News Article

Square Enix Prez Stares Into Crystal Ball; Sees New Wii in 2011

Posted Wed, 23 Sep 2009 by Damien McFerran

In case you were wondering, Wada is the one on the left

In case you were wondering, Wada is the one on the left

Thoughts also passed on motion control

Square Enix president Yoichi Wada has opened his mouth and allowed various predictions to spew forth, some of which were collected and bottled during an interview with The Financial Times.

Wada has foretold that Nintendo's successor to the Wii will be available in 2011, and is likely to be closer to the PS3/360 in terms of specifications.

Another insightful prophecy was the revelation that the new machine might be bundled with a different type of controller. Someone get this guy to pick next week's winning lottery numbers!

Elsewhere in the interview the Square Enix head man touched upon Microsoft and Sony's upcoming motion control systems. Wada is unsure they will have a massive impact on the fortunes of their relevant platforms because of the sheer amount of functions both machines currently offer to the consumer.

Source: ft.com.

Tags: Wii, Development, Industry, Interviews.

User Comments

fudgenuts

1. fudgenuts United States 23 Sep 2009, 01:01 BST

No way he could predict something like this.

Adam016

2. Adam016 United States 23 Sep 2009, 01:05 BST

I bet it will come out in 2011 especially hearing it from Suda51 the ficken president of Square Enix.

I'm just happy he doesn't care for Natal and that Sony thing. :D

Odnetnin

3. Odnetnin United States 23 Sep 2009, 01:08 BST

"Square Enix Prez Stares Into Crystal Ball; Sees New Wii in 2011"
You guys have the most clever article titles.

Charlie The Unicorn

4. Charlie The Unicorn United States 23 Sep 2009, 01:11 BST

That would make sense. Every 5 years, starting with the SNES for NA, a new console has come out.

1991: SNES
1996: N64
2001: Gamecube
2006: Wii
2011: Wii 2?

jhuhn

5. jhuhn Canada 23 Sep 2009, 01:20 BST

Well we are seeing a 5-year pattern on the Nintendo consoles so far.

Dark_Zelda

6. Dark_Zelda Canada 23 Sep 2009, 01:27 BST

just as i predicted i said it would be coming out in 2011 the day the wii was released and natal and sony's wand being showed at e3 was a even huge hint because if nintendo comes out with a console that has hd graphic's and a new controller (that has to top motion plus) and sony and microsoft are kicked out of the market

irken004

7. irken004 United States 23 Sep 2009, 01:36 BST

Someone check his midi-chlorian count

Dicesukeinuzuka

8. Dicesukeinuzuka United States 23 Sep 2009, 01:50 BST

Wait, is wada on my left or their left?!!!!! :OO

donth8theplaya69

9. donth8theplaya69 Canada 23 Sep 2009, 01:52 BST

People are still buying PS2. I was hoping that nintendo would let the lil' white box live a little longer because it hasn't reached it's full potential.

Super Smash Bros. Fan1999

10. Super Smash Bros. Fan1999 United States 23 Sep 2009, 01:53 BST

Nintendo should wait until 2012, mainly because when I get a PS3, I don't want to have to hear six months later that Nintendo is making a new console.

Infernape1000

11. Infernape1000 United States 23 Sep 2009, 01:58 BST

I'd enjoy having that Garland statue in my room! = D

....Or is that a guy in a costume....?

Stevie

12. Stevie United Kingdom 23 Sep 2009, 02:01 BST

Your picture puns always make me chuckle.

slapshot82

13. slapshot82 United States 23 Sep 2009, 02:24 BST

Aye look at it this way. Then Nintendo can start making clocks and calculators in HD format.

Objection_Blaster

14. Objection_Blaster United States 23 Sep 2009, 02:27 BST

I think that 2011 is a year too soon. Wonder if Ninty is mad at Wada for these comments, assuming they're correct.

ReZon

15. ReZon United States 23 Sep 2009, 02:35 BST

FFXIII will be a launch title.

Blue Protoman

16. Blue Protoman United States 23 Sep 2009, 02:42 BST

Wii 2 will come out on December 22nd, 2012.

Koto

17. Koto United States 23 Sep 2009, 02:49 BST

if this is true,then too bad because i still haven't gotten all the games i wanted for Wii...i hope the new system has backward compatibility for both Wii and Gamecube

JayArr

18. JayArr United States 23 Sep 2009, 03:00 BST

Closer to PS3 and Xbox 360 specs? Shouldn't it be more advanced than those systems? Next gen = better than current gen or at least I thought.

PhillepinO

19. PhillepinO United States 23 Sep 2009, 03:57 BST

Nintendo should wait and see if the world really ends in 2012, then they should release it afterwards as a celebration console :)

Infernape1000

20. Infernape1000 United States 23 Sep 2009, 03:57 BST

Blue Protoman, on the day the world ends...I doubt it...

chunky_droid

21. chunky_droid Australia 23 Sep 2009, 04:35 BST

It would be totally awesome if Square-Enix was run by the guy on the right :)

BlueFlameBat

22. BlueFlameBat United States 23 Sep 2009, 04:50 BST

I agree with donth8theplaya69 and other users with similar posts. The Wii may not be a graphical powerhouse, but I don't think there should be a new console at least until 2013.

my_point_is

23. my_point_is United Kingdom 23 Sep 2009, 05:12 BST

when yuchi wada said about being closer to xbox360/ps3 specs, i`m hoping he means that the wii2 has HD graphics, an internal hard drive, cd and either blue ray or dvd playback, plus what ever else that xbox360 and ps3 can do.
also, don`t forget, nintendo is co developing holographic memory to incorporate into the wii2.

mjc0961

24. mjc0961 United States 23 Sep 2009, 06:06 BST

Okay, first of all, the world is not ending in 2012. Put that nonsense away.

Second of all... Yeah, I doubt it. Not with the world economy in this state.

Token Girl

25. Token Girl United States 23 Sep 2009, 06:23 BST

My theory is it will be revealed in 2011 at E3 or so, and will actually hit the shelves in 2012. Delays that happen between now and then need to be accounted for too.

Big A2

26. Big A2 Australia 23 Sep 2009, 06:53 BST

"also, don`t forget, nintendo is co developing holographic memory to incorporate into the wii2."

What. Where did you read THAT?

MrPinguy

27. MrPinguy Portugal 23 Sep 2009, 08:10 BST

@Infernape1000
That's Judge Gabranth :P
http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/File:Dissidia_Garland.png
This is Garland!

JimLad

28. JimLad United Kingdom 23 Sep 2009, 10:00 BST

Next gen will be interesting, no doubt about that.
All 3 consoles are likely to have motion control, and that's another step closer to my dream of virtual reality gaming. :}

Stuffgamer1

29. Stuffgamer1 United States 23 Sep 2009, 10:50 BST

@JayArr: Yeah, and that's why the Wii we have now is barely more powerful than the last generation of systems, right? Face it: Nintendo's next system will NOT be more powerful than the PS3 and 360, because they're intentionally running behind in hardware specs so that the stuff can be affordable at launch.

I hear that the next Nintendo system will be backwards compatable, and even have "works on both systems" games a la GBC. No idea where my source got his info, though. That method would make sense, so Nintendo could let the casuals keep their regular Wii's for a while as the core gamers upgrade (I would upgrade ASAP, provided a decent downloaded games solution was provided). Doing that, 2011 would make plenty of sense!

Reala

30. Reala United Kingdom 23 Sep 2009, 11:46 BST

I doubt the 5 year cycle will continue, nobody else is in a rush to splash out on new hardware development, Sega was the one that kick started a few console eras, without them jump starting things I predict longer lifetimes for the consoles.

letsplay

31. letsplay United States 23 Sep 2009, 12:10 BST

I'm guessing the Wii 2 will drop gamecube support, Wii backward compatible, HD support (I hope they have a separate 5.1 audio output), support USB keyboard, maybe use an internal SSD drive and support larger flash cards.

Token Girl

32. Token Girl United States 23 Sep 2009, 12:38 BST

@Stuff

I would hope that a wii hd is at least as powerful as a ps3/xbox 360, given what those systems cost now. It's not unreasonable to have something a little more powerful out by 2011 I think, given that the price on the technology out now will only decrease between now and then.

Atlantis1982

33. Atlantis1982 United States 23 Sep 2009, 13:49 BST

"Nintendo should wait and see if the world really ends in 2012, then they should release it afterwards as a celebration console"

Or something to pass the time with the Mayan Apocalypse. :)

SupermarketZombies

34. SupermarketZombies United States 23 Sep 2009, 15:21 BST

NOTICE: To anyone and everyone that thinks Nintendo has had a 5 year console plan for all eternity please look at the Virtual Boy.

Ren

35. Ren United States 23 Sep 2009, 16:09 BST

Seems early now, but a lot happens in 2 years and I think we'll all be ready for an upgrade to an HD Wii by then. HD content in other media will be a lot more prevalent by then anyway (hopefully, I'm sick of all the different formats, I work in video production and it makes life hell for me)

All I can say is there better be some good solution for letting us keep our VC and WW games, we're not just replacing a console anymore, theres a lot of paid for digital content that I want to keep, and it's nice to have it on one console. I won't speculate on specs, we can all guess the same crap it'll have based on what it's lacking now. I want one, whatever it is.

motang

36. motang United States 23 Sep 2009, 16:22 BST

2011 makes it 5th year for Wii, and majority of Nintendo's home consoles lasted for 5 years, I am more inclined to believe him.

Machu

37. Machu United Kingdom 23 Sep 2009, 16:47 BST

I wonder how Nintendo feel about Wada blabbin'.

Regardless, I love imagining what them crazy tech dudes are upto behind closed doors, trying to squeeze all that awesomeness into a cute lil box. Yay!

kirstpo

38. kirstpo United States 23 Sep 2009, 18:27 BST

If another Nintendo system comes out, then I hope you can transfer all your virtual console games and wiiware games to it. It also better be backwards compatible with gamecube and wii games.

anthonyb

39. anthonyb United States 23 Sep 2009, 18:51 BST

So the next Wii will have the current 360/PS3 specs? Bad idea, bad idea...

mushroomer

40. mushroomer United States 23 Sep 2009, 18:55 BST

I know what it will be.. It wont be a full fledged replacement. It will be a wii with more features and minus..
They will remove gamecube controller ports
add 2 cameras. one facing the user and the other facing the back of the system
downloadable content will be pushed
graphics will be upgrades slightly..
and the 2 screens will be 10% larger
wait a second.. im getting confused
it will be called Wiii with an extra i.. so people will have to stress it at the store..
"Do you have any Wii's in stock?"
clerk, "oh we have plenty, here you go."
"No NO... a Wiiiiiiiiii."
clerk, "oh, a wiiiiiiii. why didnt you say so in the first place?" , "sorry, we're all out until 2013"

Sean Aaron

41. Sean Aaron United Kingdom 23 Sep 2009, 19:30 BST

I'm going with letsplay's prediction. I simply cannot see a brand-new machine by then, unless it's a hedge against Sony and Microsoft reversing their fortunes. I could see more advanced hardware being kept simmering on the back-burner just in case, but if the status quo continues there's just no incentive for Nintendo to do that.

luigiman2

42. luigiman2 United States 23 Sep 2009, 20:08 BST

Like O.M.G

WhoKnew

43. WhoKnew United States 23 Sep 2009, 23:17 BST

Wii 2? Doubt it. Hopefully it will be a new console with motion controls still. Besides the SNES, has nintendo ever made a sequel to a home console? Iwata said himself that there will be no "Wii HD."

lanafire7

44. lanafire7 United States 24 Sep 2009, 05:25 BST

besides the name "wii" really sounds too kiddie. it's a big target for other fanboys to make fun of. they should have kept "Revolution."
the only bad thing about a new N console in 2011/2012 is WHAT ABOUT ALL THE WIIWARE & VC DLs? will N (for a fee if you have to mail it to them) move them over to the new console for you, or allow a ONE time ONLY move ability w/serial codes, etc. you do at home? they should & if they did, they'd show their loyalty again more then Sony & MS which will amp up their reputation. that's the major reason I'm very picky about what wiiware & VC titles I buy & bought very few. and makes me leary about all the DL games. if your system breaks or HD, you're out of luck, whereas w/discs you still have your library & can buy another system.
btw, why hasn't N ever done compulation discs of games from old systems in the past unlike Taito, Konami, etc.etc. etc.? I bet they would sell like crazy.

Adam016

45. Adam016 United States 25 Sep 2009, 01:26 BST

Nintendo should wait for Sony and Microsoft to release their motion stuff and then come out with a new system that doesn't support "motion controls" so gaming will be saved from it's death.

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