The NX rumors are getting crazier as they come out. This one comes from a fairly reputable source.
Very interesting report by @gibbogame: Nintendo's NX may work with smartphones, PCs and even rival consoles such as PlayStation4.
— Takashi Mochizuki (@mochi_wsj) January 20, 2016
Takashi Mochizuki of the Wall Street Journal quotes David Gibson, analyst at Macquarie Capital Securities when he says the NX may work with other devices. This means smartphones, personal computers, and surprise surprise! Other consoles such as the PlayStation 4.
Before we parse the rumor, let’s consider the source. Prior to covering gaming, David Gibson has been working in financial services for two decades, including over a decade of funds management. It was 2009 when he moved to Japan to take the position of Head of Japan Research for Macquarie. His particular specialty is the consumer electronics and games sector.
Macquarie itself is a global financial services company, with a hand in banking, capital, securities, and more. All of this is to say that David is a highly reputable insider in Japanese gaming and tech, working for a highly reputable company in a major position.
So, as crazy as the rumor sounds, there’s a lot of weight behind the reputable source. David falls short of saying it will definitely work with rival consoles like the PlayStation 4, but it is highly likely that if this is in the works, Nintendo is making arrangements with companies like Sony and Microsoft in secret as we speak.
It was May 2014 when the late Satoru Iwata, then President of Nintendo, announced plans to:
change the definition of our platforms from being device-based to NNID-account-based. When our platforms are account-based, we can expand the number of applicable devices.
What do you think this rumor could mean? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.