Nintendo's new handheld and console hybrid NX system may be priced at $350, which is just $50 cheaper than Sony's new 4K-ready PlayStation 4 Pro.
UK retailer giant Tesco has posted up a temporary listing for "Nintendo Wii U NX" priced at 350 GBP, but that's probably not the final price since we have a placeholder release date. Interestingly enough, Tesco has pulled the listing's price tag at the time of writing, but that could've just been done to avoid any confusion.
Tesco's listing might not tell us the exact price of the Nintendo NX, but it could hint that the system will be unveiled soon. Word has it that key German retailers have recently been flown to an unspecified event held by Nintendo, which is likely NX related.
Read Also: Pokemon CEO hints Nintendo NX is a console handheld hybrid
We also had an interesting report from a Foxconn worker that the NX will have a detachable and swappable GPU and CPU upgrade pack. According to the worker, the Nintendo NX is made up of three parts: a tablet handheld with detachable controllers, a mini-console dock, and a performance module that can be swapped back and forth.
The report says the performance module can be swapped between the handheld and the mini-console at will, transforming both the handheld and the mini-console with "PS4/Xbox One-like" power. Both the handheld and the mini-console dock will be usable without the performance module, but their performance will be limited--think basic functionality, web surfing, Netflix, MiiVerse interactions, and likely Virtual Console gaming.
Here's the translated quote from NeoGAF, but the Foxconn leaker's original thread has apparently been pulled.
"NX is a console-handheld hybrid. It is detachable. It contains the console itself, performance module, and the handheld/gamepad.
The console (I think it is supposed to be a dock. I'll call it a dock from now on) contains HDD, cartridge slot and various other interfaces. It supports TV output (but no CPU/GPU).
The performance module is a portable device that provides power supply. It contains a Li-Ion battery. CPU/GPU also is contained inside. It supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and wired connections. You plug the dock inside and it becomes a PS4/Xbone like console, but you can also transfer the signals to the handheld (like Remote Play?)
There are two candidate SoC for it: Pascal SoC from NVIDIA or AMD R9 SoC.
The handheld part is a 6 inch 720p screen and has a low-TDP SoC, which can satisfy basic operations with lower quality graphics when the performance module is not connected. But it can also display game graphics from the performance module which can provide a console-level graphics. A bit like NVIDIA Shield streaming. You can bring the performance module with you portable (since it has its own battery).
Additional info: whatever the solution will be, the computing power it has falls far behind a PS4, let alone a PS4 Pro. Don't have high hopes for that. The selling point for it is high portability and hybrid providing rich gameplay possibilities.
If details don't get revealed in Oct then maybe wait for the beginning of next year. I welcome you guys to necrobump this post. Period."
Read Also: Nintendo NX graphics are between PS3 and PS4
Nintendo has promised to reveal the NX sometime this year, and has confirmed a March 2017 release for the hardware.
Check below for everything we know about the NX so far:
Everything we know about the Nintendo NX so far:
- Nintendo NX might be transforming hybrid handheld, not a console
- Nintendo NX to have AAA games from Square Enix, Ubisoft, Activision
- Pokemon CEO hints Nintendo NX is console handheld hybrid
- Pokemon games coming to Nintendo's next-gen NX console
- Nintendo expected to reveal its NX console in October
- Bethesda games could show up on Nintendo's new NX
- Nintendo NX dimensions and design possibly leaked
- Nintendo NX may have split D-pad and share button
- Nintendo admits it has to communicate better with the NX
- NVIDIA's new 'Parker' SoC should power Nintendo NX
- NX getting a MMORPG hints at home console component
- Nintendo NX graphics are between PS3 and PS4
- NVIDIA's new 'Parker' SoC should power Nintendo NX
- Nintendo NX will have Zelda, Mario and Pokemon games within 6 months
- Nintendo NX might support Pokemon Go and other mobile games
- Nintendo successfully patents external console upgrade box, could support the NX
- Ubisoft might've dropped some major Nintendo NX clues
- Nintendo is officially researching VR
- Nintendo NX might use both cartridges and discs
- Nintendo NX launches March 2017 globally
- Nintendo NX will launch with a 'full software lineup'
- Nintendo focusing on 'greatness of games' over hardware performance
- Nintendo says Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be an 'immediate reason' to buy an NX console
- Nintendo NX will powered by an NVIDIA Tegra processor, not an AMD chip
- The NX is rumored to feature gaming at 900p 60FPS with 4K video support
- The NX is rumored to use AMD's new 14nm Polaris GPU
- Devs claim the NX is incredibly easy to develop games for
- The NX won't have a disc drive, games will be on cartridges
- The console will also have a portable Wii U-like controller that allows gaming on-the-go somewhat like a 3DS
- The NX will support Frostbite, Unreal Engine 4 and Unity
- Nintendo's new console will also interact with smartphones and PCs as well as existing Nintendo hardware like the Wii U and 3DS handheld