A patent filing by Nintendo has surfaced online that describes a dual-screen gaming console reminiscent of the Nintendo 3DS. However, unlike the 3DS where the top screen folds on top of the bottom screen, the patented design shows the top screen facing upward when folded.
The information available shows the top and bottom screens can operate independently of each other. Also, the top and the bottom screens can be detached for a two-player experience since they communicate wirelessly. This eliminates the need for players to have a second handheld console for a multiplayer experience.
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While patents help us to understand the thought process of most companies, it doesn’t necessarily mean that every patent will make it to production. Nintendo has a record of filing patent applications that never become a reality.
Before the announcement of the Nintendo Switch, the company had filed a patent showing an oval handheld game console with analog sticks protruding from the screen. It sounded like a crazy idea at that time because the thumb of the player would obviously obscure part of the game.
In fact, I am beginning to believe that sometimes companies file patents just to distract their competitors. In other words, the patent simply makes their competitor think that they are developing a particular kind of product while they are actually working on something different—a sort of misdirection.
Nintendo showed a demo of Switch successor at Gamescom
It is believed that Nintendo flaunted the tech demo of its Nintendo Switch successor behind closed doors at Gamescom. The news was reported by Eurogamer and corroborated by various other news sources.
The report claimed the Japanese company showed specially prepared tech demos for its next-gen console to a small group of invited developers. It is believed that Nintendo is targeting the launch of the console next year.
One of the Switch successor demos was an improved version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild running at a higher resolution and framerate compared to the original release. However, there was no suggestion that the game would be re-released.
Sources said another demo showed The Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5 tech demo running on the Switch successor using NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling technology with advanced ray tracing enabled. The visuals were comparable to Sony and Microsoft’s current-gen consoles.
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It could be recalled that Nintendo filed patents for an AI upscaling technology in March 2020. The patent which was made public the following year described a process similar to the Switch’s main functionality where the device runs at a certain resolution when battery-powered and at a higher upscaled resolution of 1080p when connected to a TV or plugged into a power socket.
Nintendo has mentioned several times that its Switch successor will make use of the Nintendo Account system to make the transition more seamless for gamers.
“In the past, every device we transitioned to had a whole new account system,” said Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser. “Creating the Nintendo Account will allow us to communicate with our players if and when we make a transition to a new platform, to help ease the process or transition.”
Nintendo’s updated content guidelines sparks outrage
On October 24, 2023, Nintendo updated its Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms. The updated guideline shows that the company will issue DMCA takedowns for materials with modified games, emulators, and anything extracted from data mining. This is the first time the company is updating the guideline which was first published in 2018.
Part of the updated guideline said the company will target content that “features unauthorized game consoles and/or software not licensed by Nintendo or features videos, images, sound sources, etc., that cannot be used in regular gameplay, extracted through game software via data mining or other methods.”
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What that simply means is that the Japanese company could issue DMCA takedowns to various content that features patched or modified games and emulators. Social media posts that reveal information discovered through data mining will also be clamped down.
According to GameIndustry.biz, the new guideline may empower Nintendo to target the online promotion of reimagined retro consoles from companies like Analogue, Hyperkin, and Polymega whose works have been praised by groups advocating for video game conservation.
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