While we are still waiting for an official announcement on the Nintendo NX console, some of its core features have apparently been revealed.
Recently it was discovered that the Nintendo NX handheld/console device will be able to support smartphone games as well as Nintendo cartridges. This confirms previous rumors that the new device would support games such as Miitomo and forthcoming releases like Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing.
Detachable controllers make for handheld/console hybrid device
Other rumors relate to the idea that the Nintendo NX will be a handheld console that also fits into a home console setup. This will be made possible thanks to detachable controllers that are on either side of the handheld screen. Users can remove the controllers as and when required.
According to developers Ubisoft there will also be some unexpected titles available on the new console.
“We announced that we’re developing Just Dance for NX and we have other surprises that we will announce later, but we also believe Nintendo has the power to reinvent the way families are playing,” Ubisoft’s head of EMEA Alain Corre told Gamesindustry.biz. “Nintendo is a fantastic powerhouse of brands that are really cherished by a lot of fans and families… I am still impressed by the reoccurrence of success and appetite even today for the Nintendo franchises on the current system.”
Augmented Reality coming to Nintendo NX?
Ubisoft also announced that Augmented Reality will be included in some of its new titles. The news sparked speculation that the Nintendo NX could launch with support for augmented reality.
Rumors have suggested that Nintendo is building AR support into the new device. In January games industry expert Dr. Serkan Toto said that more games could soon be given the augmented reality treatment following moves made by developer Niantic, which was responsible for the Pokemon Go phenomenon.
Earlier this year Japanese firm Macquarie Capital Securities predicted that the Nintendo NX would have an augmented reality element. At the same time the technology has been receiving greater attention from other developers, including EA.
Developers looking to emulate success of Pokemon Go
“As you can imagine, we are energized by the success of Pokemon Go. We have tremendously strong brands that are unbelievably social in nature where we believe that participation at the community level through AR will heighten that experience,” said EA CEO Andrew Wilson. “We’ve been working on some things for some time and will continue to work on those, and we’ll be ready to launch them at a time where we think we can better engage communities through AR.”
Interestingly Wilson made no mention of a specific mobile platform. However it does sound like EA is going to release Augmented Reality games in the future.
Niantic may have been a trailblazer with Pokemon Go, but it looks as though Ubisoft and EA are intent on muscling in on the popularity of Augmented Reality gaming. The sector could get a whole lot more interesting thanks to a recent technological innovation.
MIT PhD student Abe Davis has come up with a technique known as interactive dynamic video (IDV) which lets augmented characters react more realistically with the real world. Pokemon Go has shot to success thanks to the marvel of augmented reality, but this new technique could take gameplay to a whole new level.
