The only logical choice, imo. ARM has stark deficiencies when it comes to floating point operations, and hit a brick wall in cpu clocks at around 2.5 Ghz which takes long to pass. IBM, on the other hand, moved all the way into high power computing, which is basically the complete opposite of a gaming console (and probably already the reason why the Wii U had just a self-developed supercharged triplecore version of an over 10 year old chip installed). And if they go already to AMD to get their CPUs, why not getting the total package at once instead of looking for a company for every single part to deliver to them?

More interesting would be if Zen or no Zen (AMD next Generation Architecture, which should bring them again more or less on par with Intel in IPC and thus global performance) and which generation of GCN would be used.

As for Wii U emulation: Hard, but depending on the CPU/GPU not impossible.

True for Smash. and Mario Kart, but we can easily have new 3D Mario game for launch, also we still dont know on what is working Retro, Pikmin 4 is possible for NX 1st year, there more possible games.

Totally agree, I think they take so much time with VC is that they preparing them in some time for NX too, GC VC games for NX launch would be great too.

I have some Nintendo Wii U games digital, I hope they will be ported them on NX too.

I think biggest Wii U mistakes were bad name and terrible marketing, bad launch titles and software drought in 1st year, not simple and friendly architecture and not very affordable price, and I think Nintendo will correct all that mistakes with NX.

Ok here's my question.

Who's AMD?

Some of them? Maybe. All of them? After what we've heard from them, no chance.

What exactly we heard from them that saying that will repeat same mistakes that I mentioned?

On contrary, everything they said or annonce saying that will not have same mistakes that I mentioned.

AMD sounds like the logical choice.

Being backwards compatible via Virtual Console should be no problem. The system will be powerful enough to emulate games up to Gamecube and most likely Wii. And Wii U backwards compatibility shouldn't be a central focus: the console failed and people ignored most games on it. They can still release Full HD compilations or remake some Wii U games for NX.

The bigger question is: Can AMD provide a great chipset for Nintendo's next handheld system? If so, both machines would be highly similar (the handheld being weaker of course) which would make multiplatform releases across Nintendo's systems easy and Virtual Console porting as well.

I don't think Nintendo's plan is to produce a "fusion" console, as that would satisfy neither market. Instead, they'll put extremely similar architectures into both consoles and let them run on the same account system. We will still get two versions of Mario Kart, but they'll share some tracks and assets and basically one version will run at 480p and the other at 1080p with added effects.

I'd love for Nintendo to go with Zen, but that means Nintendo using new technology (with Zen being a 2016 product) and that would go against their usual approach with tech.

I find it more likely that they'll go with the low power Puma+ cores or, with a bit of luck, the new Excavator cores from AMD's Carrizo APU.

You're joking, right?

AMD is basically the competitor of Intel in the world of CPUs and the competitor of Nvidia in the GPU world. That's why they are the ones that can offer a complete solution to console manufacturers.

I just hope its more powerful than the PS4. It needs to be if Nintendo wants it to have a longer life than Wii U. I wouldn't even mind if they killed BC for this generation. I'm not asking for a god box, but 3rd parties can't be put off by what Nintendo does with the hardware. It needs to be more powerful than PS4 and still be viable after PS5/X2 come out. At least until Nintendo releases their next machine after. That would be the best theoretical sweet spot.