Why Nintendo NX having a 2016 release date makes sense

Nintendo has said that it will talk more about its next piece of hardware in 2016, but the latest evidence suggests that the company could also release that device sometime this year as well.

Developers may already have their hands on the development kits for the Nintendo NX, according to a Wall Street Journal rumor. And now Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei is claiming the company will announce the system this year while ending production of the Wii U. This means that outside studios and publishers are potentially working on games for the launch of the new Nintendo system right now. We’ve heard rumors before that the NX will combine the publisher’s home console and handheld efforts into one package, and the WSJ report also claims that is the case. So Nintendo could have a followup — and potential replacement — for both the Wii U and 3DS coming soon. That’s important because those systems are either on the decline or never took off in the first place. It’s also crucial because the company is interested in solidifying the earnings from its traditional businesses while it simultaneously moves into making software for iOS and Android.