Ever since Nintendo talked about integrating WiiU tech into another device, i was speculating how such a system would work...
I am going maybe a bit far here, but i think the most logical conclusion would be that Nintendo is planning to show a portable Wii U.
Evidence:
"In this perspective, while we are only going to be able to start this with the next system, it will become important for us to accurately take advantage of what we have done with the Wii U architecture. It of course does not mean that we are going to use exactly the same architecture as Wii U, but we are going to create a system that can absorb the Wii U architecture adequately. When this happens, home consoles and handheld devices will no longer be completely different, and they will become like brothers in a family of systems."
"Last year Nintendo reorganized its R&D divisions and integrated the handheld device and home console development teams into one division under Mr. Takeda. Previously, our handheld video game devices and home video game consoles had to be developed separately as the technological requirements of each system, whether it was battery-powered or connected to a power supply, differed greatly, leading to completely different architectures and, hence, divergent methods of software development. However, because of vast technological advances, it became possible to achieve a fair degree of architectural integration. We discussed this point, and we ultimately concluded that it was the right time to integrate the two teams."
"In this perspective, while we are only going to be able to start this with the next system, it will become important for us to accurately take advantage of what we have done with the Wii U architecture. It of course does not mean that we are going to use exactly the same architecture as Wii U, but we are going to create a system that can absorb the Wii U architecture adequately. When this happens, home consoles and handheld devices will no longer be completely different, and they will become like brothers in a family of systems."
- Satoru Iwata
Iwatas statements imply that they plan to reuse the WiiU Architecture in future systems to allow easy cross platform development.
This gives us 3 scenarios:
- The WiiU architecture will be used in WiiU's successor platform. This does not make sense as the WiiU Hardware is already substantially outdated. Launching a system in 2017 with essentially the same specs would make it hopelessly underpowered to fit the needs at that time (UHD etc), even if overclocked. This would be the fourth generation that uses gamecubes gekko-chip, and i refuse to believe that Nintendo is that ignorant to consumer needs.
- The WiiU Architecture will be used in the QOL platform. Entirely possible but the platform would than have to be designed in a way that WiiU games can be played easily, thus sporting at least a gamepad which renders this option a bit farfetched. This can not entirely ruled out, as we know nothing about the QOL Platform other than that its not a wearable.
- The WiiU architecture will be reused in a handheld device.
This last option makes the most sense and I tell you why:
- Technology has now progressed enough to allow adapting the architecture to handheld format. (See Nvidia's Tegra K1, which seems to be at least on par with the WiiU in terms of power). It is not out of the question that AMD managed to develop a low-cost low-power SOC on some advanced process that would enable the chip to be used in a handheld system.
- The WiiU was thus purposely designed underpowered with a low clocked CPU to allow this in the future. Nintendo back then did not expect such a backlash to it's lack of power due to experience with the Wii.
- A high amount of first party games implement off-screen play which would result in games playing not much differently than on a home console. Fonts, HUD etc are already adapted to be readable on smaller screens.
- When such a handheld launches, there would already be a substantial library of games available, with all the classics like new super mario bros, mario kart and smash bros., thus avoiding a software drought at launch like the 3DS or the WiiU experienced.
In my optinion there are two possble configuration for a portable WiiU:
Nintendo creates a fully portable WiiU handheld, i would call this the DSU.
- Top Screen: 1280 x 720 pixel
- Bottom Screen: 854 x 480 pixel
- Games are download-only and are stored on an SD card.
- System will be able to synchronize with a WiiU Console to transfer save-states, miis etc.
The bottom screen would act essentially the same as WiiUs gamepad screen for games that display unique content.
Not all games would be fully compatible, for example those who need to be played with a Wii remote.
WiiU integrated into a slightly larger version of the gamepad.
- would work and look the same as the wiiu gamepad, but includes all the hardware
- software is download only
- The streaming chip would "stream in reverse" to the TV. Its possible that this would not allow to stream fullhd content due to the wiiU gamepad streamingchips only allowing for 1280x720.
- The TV would have a small dongle on the HDMI port that receives the gamepad stream.
- All in all i think the options above are the most plausible scenario if Nintendo indeed announces a new system at E3.
- Announcing a WiiU Successor is a pipedream. The WiiU has not been long enough on the market and would go against everything Nintendo has done so far.
- Announcing a 3DS Successor would be weird too as the 3DS has still plenty of lifetime left.
- It would also be too early to talk about the QOL platform, as Nintendo supposedly only started development on the system in January. No way they have something that can be shown after such a short time.
The other possibilities would of course be the already mentioned simple 3DS redesign and/or gamepad redesign.
If the E3 announcement is not the DSU or the WiiUPad I think Nintendo still should release such a device in the future as it would vastly increase WiiU's user base and give 3rd party developers a compelling incentive to develop WiiU Games...
All of the above is pure speculation though...There is currently no known AMD chip which would have enough grunt with a low enough power consumption to enable a portable WiiU or even any evidence that AMD is able to make such a chip. AMD could have developed a custom hardware in cooperation with nintendo but i am not sure about their readiness to spend enough money to make this happen. Nintendo tends to be very stingy in this regard.
Worst case is that Nintendo announces once again nothing, as tends to happen fairly often when the hypetrain is at full speed.
thoughts?