But if what we are hearing is true, this could be what they need to thrive in the future. Ain't a bad plan. I agree the tough nut is the piracy part.

 

[jaosobno]

Like this:


I have one and it work wonder. But I don't think Nintendo would adopt that, though. How can I put it, it feel to brash for Ninty.

Holy crap, I didn't know such a witchcraft even existed!

 

[Felensis]

I can play more 1080p 3D games on my FireTV (a living room Android machine smaller than a Wii U) than I can on my Wii U. With a USB gamepad, even.

There is nothing about Android that prevents "Proper graphics." Seems to be a common misconception.

Stopping you right there; that's like asking if Windows is capable of proper graphics, or OS X is capable of proper graphics. Flawed question.

Android is an operating system, not a piece of hardware.

Guys, I'm very familiar with the difference between hardware and software
I thought you wouldn't take my words that literally.

Sure Android games can be in 1080p, even Ouya has some 1080p games, but all of them look like Hi-res N64 games. To date I haven't seen any Android games that match the visual quality of 360/PS3/Wii U no matter if 720p or 1080p.

So to be more precise I wonder if Android currently offers the APIs and graphics drivers to allow visuals comparable to 7th/8th gen of home consoles.

 

[Chittagong]

Maybe Iwata reads GAF?

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=642635

 

[leroidys]

Yes. "Security through obscurity" fallacy. Software security is based on quality of programming, good open source is as secure as good closed source, bad open source is as bad as bad closed source.

Besides people don't break software by using source code lol, they use disassemblers.

"Fallacy". Clearly you have never worked at a software company

I wasn't referring solely to source code either.

 

[AgeEighty]

Hope it's not true; I hate Android. And it's certainly not going to open up their platform to easy portability with their console competition: it's just going to get them lots of mobile games.

 

[Game4life]

Here's the shortened prediction I sent in to the Nintendo voice chat predictions based off what I heard. (mind you all I heard was its a high powered arm based console, not a handheld)

Mobile games replace Nintendo's handheld game strategy. NX is a console.

Hardware Spec: best ARM based hardware they can get for their price goal in 2016.
Controller: Adaptable Wii U like shell that you place your phone into.
Stream mobile only Nintendo games to your tv using the NX controller or play elements of NX only games(not the full game) on your phone when on the go.

NX will not be backwards compatible but games from all previous Nintendo platforms will find their way onto VC.

With Nintendo wanting to streamline development and unify its platforms their next console will be built on ARM as that's what cell phone chips are based on. Yes that means NX wont be as powerful as some are hoping but does it really matter? To the average consumer it wont and you know you'll buy it anyways.
Launching December 2016-Summer 2017

Just like we bought the WiiU?

 

[AniHawk]

Nintendo isn't desperate enough yet to rush a new device and platform to market. Historically Nintendo has never shown a brand new console and released it in the same year. The closest its gotten was the 3DS when they showed it off E3 2010 and released early 2011. If its coming out next year then they would be showing it or demoing it sometime this year.

the ds was first shown in 2004 and released in 2004.

i think the 3ds was originally slated for a 2010 release, but wii u development forced people working on games for that device onto the console instead, resulting in a delayed launch, a poor effort from nintendo at the start, and rushed games in mario kart 7 and 3d land.

nintendo bringing up the nx in march 2015 is like them first talking about the wii u in march 2011 when it was project cafe. if there are details such as this being discussed (when nintendo said that they would talk about it in 2016), then i think in another era they would have shown it off this year. the day of showing hardware super early is gone. they won't show hardware unless they're releasing it within the year at this point.

 

[gundalf]

Interesting, if this is true, then Nintendo must use for the next "home" console a x86 CPU.
At least I am not aware that there is
a) running version of Android for PowerPC
and b) an ARM CPU on the same level as AMD's Jaguar

Furthermore it should be said that Nintendo won't use vanilla AOSP, the OS will be build around Nintendo's own service layer stack. So normal Android Apps wont be able to run at all.

 

[AniHawk]

Just like we bought the WiiU?

or the ds or the wii.

hell, even the psp in all honesty. or any handheld platform for that matter.

 

[Chindogg]

Maybe Iwata reads GAF?

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=642635

Probably not, but kudos for that stealth self gratification.

 

[E-phonk]

Makes sense. Building an OS for ARM from scratch including low level WIFI/network drivers, implementing something like openGl, low level drivers, an SDK for visual studio and documenting all this for third party devs + having a support team for third parties takes up quite some dev time and manpower.

With android as a basis (android as a basic OS, not as the smartphoneOS some people confuse it with) gives them maybe a year headstart in developing their next system.

Android is mature OS. It's perfectly documented, has a well documented license/patent situation, is known by third parties, already has SDK's, easy network functions and a graphical library that work well.

 

[Swifty]

If this is true, Nintendo could have a proprietary low level graphics API in development for Android, something like Vulkan or GNM. Cuz OpenGL ES certainly isn't going to deliver the quality of graphics needed for visuals equal or exceeding that of the Wii U.

 

[fabricated backlash]

Obviously they wouldn't use a bog standard Android version. Come on people just use your head for once...
If true I'd expect them to go with either a custom Android branch or Unix.

This would allow them to really focus on putting system features in instead of wasting a whole department of engineers on creating an OS from scratch.

 

[jaosobno]

Im not sure but its something I thought about for a while. I think a split controller that has soft pads on the left/right sides for the phone to sink into slightly and an adjustable back brace for tension might be the solution. It would fit a majority of modern phone sizes.

EDIT: baterism's pic is basically the idea in my head but I would expect nintendos solution to be more elegant and friendly looking.

Yeah, that definitely works, however, I still hope they'll go standard handheld route with more up to date hardware.

 

[Zeenbor]

I doubt it's true. But then again, Nintendo has been bold before. I give it 50/50.