Nintendo has confirmed that rumors circulating about a new console in 2012 are true, as a successor to the Wii is on the way.
In an investor note, the company said that it "has decided to launch in 2012 a system to succeed Wii, which the company has sold 86.01 million units on a consolidated shipment basis between its launch in 2006 and the end of March 2011."
"We will show a playable model of the new system and announce more specifications at the E3 Expo, which will be held June 7-9, 2011, in Los Angeles." it noted.
Media sources claimed last week that the new Nintendo console will have a graphics chip based on AMD's Raedon R700 GPU, which if true would outperform the PlayStation 3. Sources also suggested that it "is likely to resemble a modernized version of the Super Nintendo."
Nintendo also posted its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31. The company's net sales were 1 trillion yen, down 29.3 percent compared to last year, while profits were 77.6 billion yen, down 66.1 percent.
The company noted that a tough comparison to its December 2009 record U.S. sales were a primary reason for the year-on-year decline in revenues, as well as the appreciation of the yen and the price reduction of the Nintendo DS during the fiscal year.
Looking forward to the 2012 fiscal year, Nintendo noted that "the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake is unpredictable. Nintendo has not suffered any direct damage which will significantly affect our production".
It was also confirmed that the Nintendo 3DS sold 3.61 million units worldwide during the fiscal year, while the Nintendo DS sold 17.52 million in total and the Wii 15.08 million.
"Nintendo 3DS has sold 3.61 million units worldwide"
Last year, Nintendo predicted they would sell 4 mio 3DS units by the end of the fiscal year, so they missed this mark, but no so much as many (me included) thought.
Here is hoping that if the rumours about SNES design cues are true Nintendo uses the original Japanese and European design for inspiration over the hideous North American variety.
I have a hard time believing this rumour, it also says the size of the Wii 2 should be the same size as the original 360. I can't imagine anything of that size and the design of the SNES, this just would look ugly.
Keep your eyes on IGN. They get most info first and pass it through Gaming Corps before reporting it to keep in good with NDAs.
@Christian Keichel Well know consumer knows the design yet. Maybe some select developers have kits that do resemble 360 original size. I would assume kits are out now given the release date of the system to be 2012.
I think, if kits are given out right now depends on when in 2012 the console will launch, if it's in late 2012, I think developers can't expect kits before summer. And what form these kits have, has nothing to say about the final design of the console.
In my opinion the final design of a console is done in the last phase of development, I am sure, Nintendo isn't there yet.
That doesnt make sense either Nintnedo said they sold 15 Million wii's and expect to sell 13 million this coming year. 8.6 Million in NA? or 86.01 Million lifetime is possible but I thought they just hit 75 MIllion not to long ago. Confused
'Nintendo sold 15 million Wii consoles last fiscal year, down 27 percent, and expects to sell just 13 million in the current fiscal year.'
"has decided to launch in 2012 a system to succeed Wii, which the company has sold 86.01 million units on a consolidated shipment basis between its launch in 2006 and the end of March 2011."
I don't know if this has been edited in since these comments, but it seems to me to be talking about lifetime sales. Or shipments, both terms are used.
Games *can* look good on the Wii...look at Super Mario Galaxy. The bar will be raised on what games can look like, but it's hard to say if developers will take advantage of that or not.
By the way is this graphics chip HD. I was under the impression that the letters HD had to be in the name for it to be a HD graphics processor chip?
Also IGN Wii was reporting some sources saying the controller will have a 6" wide touchscreen capable of streaming games form the system itself. If that also confirmed?
As of this time, the only thing confirmed is that a new console will be revealed at E3 this year and released sometime next year. No specifics will come before E3, at least that is what I expect.
Well I'm reading the thing is code named Project Cafe (hmm..?). Will be "Significantly more powerful" than anything this gen. Will be backwards compatible with Wii content. Will have a new tablet shaped controller - 6 inch touch screen display, with duel analog sticks and the ability to stream content directly from the console itself.
Yes there is a lot of speculation and "inside sources" going about the internet. But as I said, the only thing confirmed is that a new console is coming.
Reading Iwata's comments this morning about 3D not being good for a console b/c of TVs, he left the door open to 3D being a part of the system. I wondered if maybe the rumors of a touch-screen on a controller might turn out to be a 3D screen on the controller instead.
Curious as to what this controller is capable of myself. I'm wondering if they're going to take a cue from the Kinect and incorporate a camera somewhere. I've wandered into the real of facial/voice recognition when speculating about this system. We'll see in June, though.
I think one thing we can count with Nintendo's new console is that it will support 1080P output; HD output has been the major knock against the Wii for years, and now that HD sets have achieved 50% market penetration, it seems like it's past time for their console to support higher resolution. I'm sure Sony and Microsoft will have some counter-arguments about why their platform is better/more powerful once we see some specs on Nintendo's new console, but I'm sure Nintendo will try to be better than 360/PS3 on at least a few basic specs if not every possible speed or feed.
I don't expect Nintendo to announce a price point at E3; they will probably want to wait as long as possible before declaring that.
I'll be curious to see what Sony and Microsoft plan to do, PR-wise, to keep Nintendo from attracting the lion's share of the press attention at E3. No doubt Sony will push the NGP... but what's Microsoft got to wave in front of the press other than some upcoming software?
The numbers don't confirm what analysts and journalists and hardcore gamers have been saying for months. Those numbers look like a healthy business that is still pulling in profits and selling hw/sw at steady clip.
Nintendo: you're supposed to be DOOMED! you abandoned the hardcore market, Apple took your handheld market-you're not supposed to be profiting, you're supposed to be worried!
Every kid I have talked to about games never mention Zelda or Mario games, but the do go on an on about COD, Assassin Creed, Madden, and GTAIV. I guess I know some hardcore 8 year olds Matt.
To further my addition to the troll. I ask this 15 year old girl what was her favorite game and she said Call of Duty Black Ops. The she went on to say that her 22 year old brother's favorite game was about some guy in a green hat that had a sword and a shield, and rode horses, and that she liked to ride the horse but didn't know what the game was about really. She could not call that game by name.
For me, the most important thing are games. The system can feature all the most advanced technology, but if I have nothing to play with that utilizes this tech, then why should I throw down another $350 just to have rehashed Zelda and Mario games in HD?
There is an article that shows Nintendo's launch details and gives a good picture of what happens when your tech is greater than games. Here's the link:
Nice blog. I agree Nintendo needs to do something more with this console. Something not big, but different. The game that has kept me gaming for the longest has been Zelda. I think if one was no longer promised that may be my end for gaming. I was never a huge Mario person.
Last year, Nintendo predicted they would sell 4 mio 3DS units by the end of the fiscal year, so they missed this mark, but no so much as many (me included) thought.
@Christian Keichel Well know consumer knows the design yet. Maybe some select developers have kits that do resemble 360 original size. I would assume kits are out now given the release date of the system to be 2012.
In my opinion the final design of a console is done in the last phase of development, I am sure, Nintendo isn't there yet.
'Nintendo sold 15 million Wii consoles last fiscal year, down 27 percent, and expects to sell just 13 million in the current fiscal year.'
I don't know if this has been edited in since these comments, but it seems to me to be talking about lifetime sales. Or shipments, both terms are used.
edit: Ah, Kris explained it.
Also IGN Wii was reporting some sources saying the controller will have a 6" wide touchscreen capable of streaming games form the system itself. If that also confirmed?
That info comes form IGN.
And it will support NES, SNES and N64 carts, along with GC and Wii discs!
Just kidding here... But for now the speculation is purely speculation, some very speculative speculation, kinda like wishfull thinking.
I don't expect Nintendo to announce a price point at E3; they will probably want to wait as long as possible before declaring that.
I'll be curious to see what Sony and Microsoft plan to do, PR-wise, to keep Nintendo from attracting the lion's share of the press attention at E3. No doubt Sony will push the NGP... but what's Microsoft got to wave in front of the press other than some upcoming software?
Nintendo: you're supposed to be DOOMED! you abandoned the hardcore market, Apple took your handheld market-you're not supposed to be profiting, you're supposed to be worried!
To further my addition to the troll. I ask this 15 year old girl what was her favorite game and she said Call of Duty Black Ops. The she went on to say that her 22 year old brother's favorite game was about some guy in a green hat that had a sword and a shield, and rode horses, and that she liked to ride the horse but didn't know what the game was about really. She could not call that game by name.
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Interesting photo IMO.
Of course, the usual internet "experts" call it "shopped!!1!" ( because "the lines of text are not parallel" and whatnot... )
but for me it's the most credible Wii2-related thing I have seen in a week.
Call me a lazy developer, but I'd love to work on a console project where I didn't have to justify every KB of memory needed for a cool feature. :)
There is an article that shows Nintendo's launch details and gives a good picture of what happens when your tech is greater than games. Here's the link:
http://gamensight.blogspot.com/