This past week there have been a lot of rumors regarding a new Nintendo home console to succeed the Nintendo Wii. While it likely will not be called the Wii2, Nintendo has given it the code name “Project Cafe”. That title will likely not stick either and just serves as a tentative title used when referring to the new system.
Some of the rumors spreading through the Internet about the new console is that Project Cafe will be the most powerful system on the market when releases in 2012, it will feature full 1080p HD graphics, the game discs will be blu-ray discs, it will function as a blu-ray player, online capabilities will be increased for the HD market, it will back backwards compatible with Wii software, AND it has been rumored that the controller itself will have a built in 6 inch touch screen much like the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS and feature a dual-analog design!
While no official comments have been made by Nintendo to confirm these rumors, they did officially announce the system and release window of 2012. Here is the official word:
“Nintendo Co. Ltd. has decided to launch in 2012 a system in to succeed Wii…We will show a playable model of the new system and announce more specifications at the E3 Expo, which will be held from June 7-9, 2011, in Los Angeles.”
So I’m afraid those are the only official details we have so far. It has also been recently announced that Sony (Playstation) and Microsoft (X-Box 360) will not release new home consoles until 2014 so it looks like the new Nintendo WILL be the most powerful system at it’s launch but will surely be outdone in a few years by its competitors.
I for one am very excited for the news of a new Nintendo console that will finally get with the times and give us all our favorite Nintendo characters the HD treatment they deserve. Just thinking of a full 1080p LEGEND OF ZELDA or MARIO game gives me a full on nerdgasm! My only hope is that Nintendo does not do what they did with THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TWILIGHT PRINCESS to the upcoming LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD and port it over to the newer system just to have a big name launch title. TWILIGHT PRINCESS is a game on the Gamecube and a gimmick on the Wii.
My ranting aside, I very much look forward to this years E3 for full console details and specifications. Nintendo always gives us something to look forward too and seeing them grow up into the HD market makes me very happy. Stay tuned to NERD for any official updates as they surface!
