Console tablet would be a terrible way to go. It wouldn't be comfortable for long play sessions and it wouldn't be portable at all. If the next handheld is in the size range of the 3DSXL but with the freeform screen (could be the entire top half of the device so great size but with other features) and can be used as a controller for the Console... that would be a feasible solution. Nintendo just needs to do some things to make sure that its powerful enough on its own and they need to work out deals with everyone that offers streaming to include the new HDS.

Even IF they are doing the rumored "fusion" idea for their next system, I still do not find any reason to believe it will be out any sooner than 2017, and probably late 2017 at that.

3DS, especially with the introduction of the "new" 3DS model, is doing just fine, and will continue doing just fine. Wii U is selling slowly, but is still making them a profit, and will continue to do so as they continue to get more big games (Zelda, Star Fox, hopefully a fucking WAVE RACE, maybe another 3D Mario, etc.) out on the market. I don't see any reason why they would pull a Sega and abandon their console, and screw the fans in the process. No, they still make a killing on the software as well, and will most assuredly be not only giving us our money's worth with plenty of games between now and 2017, but also be getting their money's worth, by profiting off of those game releases.

I totally think we might see a slight unveiling of at least the basics of the new system at E3 2016 (not 2015), but it won't come out that year. 2017, I feel, is the safest bet.

This is what i call no-news. We all know all major companies start the development of their new system shortly after the previous one released. We still know nothing about what it is or when its coming, so, after reading this article, your knowledge in this topic did not increase.

There were no news, but it was exclamated like there was based on speculation that isnt very plausible. AMD might haveva new client does not equal new nintendo home console coming soon. The Wii U will stick around for at least 2 more years, so lets not get ahead of ourselves.

WiiU is tracking way below GC sales. And I highly doubt that they're going to bet once again on another tablet when wiiU was such a huge commercial failure.

EDIT: I actually agree that wiiU's successor will launch in 2017. But there's no way that we won't see a new Nintendo handheld on the market before 2016.

I'm not talking about the latter.

I just want to see them go to 4K before anyone else. Don't come out 3 years after the PS4 with 15% more power than a PS4 and think you will be able to sell a ton of systems. You won't. It will be the Wii U all over again. Fans deserve better.
A 2017 May launch with 4k badassery would get Nintendo pumping again.

You are keep quoting the same thing....Nintendo is not going to abandon the wii u anytime soon .....you fail to realize hardware sales does not matter as much ...it's the software that matters and accessories(amibos,merchandise etc) in which where the most money is made not hardware ...nintendo is making a lot of money off their first party software in which almost always sell in the millions or tens of millions ....Nintendo does not put much thought in market share because their first party software sells well..... Xbox and Sony care about market share because their first party doesn't sell as well as Nintendos and they rely more on third party to bring in revenue ...so the more consoles on the market the more 3rd party sells makes them a profit....what I'm trying to basically say hardware sells does not equate to software sales /merchandise ....why do you think Sony and Xbox sell their consoles at a loss because they feel they can make it back in software and xbox live or psn subscriptions etc ...reality is the hardware sells plays a small part in revenue for Sony ,nintendo or Microsoft ..just saying ....that is why as long as nintendo software sells well they will not abandon the wii u and maximize their profits  no matter how low ther console sales are

I expect the next Nintendo console to be announced in 2016 and release in 2017, around 5 years after the Wii U launched. I expect them to want to move onto to next gen sooner than Sony, and possibly MS, which will probably release the PS5 in 2019 or 2020.  (Edit: After thinking about it,  2019 seems more reasonable.  This way they could help promote it with a celebration of 25 Years of Playstation.)

Also, if Nintendo is going to go the cheap route, again, and aim for HW slightly more powerful than the PS4, then they should expect another repeat of this gen. Core gamers, for the most part, are not looking for slightly better graphics with a gimmicky controller. They are going to want a PS5, which will probably be ~4x-6x more powerful than the PS4 and will probably completely blur the line between cinematic and in game graphics.

Lol... that's what they should have called the Wii U...

But, I think it's good.  I mean, look at the deminishing returns we have today.  If they could have something stronger than the PS4... just enough to barely notice, I think it would be a good thing.  They wouldn't be leagues behind the PS5 when it came out like they were with the Wii Vs. PS3.  I'm sure most people would be satisfied.

They wouldn't even need games.  Just Bayonetta 4, and Smash 5.

They can't future proof it unless they take a big hit on price. The reason for it is simple the competitiors will knwo the specs and jsut boost them to be higher.

So unless nintendo builds a 1000 piece of hardware and sells it for 400 then there is no hope.