There is a brewing rumor that Nintendo NX will be released in October this year. This comes as a huge surprise given the fact that the Japanese-made game console is not due to hit the market until March 2017.
If the leaked information is true, Microsoft will have the option to tinker with Xbox One Scorpio or follow the planned blue print since its launching is slated next year.
The head-to-head competition between Nintendo and Microsoft can be quite engaging considering that both are looking for that edge in added features on their new products.
In terms of design, the Scorpio is being promoted as the most powerful console ever built due mainly to its graphics processor.
Observers expect that Microsoft's newest flagship will have an eight-core CPU and over 320 GB of memory bandwidth with a graphics processing performance of six teraflops.
This unit is able to run games and video in 4K resolution. It should be noted that 4K is the upgrade of high definition television (HDTV).
Virtual reality is also rumored to be a key component of the Scorpio but it is not clear which headset is supported. Fortunately, all Xbox One game discs can be played with the Xbox One S receiving a performance boost.
Nintendo, on the other hand, has been coy regarding the specs but the Japanese company usually takes a completely different approach to its main rivals.
If rumors are to be believed, the NX is a hybrid combination of a hand-held machine and game console with its own screen and detachable controllers which can be playable on TV. Other leaks have bordered on the use of a cheaper smarphone-focused processor and the more powerful Radeon HD RX 200 GPU with 4.6 teraflops of computing power.
There are even talks that Nintendo will be reverting to cartridge-based games. Nintendo America's Reggie Fils-Aime said that the company will focus into the NX development more than their previous consoles. If there is one thing which the Japanese gaming corporation is consistent about, it will be the pricing. The manufacturing approach of Nintendo is usually aligned to the affordability of the retail price.
One edge of the NX is the game platforms which it supports. Major publishers like Electronic Arts, Activision, Ubisoft and Bethesda are likely to stay within range although it is questionable as to what extent will the partnerships be.
It must be remembered that the software sales of the Wii U product has been disappointing.
