Why is people assuming that NX will release next year? It doesn't even have a name and we know nothing about it.

Making the WiiU the only Nintendo home console ever without its own Zelda title. I don't think so.

There is a slight chance though I doubit it will

I'm starting to believe this too. I wouldn't blame them. I think 4 years is a long enough time to support something that isn't selling.

At this point, you can bearly call what they're doing support. The Wii U hasn't had legitimate "support" since November, and won't have legitimate "support" until May in the West.

Lest that be delayed.

If you stop thinking of "NX" in the traditional way of being a singular hardware platform, and rather think of it as a LINE of various different hardware models (some portable, some for home play), then a lot changes.

There's no law from Moses that says just because hardware lines used to be seperate in the past that they have to be forever.

The most successful consumer electronics brand on the planet right now is Apple ... and they do that with the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, all being basically the same hardware/software wrapped in different hardware form factors.

Remember when Iwata said if they did that they could even *increase* the number of hardware form factors they have?

Ugh, can we PLEASE stop blithely assuming the NX is a successor to the Wii U? We don't know.

I swear, I'll be so satisfied if it ends up being something else (which looks distinctly possible still) because most of the gaming community are going to look like idiots.

It's probably the successor to both the 3DS and Wii U and isn't one singular hardware device. It will be multiple form factors that you can buy depending on what you like. 

Just like some people buy an iPhone ... but not an iPad. Some have an iPad but not an iPhone. But they all have access to the same ecosystem (iOS) and relatively the same experience. 

It's possible...it's kinda suspicious that they're not showing it at this year's E3