A recent post by Gamerant has brought our attention to a new patent from Nintendo for what could be an apt successor to the 3DS – the Nintendo 4DS.
This patent is apparently one that was filed recently by Nintendo. Likely just to protect the concept while they explore possibilities for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch successor.
While we do not believe this particular concept to be a likely candidate for the Switch 2, it is very intriguing to see how development of a console successor actually happens.
Surely there are hundreds of these kinds of concepts created after the release of a new console, while the research and development team looks to the future of Nintendo handhelds.
Let’s take a look at this patent and consider the possibilities of what could be in a theoretical Nintendo 4DS.
Nintendo 4DS Precursor
It’s easy to see how Nintendo might come to a conclusion like the “4DS” concept.
Especially if we look at everything that the Nintendo 3DS offered back in 2011 and follow the progression from the Wii U through the Nintendo Switch.
Sadly for Nintendo, the Wii U was an unfortunate stepping stone to the Switch that could have been skipped. If we take a look at the best Wii U games, it wasn’t an entirely wasted effort.
But obviously the Nintendo Switch was the progression that made the most sense after the 3DS. And it has been a wildly successful effort, embraced universally as one of the greatest game consoles of all time.
As Nintendo explores concepts for what could follow the Nintendo Switch, it would seem that they have turned to the 3DS for inspiration. And concepts for multi-screen devices are now emerging.
Nintendo “4DS” Patent
The recent “4DS”* patent reveals a potential Nintendo 3DS-like device that implements a touchscreen panel that lives on the outside of a folded clamshell console.
[*This is not an official name, by any means. It just sounds apt, and we’re running with it.]
Difficult to tell if it would have dual screens inside the clamshell when in the closed position, and a third screen always on the outside. But that is how we would like to imagine it.
When the console is closed, it would also remove use of all of the game buttons, leaving only a single touchscreen accessible.
So we know for sure that this device would have to be thought of as a hybrid game console and tablet-like digital assistant or secondary controller. Similar to what the Wii U attempted.
Additionally, the Nintendo 4DS allows for the two halves of the clamshell design to be separated entirely, and one half given to a second player for two-player experiences.
Those two separate units would communicate with eachother, offering unique game play experiences for competing or cooperative players.
Perhaps the main unit could be docked, and the separate tablet-like unit could be a controller of some sort.
Impressions
It is an interesting and unique idea to have two separate halves that can communicate with eachother.
But again, we have very little reason to think that Nintendo is pursuing a handheld console like this Nintendo 4DS concept.
With the massive success of the Nintendo Switch, a single screen tablet-like console, we imagine them pursing a design similar. Just with some smart and surprising modifications.
A massive change to the formula would be too much of a shock to the market and takes a lot of risks when a Switch 2 or Switch Pro is an obvious slam dunk for Nintendo.
But, like with any concept or unused patent, it’s very interesting to go down the rabbit hole of what could be if these concepts were a reality.
