Rumor: Nintendo has Begun Development on a Next-Generation Machine

[Viper1]

DélioPT said:

Viper1 said:

You do understand that's only a 4-5 year life for 3DS?  Why so soon?

In full years, it would be close to 5 full years (2015) or even the full 5 years (2016).
It`s not really surprising: GBA was came out in 2001 and NDS, in 2004-2005.
Of course, Nintendo had a different strategy, but both were in competition.

Without the big support from casuals, 3DS is bound to endure that many years as past portables. Add to that mobile gaming and 3DS lifespan decreases again.
Releasing in 2015 or 2016 would allow Nintendo to better fight the mobile gaming market with a better machine (3D might add a lot to gaming but it didn`t do for 3DS what a touchscreen did for NDS).

GBA had a short life because the DS ended up overtaking it as the portable device of choice almost right away.  I think Nintendo knows now they can't support 2 portables simultaneously.  The market just doesn't work that way.   Other than the GBA, they've all lasted a good many number of years.

I just don't think it will be needed that soon.  Besides, I have a feeling their next home and portable consoles will have a much more linked together concept that they'll be launched nearly simultaneaously or may even be the same device. 

Don't forget they have a new combined R&D facility under construction that won't be ready for full use until the end of this year.  They'll likely need more time to get any kind of combined product to market than just a few months to a year.