14 DAY TRIAL // Nintendo is unhappy with the performance of the Wii U and has already delivered a lot of suggestions about its future hardware, and now company president Tatsumi Kimishima is saying that the company plans to focus on entirely new ideas for the coming NX home console rather than build it on already existing concepts.
The statement comes from a Japanese newspaper, and the executive claims that fans will be surprised by the announcements that will arrive in 2016 although it's unclear whether the reveal also means that launch will take place before the end of the year.
Tatsumi Kimishima also says that Nintendo has big plans for the mobile space, with the first major smartphone application set to arrive in March, potentially using an entirely new business model that will make content accessible for gamers.
Characters licensing will be used by the Japanese hardware and software market to expand into the theme park market as well as movies and anime series, although once again clear details are not offered.
The Amiibo line has also been very successful so far, and there are plenty of ways to integrate the figurines with content other than video games.
According to the executive, the NX, as well as the other initiatives, is expected to make Nintendo return to its previous performance level in the long term, increasing profits to 100 billion yen, which is about 850 million dollars (730 million Euro), shortly.
Most industry analysts believe that the NX combines the capabilities of the Wii U and the 3Ds and will feature hardware that's equivalent to that featured in the Xbox One from Microsoft and the PlayStation 4 from Sony.
Rumors are talking about a potential summer launch
An insider who claims he has access to the official Nintendo plans says that tests are already on-going inside factories in Taiwan to make sure that the manufacturing process for the NX runs smoothly.
The company is apparently planning to start making the devices in late spring, with the official reveal coming early during the summer and the new platform being offered in stores quickly after.
One of the big mysteries about the new hardware is the initial price point as well as the number of titles that will be offered on day one.
Analysts are estimating that Nintendo might sell more than 10 million units before the end of the year, which is a solid number even when compared to current consoles from Sony and Microsoft.
Before talking about the NX, the company was talking about delivering a health-related set of hardware, although it's unclear whether that has been abandoned or is being integrated into the new platform.
Speculation is rampant about the actual capabilities of the new device and the unique features that Nintendo is planning to emphasize to generate solid sales.
According to executives, the arrival of the NX does not mean that the Wii U and the 3DS will be abandoned, and both will receive more content in 2016, including the long-awaited Zelda open world experience that fans have long been waiting for.