Nintendo has been upfront about 2016 being the year it finally starts talking about the NX, its next-generation console. The company announced the existence of the project in March of this year, calling it "a new hardware system with a brand-new concept." That concept, as has been rumored, might be a console / handheld hybrid, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal today.

The exact shape of the NX hardware isn't yet clear. People familiar with the development plans said Nintendo would likely include both a console and at least one mobile unit that could either be used in conjunction with the console or taken on the road for separate use. They also said Nintendo would aim to put industry-leading chips in the NX devices, after criticism that the Wii U's capabilities didn't match those of competitors.

In addition, the Journal reports that software development kits for the NX are beginning to be distributed, "suggesting the company is on track to introduce the product as early as next year" according to "people familiar with the matter."

With the next version of the blockbuster Dragon Quest series targeting the NX platform, it's no surprise that Nintendo is getting developers geared up to work on the hardware now. And with the company focused on unifying its disparate platforms with a new membership service, developed in collaboration with DeNA, an entirely unified platform starts to make a lot of sense.

Minimap is a daily audio tour through the latest news about video games, related technologies and culture. Check out daily episodes by following on Soundcloud or by subscribing to iTunes. Make sure to leave a review and let us know what you think.