200°

Is Nintendo Secretly Planning A New Console?

CCC Says: "We’ve been bringing you the latest on the apparent nose dive that Nintendo seemingly finds themselves in these days. It started with the apology that President Satoru Iwata had to provide to investors recently, with the company slashing sales predictions for the early part of the year due to their failing Wii U console (thus causing a significant drop in stocks as a result). Fueled by cryptic comments by Iwata himself regarding “new business structures,” many have been led to believe as of late (myself included) that Nintendo could be re-evaluating their position in the home console market. Was this a sign they would just embrace the strangle-hold they currently hold over the mobile gaming market and just plow a row in the new direction from now on? Frankly, it seemed inevitable. That is, until this latest rumor leaked. A rumor that is almost too unimaginable to believe, yet it’s out there."

Read Full Story >>
dispatches.cheatcc.com
XiSasukeUchiha3746d ago

Yep they are and its called Nintendo Fusion!

MeknSence3746d ago (Edited 3746d ago )

Actually, I think it would be a smart move if they:

1) Making it backwards compatible
2) Offer a discount for trade in the Wii U towards the new system.

If the specs is correct or surpasses both PS4 or Xbone it would stand a big chance of taking 1st or 2nd place. Nintendo need to quit the kiddie gimmicks systems. I don't know about everyone, but I wouldn't mind buying a next gen Nintendo system with Mario, Zelda, Metroid etc. They can keep making the kiddie games, with new technology, but a lot of parents are keeping up with what's current for their kids!

3745d ago
_QQ_3746d ago

Nintendo if you release a new console before 2017, your done. Consumer trust is the most important thing.

BosSSyndrome3746d ago

Dont know why you got disagrees. Lost faith in the brand is what killed Sega.

mzupeman3746d ago

Eh, not exclusively. There was a loss in faith in Sega's brand for sure, but it was more than that.

Sega stretched themselves pretty thin by releasing and supporting a bunch of different pieces of hardware at the same time. Every time we turned around, Sega released another add-on which they then had to subsequently support with another branching library of games, most of which weren't received very well.

The Dreamcast was Sega's best shot at climbing out of the rut they placed themselves in, but they unfortunately had to go head to head with the N64 and Playstation. The rest from that point on is history, and because the Dreamcast couldn't help Sega out of their financial mess - which was already spiraling down before that console's release - they had to get out of the hardware business and do something else.

Nintendo is in nowhere near the same position as Sega was back then. They're down for the third year in a row, yes, but unlike Sega, they still have a fortune to live off of for quite some time.

Anyway, I'm not sure Nintendo WILL release a new console before 2017. Anything is possible, but the Wii-U has only been out for what, something like 14-15 months? They still have some of their biggest first party titles yet to come. I'm certain this wont' help them sell as many units as they'd like to, but they'll take less and less a loss as time goes on as these games are released. As Zelda, Smash Bros and Mario Kart are released, we'll see more and more consoles being sold.

Of course, Nintendo can also do a few things to help themselves out NOW: Better marketing, first and foremost. AGGRESSIVELY inform people what the Wii-U actually is.

Next, stop supporting the Wii. They've already pretty much done it - The original Wii is gone, and has been replaced with a useless Wii-Mini. Just pull the Mini, so people have no other options on the shelf besides the Wii-U.

Get multiplayer right, and put our purchases on our accounts, and not strictly our hardware.

Get more virtual console titles out... like now.

Outside of that, the only other things they can possibly do, are more proactive than reactive... steps to ensure their longevity.

For starters, work on getting third party support back. That ship has sailed for this gen, but they can start asking devs from other studios what they want out of the next console today, and allow the devs themselves to help shape the next console. If Nintendo keeps releasing their own hardware that's behind on specs and solely focuses on some gimmick to sell software, they're going to find themselves alone yet again.

Invest more and more money in dev teams that are willing to be first/second party. If Nintendo ARE forced to go it alone once again, they need to ensure they have a library of games that provides lots of options. This trickle of games is full of quality, but the quantity is weak. There's only a handful of games coming in the next 6 months, and it's sad.

Yep3746d ago

Would you guys stop spreading rumors? Next thing you know people are going to hold off buying a Wii U thinking that Nintendo is going to can it.

JohnnyTower3746d ago

Its already happening Aces. Gamers are waiting for a price drop or new platform, and Nintendo doesn't want to take any more losses on Wii U by dropping the price. There is a Lord of the Flies mentality around gamers. We just circle and pick on whoever is down. This week is Nintendo, next week Xbox, after that Steambox.

mzupeman3746d ago

Rumors are definitely harmful in this arena. You know, people always say that 'bad press is good press', but not when it comes to selling expensive pieces of hardware. At this point, with all the media coverage out there, public perception - from anyone noticing and reading the article headlines - is that the Wii U is going to fail and that Nintendo are likely going to yank support sooner rather than later. Regardless of the games they have yet to come, all this translates to most of your average consumers, is that they're going to wait and not spend $300 for a console that's dying. It's a shame, I have a lot of fun with my Wii U.

4logpc3746d ago

Idk about secretly...its pretty obvious. Just like Microsoft and Sony, I'm sure they are in the early phases of their next systems.

mzupeman3746d ago

It's obvious that companies begin development on their next generation of consoles really early... a matter of months after a new gen is released, in many cases. However, these rumors are likely bogus because Nintendo are pretty tight-lipped about most everything. They can keep secrets pretty well, and they often surprise us by revealing a game only a year before it's released, or sometimes when the game is only mere months away.

DC7773746d ago

Not sure why some think there are "rules" like you can't sell two consoles at once. Hell MS and Sony are doing it right now and selling a boatload of software porting to both. Had they only had support for X1 and PS4 right now their software sales would be in the toilet because nobody is buying nearly as many as they are for last gen. Yet you expect Nintendo who cannot port games to the Wii to not try and take a similar path.

If Nintendo came out with a high end more adult themed console and ported most games to both they would be golden.

Or they can just stick with the generic vision and hope and pray but as fun as Wii U is the Wii/underpowered/3rd party bashing stigma is not going to go away.

maniacmayhem3746d ago

Yea, but Sony and MS never sold another console two or three years after their first launch.

Sega did with the Dreamcast (I believe it came out 4 years after the Saturn launched)and it killed them financially. They burned their user base, 3rd party developers and retailers.

Nintendo needs to stick it out with the Nintendo WiiU. There is no reason they can't at least turn it around and gain some profitability on it. No need for them to strive to be number one at this point. Just get the unit moving and out there.

DC7773746d ago

I don't doubt it but they still could have a higher end system to keep things rolling instead of just waiting till the bell tolls someday.

Show all comments (27)
80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10111d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref11d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde11d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197211d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville11d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218310d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos10d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
isarai11d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref11d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan11d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00710d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197211d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

11d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

11d ago
11d ago
Zeref11d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde11d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197211d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier11d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto11d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218310d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto10d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
Hofstaderman11d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts11d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts10d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic10d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel18d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8817d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing17d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS16d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder16d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff218316d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.