Rumors have swirled for months about what exactly Nintendo's new console will be like. Is it a handheld hybrid? Will it use discs? Will it be backward compatible?
Now, at long last, there appears to be some answers. Though it's not an official reveal from Nintendo, Eurogamer has an in-depth report on the NX that at long last offers some concrete details on what to expect.
As has long been suspected, the NX is a handheld console with its own display built into the controller (which is also the console itself). This allows it to be played on the go. But while at home, players can connect the machine to a television using a docking station to play on the big screen. The console/controller features two bookend sections that can be attached or detached as required.
That lines up with many of the rumors, as does the next major revelation from Eurogamer: the NX will use cartridges, not discs. Nintendo already uses the far more durable cartridges for its 3DS games, so making the move to cartridges for the NX in many ways makes sense. The only downside is that, according to the report, the cartridges will only be able to contain 32 GB worth of memory, which isn't enough to fit many modern games. Because the console is said to use cartridges, it doesn't sound like the NX will support backward compatibility for the Wii U.
There are a number of other details as well. Supposedly Nintendo contemplated making an all-digital console but decided against it, as the system (while more powerful than the Wii U) is still sacrificing power for the ability to be mobile. The machine is also said to be running on a new OS from Nintendo and last, but certainly not least, it's said that a full reveal of the console will be coming in September.
Eurogamer writes that Nintendo's marketing strategy will be simple for the NX, with the main point of focus being that users are able to play their games on the go.
In many ways the NX, if this report holds true, seems to be a natural evolution for Nintendo. The Wii U already emphasized players being able to play games on the tablet screen, and it sounds like the NX is simply a step up from that idea. At long last Nintendo looks to be combining its ever-strong handheld market with that of its struggling home consoles for one powerful package.
Unfortunately, Eurogamer offers no details on what the console's price might be. There's also no real confirmation of any NX games aside from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (which is also releasing for Wii U). Expect pricing and game announcements to come alongside Nintendo's official reveal later this year.
