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Nintendo had recently announced the NX console, and it looks like no one will have to upgrade from their Wii U’s to play the new Zelda game. Well, at least for the time being. Starting with the system itself Nintendo of America has slated the NX for a release date of March 2017. We will not, however, see the NX at this year’s E3. More information about it will come later well after the expo. In a previous article, we’ve mentioned that Nintendo will “continue to support the system throughout the fiscal year and onward”. With the NX coming next year, we can see that 2016 is safe for the console. The “onward” part looks a tad short, which brings me to the following bit of news.

The Wii U is no good to me dead.

The new “Legend of Zelda” will be released for both the Wii U and NX systems in 2017. Their reason for a later release is that the game needs to “be refined further”. To promote Zelda Wii U it will be the focus of Nintendo’s E3 showcase. There will also be a playable demo of the game at their booth. More information about Nintendo’s E3 plans will be revealed later as we get closer to June. While it’s nice that we’ll finally get “Zelda Wii U” I can’t help but see a coincidence here. This happened with “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” as it was ported for both the Nintendo GameCube and Wii, and it was near the end of the GC’s life-cycle when they were release. I had a bad feeling when I saw the announcement, and it looks like history will repeat itself. In an article by Geek Nintendo CEO Tatsumi Kimishima said during a Q&A that the Nintendo Wii U’s support will be discontinued in 2018. Sorry Wii U fans, only a year and two-thirds.

Link will be ready for both the Wii U and the NX next year.

Finally, we have some news on more mobile games from Nintendo. This fall there will be new apps for smart phones and tablets based on two unlikely series: Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing. Let me just quickly get the localization bit out. Because in my previous article on Miitomo vs Fire Emblem Fates localization one of our readers ( poop.), had tested Miitomo’s Japanese APK on an Android device and found that the app had English already in it. Essentially this helps support my first hypothesis that this was an in-house project between Nintendo and DeNA Co., Ltd. The relevance to this is that according to the press release emailed to me the Fire Emblem mobile game will be another Nintendo & DeNA collaboration. The same could be said about the Animal Crossing app. So it’s possible that these will skip over Treehouse as well.

(I guess they’re not ready to give Mario a mobile title, which is fine.

According to an article on Nintendo Life Nintendo of Europe has gone to say the “Animal Crossing” app will be designed as though it were apart of the word from the titles for dedicated gaming systems. “Fire Emblem” Mobile will be a more accessible title but will have the same RPG Strategy elements. On the AC app I think we’ll be seeing Isabelle as a returning character since she has been a popular character among fans. As for FE, despite how well it sold in America. It might be a way to get more fans for the franchise. In any case, I think these will be more ways to rack up more points on My Nintendo.

It is unfortunate that the Wii U will be cut off but people had seen this coming for some time since the NX caught wind. And now that there’s at least some confirmation when that will accrue. Nevertheless, it’s going to be an upsetting time for those who had fun with their consoles. It’ll also make it a hard sell if people decide to wait until the NX hit the shelves. However, that is not to say that this has been all bad news. As the Wii U is still getting that Zelda game which Nintendo has been pushing, and I’m actually excited to see the Fire Emblem app (I know the localization on Fates is bad, but I still enjoy the gameplay). I’m sure E3 may yield some good games this year so stay tuned for further updates.

Credit:
Robin Ek – Editor
poop

***Disclaimer***
This is a personal opinion of the writer, and it doesn’t necessarily represent the other writers (nor The Gaming Ground´s) opinions.

David Lucas
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @GamerFoxem