Nintendo Wii U less powerful than current-gen consoles, does it matter?
Despite delivering high definition graphics it has emerged that the Nintendo Wii U may not even match the graphical power of the Xbox 360 and PS3. That’s the frank admission from developers familiar with the making of the console. Is the writing already on the wall for the Wii U? Not if Nintendo has its way.
As the world waits for more Nintendo Wii U details it appears that insider sources have been spilling new information to the gaming press about its capabilities. Speaking to GamesIndustry International sources said that the Wii U cannot match the Xbox 360 or PS3 for power.
“No, it’s not up to the same level as the PS3 or the 360,” said one developer. “There aren’t as many shaders, it’s not as capable. Sure, some things are better, mostly as a result of it being a more modern design. But overall the Wii U just can’t quite keep up.”
Instead the feeling is that Nintendo will focus on innovation over horsepower. Its tablet controller as suggested will be at the centre of everything the Wii U stands for, delivering new gameplay experiences as the current-gen Wii before it.
Insider reports also suggest that more graphical power would have raised the costs of the Wii U to a price higher than fans are prepared to pay. It points to a cheaper new generation console that’ll automatically be cheaper than any competition from Sony and Microsoft. Both are expected to release consoles in 2013.
The Nintendo Wii U will be shown-off further at E3 2012. But has Nintendo already blow its chance to deliver a serious threat to the Xbox 360 and PS3?
Would you buy a less powerful console knowing it would never match the power of either? Send us your thoughts in the comment box below.
Nintendo Network personal accounts detailed
User comments (2)
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Taylor04 April 2012
The wii is never going to be a contender for Microsoft and Sony in terms of serious gaming. But then Nintendo never intended it to be. The wii is cheap because it appeals to a different audience of casual gamers. No doubt many people will buy this for their children and the whole journey as a convenient way to keep them entertained on car journeys.
Report as inappropriatetimelord7005 April 2012
The Nintendo consoles have never been about having more power. They're more about fun and innovation. My folks would never play a video game, yet show them how to make a guy riding a cow knock over scarecrows by tilting a controller.. then show them how they can compete against each other and you'll never get to finish a Zelda game again! The 360 and PS3 (and their future equivalents), as well as the PC of course, will still be the denizen of serious gamers. The amount of fun you have with a game isn't dictated by the hardware, it's what the game makers _do_ with the hardware that makes or breaks it. As long as Nintendo games are still fun, even if they're not necessarily as pretty as the others, I'll still be getting a U
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