Sharp Corporation has come to an agreement to provide Nintendo, to whom they already supply 3DS screens, with a free-form LCD display that can be designed in shapes such as a circle or waveform. Mass production of the technology, originally planned for 2017, is running a year ahead of schedule.

Nintendo is reportedly experimenting with a display featuring a hole in the middle, which Sankei describes as “donut-shaped” but could also suggest a display that simply wraps around all buttons and analog sticks. The technology is expected to be used for a future Nintendo handheld, possibly the true successor to the 3DS platform and/or something relating to Nintendo’s QOL (“Quality of Life”) initiative.

The free-form display technology uses Sharp’s IGZO technology, which is capable of providing twice the image resolution compared to traditional LCD displays and can reduce power consumption by 80-90%. Sharp’s IGZO informational video, included after the break, just screams of countless “Quality of Life” applications.

Imagine the possibilities. The display could take up the entire face of the handheld. The IGZO technology would rest underneath your grip and could… sense your vitality! …or at least your amiibo figures. We’d also finally get a Nintendo handheld with a decent pixel density! Perhaps that’s the big shocker here.

Sankei