Developers working on Wii U, Nintendo's next console, confess that it isn't as powerful as the current generation of consoles.
The information comes from GamesIndustry, which spoke to developers working on titles for the new console under the strict condition of anonymity.
"No, it's not up to the same level as the PS3 or the 360," said one dev. "The graphics are just not as powerful."
"Yeah, that's true. It doesn't produce graphics as well as the PS3 or the 360," agreed another developer at a major company. "There aren't as many shaders, it's not as capable. Sure, some things are better, mostly as a result of it being a more modern design. But overall the Wii U just can't quite keep up."
Gearbox's Randy Pitchford, who is working on Aliens: Colonial Marines for Wii U, recently praised the console, saying that "no other platform can do what the Wii U can do." It's perhaps telling that he didn't mention the graphics specifically, limiting his praise to the potential of the system's new touch screen interface.
If Wii U is graphically less powerful than current consoles, it will be in keeping with Nintendo's core philosophy of using affordable technology in innovative ways, rather than offering consumers the most advanced piece of kit available.
But will this strategy work if the disparity between Wii U and the next Xbox and PlayStation is so great (both of which arerumoured to be out by the end of 2013)? Will Nintendo's next console soon look like a living fossil?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: http://ie.wii.ign.com/articles/122/1222184p1.html
