The full review of E3 and Nintendo NX is still months away, but lately, the news around the next generation controller from Nintendo is very hot.
According to the WSJ, analyst Hiroshi Hayase, from IHS Technologies, expects “a small recovery in shipments of flat-panel displays for game devices because of Nintendo’s new game hardware expected to be released in 2016.”. He presumes that the shipments of 3.1 – 5-inch panels will increase from 14.1 million units in 2015 to 16.5 million units, this year.
Like the Wii U, the NX will supposedly include a handheld gamepad in a living room console. But the major difference between the Wii U and the NX controller is the fact that the NX controller will supposedly be an independent unit. Now, gamers will be able to take the handheld gamepad anywhere they want, instead of being tethered to the base console by an invisible wireless leash.
Earlier, Sony had tried this approach with the PlayStation Vita and the results were quite mixed. From the technical specifications, the Vita is able to stream a game over the internet, so you will need WiFi and a local PS4 to use the features. The other major drawback of the device is that it is not able to map all the controls of the PS4, as the PS4 comes with its own controller.
As for the recent patent that has been granted to Nintendo, recently, it features a very odd device. The entire face of the device is a single screen with embedded thumbsticks on the left and right. While we have seen Nintendo trying new things in the past, though this design is something that is quite dubious. The most practical question that comes to our mind is how the controller will be able to stand the wear and tear of the gaming sessions on a daily basis.
The patent also revealed the presence of virtual buttons that could be programmed according to the game that it is being used for. Another major concern at the moment is the cost of the device. The 3DS launched at $249 before falling to $169, while the Wii U was $250.