Nintendo to Merge Console and Handheld Divisions

by William D'Angelo, posted on 16 January 2013 / 4,287 Views

Nintendo plans to merge its home console and handheld division on February 16. This is the first major change in the company in nine years, when the company brought the DS to the market.

The company is going to open a new 30 billion yen ($340 million) office next to its Kyoto headquarters. In the new office the home console and handheld divisions will be working side by side and will able to share technology and breakthroughs much more easily.

The new office will have 280 engineers from both divisions. This includes 130 home console engineers and 150 handheld engineers.

Nintendo has tried connecting its home consoles and handhelds in the past. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker had connectivity with the Game Boy Advance is just one example. Nintendo is also developing the next Super Smash Bros. game for the Wii U and 3DS at the same time and will offer some kind of connectivity.


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7 Comments

FaintZ
FaintZ (on 16 January 2013)

Hybrid incoming?

  • +2
FaintZ
FaintZ (on 16 January 2013)

Just joking.

  • 0
Kwaidd
Kwaidd (on 16 January 2013)

wii u is the hybrid? =p

  • +1
Thechalkblock
Thechalkblock (on 17 January 2013)

Merged Virtual Console perhaps???

  • +1
swii26
swii26 (on 18 January 2013)

Merged everything, I hope!

  • 0
NoirSon
NoirSon (on 16 January 2013)

Wait, you mean they had separate offices to begin with? I didn't know that was the case.

  • +1
chris_wing
chris_wing (on 17 January 2013)

I'm calling it now, the next Nintendo home console will also be fully portable.

  • 0
Fayceless
Fayceless (on 17 January 2013)

This isn't really big news...they're just building a new office building that's got more space. Yipeee.

  • 0
thetonestarr
thetonestarr (on 16 January 2013)

This doesn't sound like a merger, by that description, and more creation of a new division that is focused on working purely on intersystem relations. Not saying I believe that's what it is - I mean maybe it is - but that's just more what the description above sounds like.

  • 0
Heavenly_King
Heavenly_King (on 16 January 2013)

maybe they realized that the WiiU is gigantic DS??

  • 0