Nintendo patent shows gaming device with dual-screen folding and detachable design

[midian182]

What just happened? Nintendo has never been afraid to innovate when it comes to creating new gaming devices, and not all of them have brought equal levels of success. According to a new patent, the Japanese giant might be considering a dual-screen, detachable device in the future, a design that some speculate could be used in the Switch 2.

Game Rant posted images of Nintendo's recently filed patent, which at first glance bears a striking resemblance to the 3DS, the 12th best-selling games console of all time with just under 76 million units sold during its lifetime.

There are a couple of big differences between Nintendo's patent and the 3DS, which was officially discontinued in 2020. The new design shows a touchscreen on the outside of the handheld, allowing owners to use the device even when it has been closed. This brings to mind foldable mobiles such as Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Google Pixel Fold.

Another feature that sounds interesting is the top and bottom halves of the device being detachable. The separated halves could communicate wirelessly, allowing two people to play games together without requiring a second handheld.

Whether parts of this design end up being used in the Switch 2 is debatable. It's noted that the device in the patent appears to be a handheld-only machine rather than a hybrid console with a dock. Given the incredible success of the Switch in such a short amount of time – it is now the third best-selling console ever after releasing in 2017 – it's hard to imagine Nintendo making such a drastic change. And like all patents, there's no guarantee this one will ever become an actual product.

Back in September, sources claimed that Nintendo held closed-door presentations of the Switch 2 during Gamescom 2023 in Germany a month earlier. Those in attendance were shown various tech demos highlighting the system's beefier specs including a tweaked version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Nintendo has said more than once that its next-generation console, presumably the Switch 2, will use its Nintendo Account system to make the transition from the Switch as seamless as possible.

"In the past, every device we transitioned to had a whole new account system. Creating the Nintendo Account will allow us to communicate with our players if and when we make a transition to a new platform, to help ease that process or transition," said Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser.

In other Nintendo news this week, the company has updated its content guidelines to specify that it will issue DMCA takedowns for material, including videos on social media, featuring modified games, emulators, and anything extracted from data mining.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/100656-nintendo-patent-shows-gaming-device-dual-screen-folding.html

 

[yRaz]

Bring us ATLEAST 1080p, I'm tired of these gimmicks and bad graphics. Can't even play my switch on the big screen because of how bad the aliasing is. Pulled my 40" out of the basement just so it wasn't as bad.

 

[VaRmeNsI]

Once again demonstrating how ridiculous patents are.

 

[Manu Arg]

So.... DS style is coming back? It would make sense since they closed all the e-shops and now they can bring the ports to the new one (**** move anyways).

 

[amghwk]

Nintendo, despite beginning home consoles and revolutionizing handhelds never got their gamepads right. Talk about the irony. Never a fan of their rectangular D-Pad buttons with sharp corners from their Game&Watch era. But loved their games anyway.

 

[EdmondRC]

Seriously doubt this has anything to do with Switch 2. I don't imagine they'll stray too far from the Switch design considering that it is on track to be the best-selling console of all time. Instead, they should focus on improving the hardware where it matters. Better joy-cons, especially better joysticks. Better ergonomics. And obviously, making the hardware much more powerful than the Switch. Other than that, there really isn't much wrong with the overall design. Also, instead of a handheld only design, they should make a cheaper console only design this time around.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Hard to imagine a significant redesign given the success of the switch. But a second device aimed at a different customer segment (alongside the Switch 2 but launched later) is possible. They could be looking for something to differentiate themselves from Steam Deck, ROG Ally, etc. and/or compete with VR (not using VR but some other way to play think how the Wii was different).

 

[bondflavor]

A Switch 2 would be so boring. Nintendo hasn't done a spec-increase-only generation change since N64 - GameCube.

I miss when they had separate home console and handheld lines. For one reason or another, the games were better then than when they merged the two with the Switch.

The Switch isn't good at being a portable system, because the games are, by and large, designed as TV experiences, making playing them on a small screen miserable. The Switch isn't good at being a home console, since its portable needs hamstring its power.