Rumor: 10 – 12 Million NX To Ship In 2016
As we approach next year, expect a ton of information to leak regarding Nintendo’s next system, currently codenamed NX. Not much is known about this mysterious console or handheld or hybrid device as of yet. If you recall, the Wall Street Journal had reported that development software kits had been deployed as of a few months ago.
Now, DigiTimes is reporting that Nintendo’s new system will enter mass production at the end of the first quarter of 2016. It’s unclear if first quarter is the typical January – March timeframe, or if they’re going off of Nintendo’s calendar year, in which case the first quarter would be April – June. Regardless, the site reports that the suppliers of the components for the NX are expecting shipments to reach between 10 to 12 million units. This is compared to estimated shipments of 13 million Xbox One systems and 18 million PlayStation 4 consoles for 2016.
This past July, DigiTimes ran a similar story claiming that Foxconn Electronics would be mass producing the NX and that the process would start in May or June of 2016, with a possible July release date. They also made mention of a targeted 20 million units shipped during the first year. Obviously this new information lowers the expected shipment number in half. It’s unknown if this is because of a later launch schedule or something else altogether.
Keep in mind these are only rumors and as such shouldn’t be taken seriously until we know more about the NX and the launch plans from Nintendo. Still, it’s fun to speculate and dream about what’s on the horizon.
Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.
