Nintendo's Next-Generation Console Has a Launch Date

The Wii U won’t be Nintendo’s flagship console much longer. The iconic Japanese company has officially confirmed that the codenamed NX is just months away — and will be launched simultaneously in markets across the globe. Via a financial release, Nintendo states, “For our dedicated video game platform business, Nintendo is currently developing a gaming platform codenamed ‘NX’ with a brand-new concept. NX will be launched in March 2017 globally.” Nintendo went on to confirm that the “NX” designation is still just a codename while company president Tatsumi Kimishima told Japanese paper Nikkei, “… it’s not merely the successor to the handheld 3DS or stationary console Wii U. This will be hardware that’s been made with a new way of thinking. I’d like to announce more particulars regarding its specs and how it works another time this year.”

Unfortunately, the NX won’t be making an appearance at this year’s E3 and the console will miss this year’s important holiday window — supposedly to ensure that games are ready for its launch early next year. As for the good news, one of those launch titles will likely be a new Zelda game: Nintendo has confirmed that the next installment in the franchise — which was originally announced last year — will be coming to the NX, as well as the current-gen Wii U.