Nikkei Nintendo to roll handheld and console development into one division

Nintendo plans to merge its handheld and console gaming units into one division to create next generation hardware “that will turn heads,” according to a report from Nikkei. It’s reporting that the gaming outfit is feeling the heat from competitors, along with new devices from the likes of NVIDIA and Ouya on upstart platforms such as Android. Nintendo is reportedly looking to speed up the development cycle and increase product interoperability by bringing the brain power from all its divisions together. It’ll inaugurate the unified division by February 16th of this year — transferring in 130 console and 150 handheld engineers, to start. Nikkei said it’ll house the new team in a facility next to its Kyoto HQ that’ll be completed by the end of the year, seeing it as “a hotbed of new ideas.” All this comes on the heels of tepid launches of the Wii U console and Nintendo 3DS gamepad — which may have forced the company’s hand.

Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo

Comments

Via:IGN

Source:Nikkei (subscription)

Read more http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/16/nikkei-nintendo-to-launch-unified-console-handheld/