Remember blowing into a video game console, and then onto a cartridge, to make them work?
Nintendo might bring back cartridges instead of optical discs for the anticipated Nintendo NX, which is scheduled to be released worldwide in March 2017.
Screen Critics reported that Nintendo's Chinese partner for ROM chips, Macronix, is expecting an increased order from Nintendo in the last half of the year for its products.
According to Japanese business website Money-Link, the company stated:
"Macronix's ROM chips are usually supplied to videogame console maker, Nintendo. Although the sales is in off season during the first quarter, the revenue is similar compared with the same period last year. Wu Miin suggested that as Nintendo had just announced it will release a new generation console in March next year, and the console will be launched at the same time in Japan, America and Europe, so ROM's sales is expected to increase in the latter half of this year, and it will have a large growth potential."
ROM chips are usually used for the Nintendo 3DS cartridges, which has 75nm chips with a 8GB storage. But Macronix recently started testing their new 32nm line of chips for the NX.
According to information that was leaked in August 2015, Nintendo patented a console that did not have an optical drive. But games would be stored on a hard disk drive or an SD card instead.
Rumors also suggest that the NX will be a hybrid of a portable handheld and home console, so seeing Nintendo make a return to using cartridges rather than optical discs makes a lot of sense.
The decision to move to cartridge based consoles has many advantages for Nintendo. Screen Critics points out that it allows the company to do a way with disc drives, making the product smaller and quieter. By removing discs, Nintendo can also reduce the need for game installs.
On Thursday, Nintendo said that the new Legend of Zelda game running on the Wii U will be the only new title they showcase at this year's E3 press conference, which is set to be held in June.
