In just over two weeks, the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles begins and Nintendo is expected to be re-unveiling its next generation console - the Wii U - ahead of a 2012 launch. The console debuted at E3 2011, where some felt the reveal was premature.
The console will be, according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, the console's final form. Part of that final form factor could be a revised controller with analog sticks.
The phone was leaked over twitter by a TT Games employee - the developers of the LEGO video game adaptations - though quickly an attempt was made to remove the photo before it went viral.
The console's main change is the analog sticks, not pads. When shown at E3 2011, the pads were reminiscent of the Nintendo 3DS. The sticks are now more traditional, being raised and possibly bearing a slight resemblance to the GameCube controller's sticks.
Button placement has changed, if the photo is real: the Select and Start buttons have moved to the right - from the center - to under the X, Y, A and B buttons. The Wii U brand is now in the bottom-left of the device, while the analog sticks seem to be further from the screen. The microphone has remained at the bottom of the device, to the left of the Home Button. The latter looks to have a plastic ring, possibly meaning it's physical like the Wii's.
Drawings of the E3 2011 design the leaked shows all of the changes, from the analog sticks to the repositioned Start and Select buttons. Those images also showed a smaller Wii U controller with analog sticks, surfacing on Wii U Spiele around February 2012.
Nintendo will be the first console manufacturer to head into the next generation. Microsoft and Sony are not sharing details on when the next Xbox and PlayStation consoles are coming - Microsoft said it won't be sharing any information at its 2012 E3 conference. Many expect the consoles to launch around late 2013, or early 2014.
Nintendo's E3 2012 conference will begin at 9AM PDT on Tuesday, June 5. That's 12 Noon Eastern, 5PM GMT and 2AM on Wednesday, June 6 in Australia.
