Wii changed gaming, and based upon your beliefs, it was either for better or for worse. Regardless, it is hard to deny the impact it had, when even the “hardcore gamers” at Sony and Microsoft decided to follow suit with motion control options of their own. But one area Nintendo could not come compete with the HD Xbox 360 and the PS3 was in the graphics department. For many years, rumors circulated that Nintendo was developing their next-next gen console with HD capabilities. Those rumors have now finally been confirmed. Somewhat.
Game Informer has heard from “multiple sources” close to the project that Nintendo is planning to unveil an HD console with graphics comparable to the PS3 and Xbox at this year’s E3, if not sooner.
Apparently Nintendo is already showing off the system to publishers to get them excited about the tech before its, if you can believe it, late 2012 launch. “Nintendo is doing this one right,” said an anonymous source, referring to the early reveal of the consoles to publishers (unlike the Wii, which was revealed late in its cycle).
So will it be the long-rumored Wii HD? Or something entirely new altogether? “It is our understanding that Nintendo is trying to embrace the western gamer and will likely launch a new brand with this console,” Game Informer says. Of course, at this early stage, everything is up to speculation. However, the outlet remains confident in their sources, and considering the recently rumored price drop for the Wii (a telling sign that they are looking to move more units) this news seems to come at the perfect time.
