We try to avoid posting rumours as much as possible on Vooks, it’s part of our news policy and has been for years. You all seem to love it. Now we’re reaching a critical stage with the Nintendo NX where rumours, speculation and leaks are at a fever pitch. So instead of ignoring it, we’re going to collect them and analyse them.
We had planned to make this a weekly feature but the NX rumours went away for a little while replaced with actual news from Nintendo themselves. By news we mean them saying they’re not going to talk about it – but progress!
There’s only one big big rumour in this wrap and it concerns Nintendo’s friends at EA.
This might be the only rumour here this week but it’s a huge one. Nintendo Life is reporting word that EA and Nintendo planning to hold meetings next month and the NX will be top thing on the agenda.
Nintendo is said to be really keen on getting EA back on board after the divorce of the “unprecedented partnership” between the two companies after the Wii U failed to light up the sales charts. The rumour says that EA already has NX development kits and Nintendo believe EA could be an important part of the next consoles success.
Throwing some development kits at EA though isn’t enough, they want more and they want plans from Nintendo on how they are going to make the NX not end up like the Wii U. Specifically EA wants to know how Nintendo is going to get enough of an audience for their sports titles – something the Wii U lacked.
EA is said to be throwing tons of stipulations at Nintendo for this, increased advertising dollars (during sport events), possible hardware bundles and even pushing for sports applications to be readily available on the new system. The idea is that no sports fans are going to buy an NX if they can’t keep up to date on their sports, in addition to playing sports games.
The full story is available on Nintendo Life, it’s far more detailed than the cliff notes above.
The Verdict
There’s no reason not to believe this one, at least not the essence of it anyway. EA may have initially supported the Wii U and there was likely plans for more between the companies – but we all know what happened and we have to move past that as do Nintendo.
Nintendo need EA, EA can live without Nintendo. If Nintendo can get their audience, EA will put their games on it.
If we’re to believe this rumour then the right sort of movements are already happening. Let’s just hope something comes of this.
What do you think? Should Nintendo bow to the pressure EA is allegedly placing on them or can an agreement be met some other way?
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