Report: Nintendo NX to use Android OS

Nintendo is nothing if not known for doing things its own way. Whether it be innovation in hardware and software, a special style of marketing and even propriety storage formats or operating systems, Nintendo has always gone its own way. Now, a report from Japanese news course Nikkei (via NeoGAF) alleges that Nintendo’s NX will use an Adroid operating system.

The Nintendo NX is the codename for Nintendo’s next hardware platform and which Nintendo has refused to detail. Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata said the NX is “a dedicated game platform with a brand-new concept” but stopped short of saying whether it was a console, handheld or both. Iwata also suggested that Nintendo is looking into making the NX region-free.

Aside from these two morsels of information, the NX has largely remained a mystery. With this new report from Nikkei we may know a little more. According to an insider the system will be powered by Android in order to attract developers to the system and get them up to speed developing titles as quickly as possible. The insider also suggests that it would allow development to be expanded to smartphones, tablets and the like.

The Nikkei report suggests that the mass-exodus of developer and publishers from the Wii U caused a fundamental shift in the design philosophy at Nintendo who are eager to work with third parties and bring them back for NX. The Nikkei explains that one reason for developers to shy away from the Wii U is that the console isn’t compatible with other platforms. When developing a game for Wii U (whether multiplatform or not) it needs to be created specifically for Wii U, so developers aren’t able to recoup costs like they can for titles developed across PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

For now we can take this report with a grain of salt, however, over the years Nikkei has proven reliable when it comes to Nintendo rumours. Only time will tell, especially considering Nintendo won’t be discussing NX at E3.