- It's a thin rumor, fed by the secrecy around Nintendo's (OTCPK:NTDOY +1.9%) upcoming "NX" console/platform, but a column in Nikkei Shimbun suggests the company could base the system on Google's Android OS.
- That would be a stark change for a company with tight control over software and OS development, but it's building up some media support today: Users are familiar with a slow Wii U interface that could benefit from a speed injection, and there's a case to be made for stronger third-party development support.
- Nintendo would likely pursue an Android fork where it wouldn't have to share a cut of game sales with Google (which would surely be a dealbreaker), and -- again due to its tight grip -- would be able to strictly manage a consistent look and feel.
- As for whether ceding OS development is too much of a culture shock for the company, it did break another barrier this spring by paving the way for its games to go mobile (and thus to other hardware).
- Previously: Nintendo's mobile plan: Five games by March 2017 (May. 08 2015)