New 'NX' console may run on Android

folarin okunola

June 1, 2015 12:18 PM

Nintendo has hinted that the NX will be positioned alongside the 3DS and the Wii U.

The Nintendo Wii U.

Nintendo has already said that it won't be talking about its new NX console until 2016, but that hasn't stopped a few tantalising details from getting out.

According to a report by Nikkei, the new hardware will use the Android operating system, as Nintendo seeks a more open platform that's already been embraced by third-party developers.

This is purely rumors and speculation, but there's some basis for the claim. Nintendo has hinted that the NX will be positioned alongside the 3DS and the Wii U, rather than as a direct replacement for either system.

The Wii U has been a commercial flop, but that doesn't mean the NX will be a traditional home console competing directly with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

According to the report, portability would play to Android's strengths, particularly if Nintendo wants to leverage its upcoming phone and tablet games.

However, if the company does indeed use the platform, there's no guarantee that it'll look like the typical Android experience found on phones and tablets.

The Wii U and 3DS suffer from sluggish operating systems, menus and apps - so Nintendo could use a heavily modified version of Google's platform to quietly offload the problem and focus on what it does best, which is making high quality games.

folarin okunola