Game Informer reports Nintendo will unveil new HD-equipped console in lead-up to or at annual industry confab; release scheduled for late 2012.
Source: GameStop-owned Game Informer magazine.
What we heard: One look at the Wii's upcoming lineup, and it's hard not to notice the dearth of titles en route for the console in the next couple of months. Some have taken this anemic activity as an indication that Nintendo will soon be abandoning the platform as it turns its attention to the Wii's inevitable successor. That theory has now been lent more credence, courtesy of a report from Game Informer.
According to a report on the magazine's website, Nintendo will announce an HD-enabled successor to the Wii at or before this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, which runs June 7-9. Citing "multiple sources," the website states that the console is in development for release in late 2012.
Game Informer's sources were less clear on what consumers can expect from the Wii follow-up. Beyond high-definition output, there seems to be disagreement over the system's graphical horsepower and whether it will match, exceed, or fall short of what's currently available through the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
The sources also did not provide any information as to what, if any, characteristics the new console will share with the Wii. This includes whether or not it will support backward compatibility, motion controllers, or even Wii branding.
However, Game Informer's tipsters did say that Nintendo has already begun showcasing the console's technology to publishers. The move comes as part of an effort to cultivate greater third-party publisher support--a noted shortcoming of the 85 million-unit-selling Wii.
Rumblings of a Wii successor date back to 2008, when Nintendo president Satoru Iwata indicated that a new console was in production. One feature that seems unlikely is stereoscopic 3D, which was counted out by Nintendo of America head Reggie Fils-Aime in an interview with CNN last month.
The official story: "Nintendo does not comment on rumors or speculation."--A Nintendo representative.
Bogus or not bogus: Looking not bogus. With rumors of a $50 price cut to the Wii swirling, Nintendo has for some time been grappling with flagging interest in its best-selling console. As Sony and Microsoft ostensibly settle in for the long haul with the motion controller-compatible PS3 and Xbox 360, Nintendo will need to achieve graphical parity to maintain a competitive position in the market. And it will need to do so soon.
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
---@danielmbg Sure, you can list probably pages upon pages of more PS3 or 360 games, but most of those games are carbon copies of the previous. Can you really count games that churn out a sequel or two a year? Can you count EVERY FPS 360 might have? That'll take up a good chunk of the list (and half of the FPS are so far under the radar now, nobody remembers them). I guess what I'm saying is, quality > quantity. 8 mutalisks will make quick work of 30 zerglings.
@danielmbg Yes, age is irrelevant. Who cares? I've played kids games with my kids... and it's fun especially when you have children really into it. And the Wii is a fantastic way to spend time with your kids in the house on a rainy day. Yes, graphics are irrelevant. I'd rather play something with great story and cool gameplay than something that looks nice. For example, Red Steel.. while not the greatest graphics, cell-shading can be cool though, would pretty much suck on the other systems because of the motion controls. Same thing with something like Monster Hunter Tri.. which people seem to forget about. And no, I don't have to agree with you that most Wii games are terrible. I have an entire cabinet dedicated to Wii games... that I enjoy. The kids have the kid ones in their rooms for when they want to play. And not to mention the VC, Wario Ware.. and I love playing Guitar Hero with my son by using my DS to do roadie battles (mainly because I suck at guitar hero... guess playing guitar for 30+ years makes you suck at the music games) and the like. The fact that you, and everyone else that insults the Wii use the same bullcrap excuse about "lack of games" ... just shows nobody ever looks beyond what they hear about. Hell, you've probably never heard of "Little King's Story" .. which is one of the finest genre bending RPG/round up games ever made. con'td next post...
@emphaticleech No I like almost every kind of game, but my favorite style is Shooter, I really enjoyed Devil May Cry 4, Prince of Persia, Forza, Soul Calibur 4, GTA 4, and many others. And really age is irrelevant? Come on, an adult would never play Viva Pinata, or games like that. Like movies games are made thinking about the main buyer. And graphics are irrelevant? I disagree in parts. Because even for me if the game is very good, I wouldn't care about bad graphics. But really, for multiplataform games that are exactly the same, Graphics matter a lot, I would never play a game that is the same for a console with worse graphics. And you have to agree with me that most Wii games are terrible, I can name a huge list with the good 360 or PS3 games, While Wii 1 page is more than enough. It is subjective, but I think a lot of people would agree with me that 360 or PS3 games are a lot better than Wii games. And yes I have an open mind, I really thought that Wii had a great gameplay system, and Yes I like new stuff. But once again, they really didn't knew how to use it. Wii is fun at the beginning, but the lack of games really ruin it.
@emphaticleech Your right madworld was a great game. Totally forgot that TP was originally supposed to be for GC and your right with full motion support skyward sword looks very promising...a far as what I meant by adult games I was dorking to the difficulty of the game based on intellect and not necessarily on mature themes violence and gore. And even at that a great game isn't decided for me merely by those things...nintendo makes great games and hardware they just don't evolve quick enough for me. Because when I look out into the games that I'm looking forward to in the weeks and months to followall the games I want a for xbox or pc(
@mossongreens Can't say I've ever had a problem with the Wiimotes' motion sensors. The selection and gameplay has always been near flawless for me... even before I got the Wii Motion Plus. I found it's much better to have the sensor under the TV. And I dunno. TP was a great game. Loved all the new items and mechanics in it. But it was originally a GC game, not a Wii game. Don't worry, you'll get your "jump" (although, ALTTP was WAY harder than OoT imo... so it's kindof irrelevant to say there was a difficulty jump from SNES to N64 zeldas...) once Skyward Sword comes out, which will be a fully 1:1 game between the game and the wiimotes. Funny thing about mature games, is there are quite a few on Wii people seem to overlook. MadWorld being one ..and it is effing great if you are in the mood for the violent over the top gore stuff. But anyway... funny thing about mature anything, is there's no rule saying that something has to be rated M or AO or R or NC-17 to be better than things of the same sort of subject matter that are those ratings. Take a look at horror movies. Really, in the mainstream, the only good horror movie we've had in about 15 years was Drag Me to Hell. And it was PG-13.
@danielmbg I have all three systems, PS3, 360 and Wii. Love them all three. Irrelevant point is irrelevant. There are plenty of good games, guess you just don't care for anything outside FPS? Age is irrelevant. And you proved my point. You just like FPS. Nothing wrong with that, but come on. Get some variety. The term "hardcore" is very subjective. There are people everyday COMMITTED to play Smash Bros. Brawl online. You could say, they're hardcore players because of how good they are and how competitive they are. Again, Wii doesn't have games that could compete with 360 is subjective. I find more pleasure in difficult games like DKCR or Sin & Punishment than trivial mind numbing nothing behind the skull shooters like Halo: Reach or Gears of War. Again, it's subjective and a matter of opinion. Graphics? Another irrelevant point. Some of the greatest games are 8-bit or even text adventures (think the first few Zork games. Incredible adventure games). And being that up until this year, the Wii was the highest selling system in terms of profit margins... I wouldn't say nintendo suffered. At all. They just lost "gamers" such as yourself that don't have an open mind.
@emphaticleech Come on you can say anything, I have Both 360 and Wii, Really I played Wii for just 2 months, and I don't play for about 2 years. My 360 I play almost everyday. And I look Wii games and they all look so boring. Really the only games that I really enjoyed were Mario and Zelda, the others are terrible. What's the purpose of having a nice control system without any good games? And what is your age? Wii games are perfect for children, but really I want Violent games with a lot of action, not Animal Crossing. Casual can be fun, but really I want hardcore games, and Wii don't have any. Wii don't have any game that can compete with 360 games, and also the producers didn't know how to make a good use of the system. While the multi-plataform games looks terrible because of the graphics, and the controllers are stupid, because they don't really fit. Kinect for me is having the same problems, no good games at all, the companies don't know how to use this technologies yet. And Nintendo suffered for this.
Actually you are wrong. Gameplay is gameplay. It is what the word means. It's not graphics. While I agree with you that you can have both gameplay and graphics, having below par graphics can affect gameplay in absolutely no possible way (unless the graphics suck so much that you can't make up what's going on the screen because of low graphics quality). In the case of Wii in particular, graphics are not of low quality but of lower technology, which is a whole different story. I am sure we didn't have any problems "gameplay" wise when we were playing in the earlier-tech consoles like PS1 and N64...
I hear this over and over on any news thread associated with a Nintendo console: "I don't care if it doesn't have the greatest graphics, as long as the gameplay is good" Since when do good graphics mean gameplay will suffer? A high-powered console gives the developers an OPTION to choose if they would like to focus more on graphics, or more on gameplay (for the record, it is indeed possible to choose both). With Nintendo consoles, they are designed from the ground up to sell copies regardless of an inability to compete with high-power consoles. They force developers to rely on the console's "innovation" gimic to avoid criticism of the graphics. Good gameplay happens when you give developers choice- especially when you have a strong group of Indie and other third-party dev support. I would rather Nintendo had done this. But of course, Nintendo should not take my advice, because it is true, they would make less money that way. Sad.
@Lenighma The Wii came out in 2006. It's nearly been 5 years. There was a 5 year gap between GC and Wii. There was a 5 year gap between N64 and GC. See a pattern? I don't see how it's an "ALREADY?!?!?!" thing. @danielmbg Graphics don't make the game. PS2 graphics or not, the Wii still has some incredible games (Red Steel, DKCR, Animal Crossing, Monster Hunter Tri, plus much more) that are fun to play and have excellent replay value. And I think you're timeline in your head is a bit screwed up.. Kinect and PSMove were made to compete with the Wii. So, I think their next system, they'll once again do something that 360 gamers will denounce and call stupid at first (like they did when the Wii came out) and then later on praise Microsoft's "ingenuity" when all they do is steal a formula, and improve upon it aesthetically (Kinect). Either way, I don't find joy in the God of War games or Gears of War. But if you're going to be biased on an ENTIRE system just because you think Gears of War is AWESOME... well then be my guest. As far as I'm concerned, the Wii is superior to all the systems in form and function... however, I don't complain on the other systems being that there are great games on all. I myself have been playing Red Dead Redemption on PS3 religiously for a while. Just got 100%! Woo! Edit: Oh, and I would like to point out... games like MH: Tri, DKCR ... look better than a lot of PS2 games.
I think Wii 2 will lunch in 2016 or 2017 but not right now. and it will be console for 3d games - not only HD, maybe with build in projector ....
I hope that this time they make a console with good graphics, come on Ps2 graphics in this generation was a terrible choice, I wouldn't care to have a bigger and more expensive console with better graphics. And I wonder how the gameplay is going to be this time, I really think that they will keep the motion thing, but with a new technology. Surely they will try to compete with Kinect, or PSMove. And I agree that Nintendo needs more hardcore games, not 1 single game from Nintendo can compete with Gears of War or God of War. Nintendo games are fun, but Gears of War is AWESOME.
EHHH?! A new system ALREADY?!! Bu...bu...!! OH, COME ON!!! *Tsk*...Well, at least the price for a Wii will go down. I'll finally be able to buy it?!
I couldn't care less if it had HD or not, just continue to focus on gameplay and make graphics secondary.
@hotdiddykong, The problem isn't games made by Nintendo but how few games worth buying are made by other developers that really matter. Nintendo knows that no matter what it makes it's fans will buy pretty much. But, what about those people who like action/adventure games who are stuck with mainly kids games made by Nintendo. The fact is the next console made can't just be made for Nintendo to showcase what it can do---we know it can make quality sequels, games catering to a select crowd. What about the people who buy the console and want/deserve more for their money. It's not all about graphics but usefulness. Also for anyone believing that Nintendo would build a console as powerful as the 360 or PS3, you can give it up. Nintendo is somewhat moderately traditional about its console technology more so than it is about its handhelds. The argument of graphics not being important is a joke at this point as the truth is the PS3, 360 and PC have set the graphic bars high enough that ugly isn't acceptable for many people. It's not about blood. It's about wanting other quality developers to flock to your console instead of run from it like the plaque.
This has been an interesting console generation, although I think the next generation will start after Microsoft and Sony release their system (hopefully Sega as well...DreamCast 2 dear god please!!!), which I think won't happen for another year and a half due to the introduction of Kinetic and Move. Nintendo on the other hand have painted themselves in a corner with the Wii, and have no choice but to release a new system. Its the logical next step.
My guess: The console uses a new form of 3D projection technology which uses camera's based in the controller to track the movement of the eyes. Just a guess
@tomf60 The FIRST motion controled accesory was Nintendo's Power Glove (not great by any standards) so technicaly Nintendo realised the motion control concept first (1989). Only now 20 years later are they able to offer controls that are actually functional. @linkyshinks I like that concept. The wii as a marketing console to connect with new consumers at an affordable level then use the next generation console to expand on the new demographic. Genious! Im not so sure if this was a Nintendo concept (probably was they think of everything) but it may prove to be true as Nintendo now has the largest variety of gamers. Sheer numbers and affordable, good gameplay games will see Nintendo succeed in the next generation as well
@Dekanis I'm no Playstation fanboy, but I'd say the Wii copied the EyeToy first. That was the first "motion control"
WHAATT!!! Please don't do this before you make Xenoblade, Last Story, and Zelda Skyward Swords released ... I like wii, but its lack of good triple-A Hardcore Games is the real concern here ... I don't understand why developer never thinking about this and never able to create good games ...
As far as I'm concerned, the only thing I ask from Nintendo is more "hardcore" titles (I hate using that name but at least you guys know what I'm talking about), an enjoyable online experience and HD output. Graphics can be the same as the Wii for all I care... my favorite games on PS3 are from the PlayStation Store (Fat Princess, Shatter, PixelJunk ect) and their strength don't come from the graphics... it's all in the gameplay.
@snes_vs_ps1 2012 is a monumental joke. There are dozens of proofs out there. Stop worrying yourself and others for nothing.
@linkyshinks " (-possibly more powerful than 360 & PS3" The next Nintendo will be more powerful than either Ps3 or Xbox360. For less than 125$ can be had an HD5770 that would literally crush older console graphics. For Nintendo, it would even be cheaper than 125$ since they would only buy the GPU + RAM ( not the card ) and integrate it on their motherboard. Same for CPU. I hope Nintendo remains true to its latest trends and go for good enough hardware, innovative experience and a console that makes a profit from the start ( probably around 300-350$ ). Those who want the ultimate in graphics and number crunching move to PC or wait for next gen consoles.
It would be awesome to see Nintendo compete with a new console that's technically more advanced than the rest, that hasn't happened since the Super Famicom (albeit briefly). (-possibly more powerful than 360 & PS3 if the R700 rumours are true) The fact is the Wii has served it's purpose - it's expanded the audience for Nintendo, now it's time for Nintendo to hit all those new gamers with HD AAA core software, while also allowing users to be able to enjoy multi-platform games on their Nintendo console too. E3 should be incredible, I expect Nintendo will reveal the real hook of this console, which will certainly have F all to do with raw power, but instead innovation which improves the videogame experience in their eyes. I expect it may have something to do with light & sound.
@Xbox360Gamer15 Why do you want it discontinued? Upset that the Wii is more of a success than the 360? Upset that Microsoft and Sony copied Nintendo's motion gaming ideas? Seriously... if you don't intend getting a wii and don't have a wii... you have no reason for wanting it discontinued...
Nintendo has been and will be around for a long time. The peopel at its company have the most experience in the gaming industry and are setting the pace for originality. I like that Sony and Microsoft are in the market because it gives us all choice in our games. Healthy competition is good for us all because it forces Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft to work for every customer they have.
I think it should release the same time around as the other consoles so its up to date with everything.Hopefully they give it good online play and maybe we get to see a new super smash bros.Smash bros Brawl was amazing but the online was really done bad and i think thats simply due to the wiis limitations.
Wii 2 needs a good proper controller option e.g wavebird 2. It needs a full online catalog of titles from all the nintendo consoles, and i mean full. It needs shenmue, GTA, and the ability to have full fat normal multi platform versions of games. And nintendo should also bring out several new IPs and not quirky ones like Pikmin. We need nintendo equivalents of Halo, Forza, Uncharted, Gears of war, MGS, heavy rain, alan wake etc. And a new platformer would be cool. I would also like to see a simple PC OS option, the ps3 promised linux yet never really delivered. A nice Wii OS with a full fat browser and media playback would be nice. And BC for GC and Wii game discs.
I'm interested in the sense that I always like to see where the console industry is heading and Nintendo do tend to offer something different to the general graphical update. But if it is as bad as the Wii I'll pass. Graphics can't stand still forever Nintendo :P
The wii2 sounds pretty cool so far! an inbuilt projector! wonder what to do with that!......
i hated two things about the Wii..... no hd and sooooooo many mini game titles you could make a stack to the moon. i just hope it doesnt use a motion only control and has more real titles.
They shouldn't leave it much later, the Wii is starting to just look really out of place in the current technological market.
@Xbox360Gamer15 why? its a perfectly good console and no ones asking you to play it dude, i dont understand why people like you go to articles that you know full well are going to be about stuff you dont like ....
@paranormalnut i have facts not lies, go to these links and see for your self: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenos_(graphics_chip) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSX_%27Reality_Synthesizer%27 go figure
This should have been done a couple years ago however the product life cycle of this current generation may make this move viable. I would prefer more third party support but I guess you get that by improving the Wii console itself.
Nintendo have a pretty nice niche in the market going on for themselves. People don't seem to expect them to compete in terms of hardware with sony / microsoft, so it leaves nintendo churning out their DS's and under powered console at cheaper prices which people seem to justify as having as well as their serious gaming console. It's pretty clever.
@paranormalnut mkay, so you gave yourself some little credibility, just like I did. All right. Now I'd like you to explain one thing to me. How can a CGI guy know anything about the matter at hand when multi-threading serves no purpose whatsoever in his work? Also, it's my understanding that CGI cuts are typically rendered thru contractors (just like your comment about working on movies AND games points out) so I don't think you have any contacts with anyone who deals with game programming. C'mon. Tell me why this widely known fact about the PS3 is "a load of B.S."
Nintendo's as-yet-unannounced new console rumored to also feature input device with eight buttons, two analog sticks, and one camera.
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