Report: Nintendo NX Dev Kit Distribution Begins
Change is on the horizon for Nintendo, even if things seem to remain the same. The Wall Street Journal reports that Nintendo has begun to distribute software development kits for their upcoming games console to interested third-party development studios. It’s the descriptions of how the Nintendo NX may function that is most intriguing.
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A source to The Wall Street Journal suggests that the Nintendo NX development kit will include a console and “at least one mobile unit that could either be used in conjunction with the console or taken on the road for separate use.” Thankfully, something that has been requested for several console generations now, the report suggests that Nintendo will include industry-leading chips in the Nintendo NX device, suggesting an emphasis on not releasing generations-old hardware at launch.
While the future of Nintendo and its gaming console(s) is looking to bring change to Nintendo as a hardware manufacturer, the report also suggests that Tatsumi Kimishima will carry on the former president Satoru Iwata’s vision for Nintendo NX as a platform dedicated for video games. Despite the overwhelming support and pushing of amiibo figurines as a growing part of Nintendo evolving as a toy company, it seems that though games will continue to be the main focus.
It will be interesting to see how the Nintendo NX shapes up. A console/handheld hybrid would be fairly interesting, especially when it comes to concerning backward compatibility. Nintendo is seemingly the last console company to make it a high priority to continue backwards games support, but considering the fact it means using weak IBM CPU chips and weaker hardware components than its console competitors, perhaps a shift to a powerful device that doesn’t support older consoles might not be a bad idea.
With Nintendo NX dev kits being reportedly sent out today, it seems unlikely that any third-party developer would be able to churn out a new game by this time next year. Despite analysts suggesting a 2016 launch, I wouldn’t be surprised if a games-laden 2017 launch isn’t in store. Although, with Zelda Wii U nowhere to be seen, perhaps Nintendo eats their losses and pushes their chips all-in on getting ready for 2016. We’ll just have to wait to hear from Nintendo to find out.
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