Nintendo NX could launch in summer 2016

Nintendo's new console, codenamed NX, could launch sooner than any of us ever expected. According to sources close to Nintendo's supply manufacturers, the Nintendo NX could launch as early as summer 2016 — which would be pretty amazing considering the company won't officially start talking about the console until next year.

As reported by Digitimes, Nintendo asked its supply partner, Foxcconn Electronics, to start "pilot production" of its next-gen console by October of this year at the latest. Sources familiar with the project claim orders are expected to be finalized by March 2016, with mass production beginning by May or June 2016 for an official launch in July 2016. According to the same source, Nintendo is looking to ship around 20 million Nintendo NX in the first year, while Digitimes estimates Nintendo's shipment of Wii U consoles at a mere two million units in 2015.

According to latest speculation, the Nintendo NX could cost around $149.99 at launch.

Nintendo first mentioned the NX during a media event earlier this year, but has yet to go into detail about its "dedicated game system." Nintendo maintains that all talk about the Nintendo NX will have to wait until next year. There's lots of rumors and speculation surrounding what the NX could be, but any questions about it immediately get shot down by Nintendo.

All this being said, a summer launch for the Nintendo NX just doesn't make any sense to me. Though the year is in line with earlier speculation, a summer release just seems like odd timing. Assuming they announce something big at E3, which would be odd considering Nintendo has taken a step back from the annual trade show, it would only give them a month to really push the NX before release. I just don't think there's enough time for Nintendo to start talking about the next major console next year, share all the necessary information with consumers, and release it in the same year.

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[Digitimes]