Nintendo could ditch optical discs for cartridges with the NX - report

Rumours of Nintendo's next console abandoning optical storage have surfaced once again.

Nintendo could ditch optical discs for cartridges with the NX - report

According to a new report from Japanese site Money-Link (via Screen Critics), chip manufacturer Macronix is reportedly expecting a revenue increase in the latter half of 2017, thanks to a deal with Nintendo.

Macronix has been making ROM chips for Nintendo for a long time. These chips are usually what make up the 3DS cartridges, but the report suggests that what Macronix is working on next may not intended for the 3DS. According to Screen Critics, Macronix recently began testing a new line of 32nm chips.

These chips are significantly smaller than the 75nm ones found in 3DS cartridges, and would suggest the new standard will support higher capacities, and therefore unlikely to be used with the 3DS.

"In the past, Macronix sales performance usually peaked at third quarter, while declined at the fourth quarter," the translated Japanese report reads.

"However, Wu Miin pointed out that because Nintendo has announced that the new platform will be launched in March next year, orders should be placed in advance. Therefore, the operating revenue of Macronix in the fourth quarter may be as good as the third quarter."

This information is in line with some of the leaks going as far back as last year that suggested Nintendo is working on an optical storage-less console. Though that may have just been a prototype, the two could be connected.

This also lends more credence to the idea that the NX would be hybrid console of sorts, featuring a handled to replace the 3DS as well as a home console to replace the Wii U. Games could be sold digitally or on these high capacity cartridges/cards, which could work well for this style of console.

Nintendo confirmed earlier that the NX will launch in March 2017, but said we won't be seeing the device at E3 this year.

Thanks, NintendoLife.