Skip to main content

Nintendo confirms it’s working on a new console

Nintendo has confirmed that it’s working on a new console. But exactly when the device will launch — and what kinds of features it will offer — remain unclear.

In a lengthy Corporate Management Policy Briefing on Wednesday, September 16, Nintendo shared a graphic saying it’s working on an “integrated hardware-software next gaming system.” The graphic, which showed the Nintendo DS, Wii, and Switch along a timeline, didn’t offer any details on the upcoming console. A question mark was placed above the caption, hiding its design, and Nintendo only offered a launch date of “20XX.”

“In the future, Nintendo still plans to expand its business around the creation of unique integrated hardware-software products,” the company said in its briefing. That integration refers to Nintendo building hardware and developing software, including its famed Super Mario and Legend of Zelda franchises, for the consoles it sells.

While details are obviously scant, this is the first confirmation from Nintendo that it’s indeed working on a new console since rumors about its plans cropped up earlier this year. Most of those reports suggest Nintendo is working on a new Switch console that could launch in early 2021 with 4K video support. Whether that’s the console Nintendo is referring to in its presentation or if it’s a stopover on its way to an entirely new console is unknown.

Still, the company did provide some hints at what it’s thinking. And it may be working on a new console concept.

“We allocate internal resources very carefully so that technologies we adopt can turn into a source of fun,” Nintendo said. “We strive to create products that consumers didn’t realize they wanted until the moment they’re announced. To do this we can’t simply follow what other companies are doing or chase the latest technology trends.”

That formula has worked well for Nintendo. The Switch, which can be played both at home and on-the-go, continues to sell exceedingly well. Its competitors, Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One, can’t be ported between home and mobile.

During the presentation, Nintendo also said that it’s working on a range of new services for the upcoming console. But again, it didn’t say what they may be or how they may work. Ultimately, the company said, it hopes those additional services could create “positive long-term relationships” with players.

Nintendo did not immediately respond to a Digital Trends request for comment on the briefing.

Editors' Recommendations

Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger is a freelance technology, video game, and entertainment journalist. He has been writing about the world of…
Samba de Amigo: Party Central is the hit of Wii era nostalgia I’ve been craving
Sonic and Samba de Amigo perform together in Sambe de Amigo: Party Central.

I always find myself a little nostalgic when thinking back to the Nintendo Wii era. Though I had a lot of complaints at the time about forced motion controls in every game and inconsistent Wiimote waggling, I miss that golden age of party games. It’s something we’ve lost in recent years, as the Switch Lite’s incompatibility with motion controls has pushed developers back into building games around buttons. So forgive me for getting a little too excited about Samba de Amigo: Party Central.

Samba de Amigo: Party Central - Nintendo Direct 2.8.2023

Read more
Where to find diamonds in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Zelda holds a tear-shaped object in her hand in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's final trailer.

Diamonds are one of the best resources in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, as they sell for 500 Rupees and offer 25 attack power when fused to weapons. Since they're so valuable, they're tricky to find, with only a handful of ways to get your hands on them.

In this guide, we'll show you how to find diamonds in Tears of the Kingdom.
Where to find diamonds

Read more
Mario Kart Tour microtransactions land Nintendo in legal trouble
mario kart tour launch day record nintendo mobile

Nintendo is facing a new lawsuit over its previous implementation of microtransactions in the mobile game Mario Kart Tour.
Mario Kart Tour first launched on iOS and Android in 2019 and used to have a loot box-like system where players could spend real money to activate Spotlight Pipes, which had undisclosed odds of granting players useful items and upgrades. Nintendo removed Spotlight Pipes from Mario Kart Tour in a September 2022 update, but Axios reports that a new class-action lawsuit has been filed against Nintendo over its previous implementation of them in the game.
The suit calls the mobile game's microtransactions "immoral" and is based on the belief that the game was intentionally difficult to progress in without spending money. Its plaintiff believes this "capitalized on and encouraged addictive behaviors akin to gambling" in all players, specifically the minors that'd be interested in trying a Mario Kart game on mobile, with them having spent $170 on those microtransactions. As such, it suit is demanding Nintendo issue refunds to all minors who spent money on Spotlight Pipes when they were available in Mario Kart Tour.
The loot box-like style of microtransactions that used to be present in Mario Kart Tour was fairly common in a lot of games with microtransactions. That said, it has fallen out of favor in recent years thanks to increased scrutiny from regulators and lawsuits like this that argue the undisclosed odds tied to these systems are too similar to gambling. As such, microtransactions in many recent games tend to be more direct or actively disclose what players will get once they spend money.
Nintendo seemed to be aware of this when it removed Spotlight Pipes from Mario Kart Tour last year, but that clearly wasn't enough for this plaintiff. Nintendo has not commented on this lawsuit, but it's definitely worth keeping an eye on how this plays out.

Read more