Nintendo’s upcoming next generation console, codenamed NX will see a global launch in March, 2017 alongside the upcoming Legend Of Zelda.
Nintendo have officially confirmed leaks and rumors that we’ll see a dual release of Legend of Zelda on both the Wii U and the NX, with the Wii U faithful also needing to wait until March next year to play the game.
The NX’s global launch was leaked due to Nintendo’s financial reports “For our dedicated video game platform business, Nintendo is currently developing a gaming platform codenamed “NX” with a brand-new concept. NX will be launched in March 2017 globally.”
Supposedly the Wii U version has been delayed until 2017 for reasons of ‘quality’, though one does wonder if this is also to encourage the sales of the NX version of the game.
To add to the disappointment, Nintendo have officially stated that during E3 this year they want to focus their attention purely on the upcoming Zelda title, and as such Zelda will be the only playable game at Nintendo’s booths during E3.
“E3: Nintendo changes its approach to the show every year. This June, Nintendo will focus its attentions on the upcoming game in The Legend of Zelda series,” Nintendo UK reported on their official website.
“The Wii U version of the game will be playable for the first time on the E3 show floor, and it will be the only playable game Nintendo presents at the show, in order to provide attendees a complete immersion. Additional information about Nintendo’s E3 plans will be announced in the future.”
According to the Nikkei, the Nintendo NX features, pricing and launch lineup will be announced by the end of this year (2016).
Other rumored titles for the Nintendo NX include Splatoon and Smash Bros, but obviously until there is official confirmation take these reports with the usual salt grains.
This means 2016 is essentially left to both Microsoft and Sony to battle it out, and with rumors that Sony will be releasing an upgraded PS4 – see our analysis (known as either the PS4K or Neo) which has over twice the horse power of the vanilla machine, and Microsoft supposedly working on an upgraded Xbox One, it will be interesting what the NX’s feature set will encompass.