Nintendo NX is ‘a brand new concept’

The mystery surrounding Nintendo’s next games machine – codenamed the NX – deepens as president Satoru Iwata hints that the platform holder is working on something very different.

In an official Q&A following both the announcement of the NX and a new partnership with DeNA to bring Nintendo games to mobile devices, the exec released a Q&A detailing more about the firm’s latest news.

Regarding the NX, both Iwata and Nintendo are holding their cards close to their chests, only offering the following information:

"As proof that Nintendo maintains strong enthusiasm for the dedicated game system business, let me confirm that Nintendo is currently developing a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept under the development codename ‘NX’.

"It is too early to elaborate on the details of this project, but we hope to share more information with you next year".

The use of the term "brand-new concept" implies something unlike previous Nintendo devices, although it’s unclear whether this will be a new console, handheld or a hybrid of both.

A slide from the Nintendo president’s presentation (pictured below) shows NX positioned as separate from either 3DS or Wii U.

The slide also discusses the new online membership service Nintendo is currently developing with DeNA, which will work across multiple platforms.

According to Iwata, this will "encompass the existing Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems, the new hardware system with a brand-new concept, NX, and smart devices and PCs".

Nintendo is also known to be developing a ‘quality of life’ business, although it is unclear is this is connected to the new dedicated games system.