Sony just released two revamped PS4 system, the PS4 Pro, a powerful mid-generation upgrade which was previously coded as PS4 Neo and a slim edition of the existing PS4 hardware, the PS4 Slim.
Meanwhile, Nintendo NX's revealing date was announced and according to a report, this will definitely be a lead to the company's charge against the mid-cycle release dates of the PS4 Pro and Slim plus Xbox One S.
So, why it is that Nintendo NX is not to be directly in competition with the Sony PlayStation 4 Slim and the Microsoft Xbox One S?
Sony PlayStation 4 Slim And PlayStation Pro
The PS4 Slim takes the position as a traditional mid-generation 'slim' redesign, which runs the exact same as current PS4 hardware - including the family-wide addition of HDR output as part of firmware update 4.0.
That leaves the PS4 Pro to deliver tangible graphical and feature upgrades for those who want them - for more on that, check out Digital Foundry's impressions following their three hours of hands-on time with the PS4 Pro at the PlayStation Meeting.
Microsoft Xbox One S
Meanwhile, Microsoft Xbox One S was released earlier this year. It comes with Ultra HD 4K Blu-ray and streaming capability, HDR support, it is forty percent smaller compared to its predecessors and has a storage up to two terabytes and according to Microsoft, it is the most advanced Xbox ever and it starts at the price of $299.
Nintendo NX
On the other side, Nintendo is also working on its very own gaming console, namely the Nintendo NX, which is about to be released next year.
Nintendo fans are still waiting for the release of the device to review its specs but the gaming device is still very much shrouded in mystery, however, it is expected to be handheld that has removable controllers and runs on cartridges but none of this information has been confirmed by the Japanese game giant.
Avoiding The Direct Comparison
Now, based on reports, Nintendo is going to avoid that contest with the NX. Let's not forget that, at launch, Nintendo unwisely tried to ground Wii U as a 'hardcore' system that would compete with Sony and Microsoft systems. Consumers aren't that very naive, though, and within a year, third-parties had walked and the Wii U was unsuccessful after launch. It was too expensive, too, but a key error was plunging it opposite to more powerful competitors.
Nintendo, with its history in of gaming, it is successful, though and it been offering something unique and exciting but that doesn't mean it is the most technologically advanced or powerful, either. Like for example, the Game Boy saw off competing color portables with its games and battery life considered, the DS took off with innovation, likewise the Wii. Especially now, Nintendo cannot win a technological arms race with Sony and Microsoft.
Price is also another key area to consider. Nintendo typically struggles losing money on hardware, which is practical and assuming that will persist the case and it will need to be smartly designed considering economical technology, this brings us again to the point of eluding direct competition. It is not even visible for us to see Nintendo getting close to pushing for 4K gaming. It's not the Nintendo way, but it's also impractical.
The DS and particularly Wii were affordable compared to other gaming systems; NX needs to do the same. It will "ideally" match or weaken the budget PS4 / Xbox One S, not because it's competing directly in terms of its idea or games, but because of perception. When people consider buying a Nintendo system, they often don't expect a premium price.
All in all, it would be inevitable for users to compare NX directly to PS4, Xbox One or any of their upcoming iterations. That will surely to happen but we should hope that the comparison will prove to be debatable that NX would be innovative, enticing and affordable, offering control options and gaming experiences dissimilar or unlike those available now, then it will be in a good choice.
