Along with the portable console hybrid rumors, the Nintendo NX might play smartphone games too

Will reportedly run Nintendo’s mobile titles

Let’s get you up to speed.

The latest batch of rumors about the NX, from sources at Eurogamer, claim that the system will be a portable/console hybrid machine, where you can detach the unit’s controllers. Now, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that in addition to running NX cartridges (the reported format), it will also “be compatible with its own smartphone games.”

That would possibly include Miitomo, as well as the Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing projects that are due later this year. Depending on how well those go, this could be pretty big for them, but given the stark dropoff of active Miitomo users, they still have a long way to go. 

Now all Nintendo needs to do is say that it will be backward compatible with Wii U, and will feature every current Virtual Console game, and I’m good. But that’s just another insular decision that will placate fans, and not woo in third-party developers. With all of these publishers parroting “how excited” they are about the NX, I wonder how many will turn tail and abandon ship at the first sign of danger like they did with the Wii U?

Lacking Pokemon Go Effect [Wall Street Journal via Nintendo Life]