Rumor: Next DS Could Run On Nvidia Tech
The rumor mill is running at full speed today with some juicy gossip that Nintendo and nVidia have signed a deal for the DS successor to use nVidia's mobile Tegra chip. This news of course comes from anonymous sources inside nVidia, as well as equally anonymous sources claiming that Nintendo showed off a demonstration of the "Nintendo TS" (Tegra system), as the rumors like to call it, behind closed doors at the August Gamescom convention in Germany.
The Tegra chip would certainly be an interesting choice for Nintendo. Billed as a computer-on-a-chip, the Tegra was designed specifically for mobile devices to provide substantial processing power in a tiny package with limited power consumption. Microsoft's new Zune HD is one example of current tech making use of the chip. According to the rumors, the Tegra chip would give the Nintendo TS processing muscle equal to that of the Wii, as well as supporting a higher-resolution touch screen, a DSi-like camera, and of course backwards compatibility with existing DS games and DSi Ware.
No official comment has come from either company, but when the response does come it's not expected to be anything other than the typical "We do not comment on rumors or speculation" line. The rumors surrounding the Nintendo/nVidia deal also claim that the Tegra-based handheld will be coming out sometime in late 2010 with an official announcement at E3. It all sounds a bit too soon after the DSi launch, but aside from the timing the rumor actually sounds pretty realistic. NVidia would be quite the change of pace for Nintendo, and if the Tegra deal is true for handhelds then we can only wonder what might be planned for a possible successor to the Wii.
Rumor Control: New DS Sighted [Yahoo News]
nVidia wins contract from Next-gen Nintendo DS [Bright Side of News]
NVIDIA Tegra rumored to be included in new Nintendo hardware [PC Perspective]
[via Engadget]
NaviFairy
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 14 October 2009
· Comments (4)
Other stuff like this: DS, Nintendo, nvidia, rumor, tegra
Very interesting, and I wouldn't be surprised if this turned out to be true. Though I wonder if it will turn out to be the successor to the DS, or the long-awaited next entry in the Game Boy line.
I think that the DS and Gameboy lines have basically merged at this point. Originally Nintendo positioned the DS as a "third pillar" along with Game Boy and consoles, but I think that was more as a defense mechanism in case the DS didn't catch on. Nintendo hasn't used the "three pillars" example since the DS launched, so I'm not sure that it still holds true.
Also, if the rumors are to be believed then this next system will be backwards compatible with existing DS games, essentially requiring that the system will have 2 screens with at least one of them as a touch screen.
That being said, I wouldn't mind Nintendo bringing the Game Boy name back. Although I feel it's unlikely if they are using the Tegra chip, since that will lend the handheld to be a multifunctional device whereas the Game Boy brand is more associated with being solely a game system.
I think the timing is perfect. Nintendo LOVES, and it seems with a sick passion, to update their Gameboy/DS hardware (Not as bad as Apple though). If the GBA and DS were examples I'll wait for the second iteration of whatever they bring out.
Very interesting. I wonder if this new DS will be like a PSP and allow you to play Gamecube games? ;)
Or it could be used for the Wii HD (as has been rumoured).