A new rumor is floating around the internet in which Nintendo will be using Android as the OS of choice for its next console, currently codenamed NX. This new console was recently announced around the same time that Nintendo finally decided to jump into the mobile gaming scene, securing a deal with DeNA to publish Nintendo franchises and new IPs. At that time though, details regarding the briefly mentioned Nintendo NX were scarce.
Update: June 2nd, 2015 6:46am PST: In a rather quick response to the rumor that the Nintendo NX would be running an operating system built around Android, Nintendo has released a quick statement to the Wall Street Journal saying that the upcoming console would NOT be running any off-shoot, spin-off, or whatever you want to call it, of the Android OS.
There is no truth to the report saying that we are planning to adopt Android for NX – Nintendo spokesperson
The interesting part about this is how quickly Nintendo responded. They usually aren’t this fast. The Japanese newspaper Nikkei also has a very good history of getting these rumors right. So while Nintendo is denying the rumor, stating it is completely false, we still have to wonder about it. Like we mention below in our original report, this isn’t the first time a Nintendo device was rumored to have Android in it. This could be just keeping the trend. Nintendo also said they would never do mobile/smartphone games and yet here we are. So who knows. We will keep digging and bringing updates as we get more information.
Originally story begins below…
Now rumor has it that Nintendo will be using Android for the NX’s operating system. For those of you going “Whaaaaaaaaa?!” in your minds about this, don’t forget that a few years back a similar rumor had begun floating around about Nintendo using Android as one of their device’s operating systems, in that case is was the Wii U. However, up until this year, Nintendo has staunchly refused to be apart of mobile gaming outside of their own mobile systems.
The rumor this time comes from an ‘insider’ who told Japan’s largest newspaper called Nikkei that the Nintendo NX would be built around the Android OS:
[The] operating system is loaded with Android. This would be able to speed up getting all game developers on board. It would also mean that development could be expanded to smartphones, tablets, and other devices.
If the rumor is correct this time around, it would more than likely be similar to what other Android micro-consoles have done, which is built an OS off of Android but would not be the default UI or anything that actually resembles Android, like the Ouya did.
The reason behind this move is apparently due to the fact that the Wii U isn’t compatible in any way with other platforms and so developers have a hard time making their money back after development costs when it comes to developing for the Wii U. Apparently building it around Android would make this a lot better and less of an issue for developers.
Nikkei has a really good track record with rumors so the fact they are reporting on this is a good sign. Still, it isn’t the first time Android has been brought up as an OS for a Nintendo product only to end up not true. If this is true, would you be happy to see Android as the OS the Nintendo NX is built around?
Website Referenced: Kotaku
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