Research firm IHS has shared their expectation that Nintendo NX will launch in 2016, and that the “dedicated game platform” will include a standalone portable game system.
That will act as a successor to the Nintendo 3DS, which has surpassed 54.34 million unit sales since launching in February 2011.
The Wall Street Journal reports that IHS Technology senior principal analyst Hiroshi Hayase had shared earlier today: “We expect 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.”
Their expectation is that manufacturing of displays sized between 3.1 – 5 inches wide will increase to 16.5 million units this year, growth from 14.1 million units last year. However, data has shown that OLED displays would remain unused by the market.
While Hayase declined to specify which size of display Nintendo NX is likely to use, his informed insight is that it will be a standalone portable game system rather than a controller equipped with a display as seen with the Wii U GamePad.
Nintendo declined to comment on these new rumblings, but reconfirmed that the company will share more on Nintendo NX this year. Whereas an IHS spokeswoman clarified that the firm makes data and forecasts based on discussions with companies that include component suppliers.
Rumours had swirled in November that Foxconn Electronics had been chosen to manufacture the console, with mass production to start in Q2 2016.
Analysts expect that Nintendo NX will be revealed as early as March, and that the platform will involve companion console and handheld devices.
