If you’ve been a long-time Nintendo fan like myself, then you have no doubt been getting excited about what’s next for Nintendo’s home consoles.  The Wii is a great system, but I’m always looking forward to what’s next.  We had heard some rumors last week about a Wii price drop to $150 on May 15 and those are looking more and more likely due to recent retailer listings.  From those rumors, people started to speculate that this might mean a new system or announcement of a system would be imminent.  And today, GameInformer brings us word from a few of their sources that Nintendo will indeed reveal their new system at E3, if not sooner.  I’ll list the claims about Nintendo’s new console below:

Here are the details from GI:

– The new system is capable of running games at HD resolutions
– system may either fall short of or surpass 360/PS3 in graphics, but it will be comparable
– Nintendo is already showing publishers the system
– late 2012 launch
– no word on backwards compatibility
– no word on ‘Wii’ being in the name
– when Nintendo was approached with this information, they were told that Nintendo won’t comment on their E3 plans, but “stay tuned”
– “Nintendo is doing this one right. [It’s] not a gimmick like the Wii.” – anonymous source

The official E3 Twitter page also went on record with the GI story:

“Could it be? Tune in June 7th and see…. http://fb.me/G77gvduy”

UPDATE: And here are some new quotes from IGN:

– “the console is significantly more powerful than the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and that Nintendo’s intent is to recapture the hardcore market.”
– “Another source said it is capable of 1080p resolutions.”
– “Additional sources tell IGN that Nintendo will release a pre-announcement this month with a full reveal expected at E3 and that the console will be backwards compatible with current Wii software.”

UPDATE 2: CVG is now reporting very similar things about Nintendo’s new console, but also adds more, saying that the new controller will have an “HD screen” on it.

“What’s most exciting about the Wii successor however is its all-new controller, which industry sources have indicated is not simply an upgraded Wii Remote, and will even feature a built-in HD screen.

Our sources did not specify whether or not the controller displays will feature any other functionality, such as that of the DS’s touch screen, but it’s easy to imagine the sort of innovation an extra screen could bring to Wii 2 games.

“Nintendo’s plans sound unreal,” one source said. “Publishers are already planning launch titles and it’s all very exciting.

“The hardware is even more powerful than current HD consoles and backwards compatible with Wii. The controller will be all-new and has a HD screen on it.”

And IGN updated their post saying this:

“Additional sources informed IGN the screen has touch capability.”

UPDATE 3: EDGE magazine is reporting more news this morning:

“Sources have this morning confirmed reports that Nintendo has a successor to the Wii in the works, telling us that thirdparty studios including those of Ubisoft, Activision and Electronic Arts have had development units of the new hardware for months.

They have also claimed that the system retains motion control, with capabilities that are “better than Move”, meaning that they boast higher fidelity. We do not yet have word on whether or not its motion-controlled solution introduces a camera.”

Update 4: Coming from French site 01net.

– codename is “project cafe”
– similar to the architecture of the 360, but a little more powerful and easier to develop for.
– controller has a standard single, 6-inch touch screen
– similar to the Dreamcast VMU with ample storage capacity
– huge “surprise” still to come from E3.
– custom IBM PowerPC CPU with three cores, a GPU from the ATI R700 family with a shader unit at version 4.1, and at least 512Mb of RAM
– GameCube backwards compatibility as well
– controller has a front-facing camera, D-Pad, two bumpers, two triggers and “possibly more”
– can use Wii sensor bar
– due out June 2012 in Japan, holiday season elsewhere

Update 5: More From IGN

-New Nintendo controller allows players to stream entire games to the device from the console – like a miniature television.

-It’ll mirror a Gamecube controller in general function but not in specific form.

-The screen size on the controller is also confirmed to be six inches in size.

-Dual Analog sticks on the controller. Can stream game content from the console. Not sure if it’ll be full games, mini-games, or apps. There will be first and third party “Wii 2” games at E3. No clue if they’ll be playable.

New Information from french site 01net via Gamekyo:

  • Rockstar Game at launch likely GTA5
  • They say Significantly more powerful than current machines
  • June 2012 Launch

Also new a new quote from IGN’s Jim Reilly:

“The next big scoop on the Nintendo console is a picture of the controller. I wonder if someone will get one.”

Also, James posted up the news about Nintendo’s Investor Meeting next week, could be when Nintendo does their pre-announcement for the Wii successor and hopefully confirm some of these rumors.

Update 7: New Updates HERE

Update 8: New info HERE

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