Nintendo’s new patent, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, is for a “handheld information processing apparatus” that has a single screen and a touch interface. The unit also has built-in speakers and a rumble feature. The device looks relatively small, closer to a smartphone than a 3DS.
One of the images released features an on-screen button layout, while another showcases Nintendo’s traditional XABY button layout as well as a circle pad and a d-pad.
Nintendo confirmed that it’s planning to release its next generation system, codenamed NX, in March of 2017. It’s very possible then that this patent represents its controller rather than a stand-alone handheld device. But there’s no confirmation as of now.
Check out the images below: