Game Informer has received confirmation from “multiple sources” that the long-rumored HD successor to the Nintendo Wii is a real thing, and it’ll be revealed at E3 2011. Like, for suresies.
You’ve heard similar news like this before: critics, insiders, and secret sources have been predicting or even stating outright that Nintendo will debut a new HD-capable console at every E3 since John Davison first broke the rumor in 2008. His original story, while not gospel, jives with this rumor. At the time, Davison’s sources were stating that Nintendo was showing early presentations of the new console, and their guess as to the tech inside it were vague at best. GI is reporting that Nintendo is going to different publishers and showing off the console in an effort to drum up support for its eventual 2012 launch.
News on the tech, unfortunately, still isn’t incredibly specific, but GI believes the new Wii will spit out HD visuals and might not support the Wii remote that we’re used to, which is an interesting move on Nintendo’s part--dropping the controller (and by extension, the experience?) that gave its original device so much steam seems risky. Then again, the console’s sales have been drooping.
Artist's interpretation of the new console. As for backwards compatibility or a storage solution, GI says nothing is confirmed on that front, but IGN, never to be outdone, claims that "additional sources" have confirmed full backward compatibility, and that the console will be revealed prior to E3 in a "pre-announcement." Well, color us "pre-intrigued."
Of course, Nintendo isn't saying anything definitive at this juncture--why would they?--so assume your “wait and see” position that you’ve been taking over the last three years. We know your knees must be awfully tired, but it seems an end is finally in sight.
