My opinion is Nintendo's next handheld could run Android.
Nintendo should come up with a unique hardware concept that sets it above other Android handsets as far as gaming goes, while taking advantage of Android's existing features like browser, mail, photos, services, etc.
Note that some projections are that the Handheld gaming has peaked in 2013 and will decline rapidly in 2014, while Mobile gaming is growing rapidly.
http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2614915
Table 1. Video Game Market Revenue, Worldwide, 2012-2015 (Millions of Dollars)
|
Segment |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Video Game Console |
37,400 |
44,288 |
49,375 |
55,049 |
|
Handheld Video Games |
17,756 |
18,064 |
15,079 |
12,399 |
|
Mobile Games |
9,280 |
13,208 |
17,146 |
22,009 |
|
PC Games |
14,437 |
17,722 |
20,015 |
21,601 |
|
Total Video Game Market |
78,872 |
93,282 |
101,615 |
111,057 |
Console gaming is projected to increase here, but obviously Nintendo is not having much of it, and the decline in Handhelds is set to become an even bigger problem. Since Nintendo dominates the Handheld market, that market decline is almost all Nintendo's to swallow.
In this picture can you see how Nintendo is becoming obsolete without moving into mobile space, and possibly going 3rd party on home consoles?
