Nintendo merging console and handheld hardware teams

Nintendo has revamped its hardware development division in Japan by merging its console and handheld teams under one roof.

As reported by Japanese paper Nikkei, the console manufacturer will bring together the teams next month, who will then work at Nintendo’s brand new $300 million Kyoto facility that has been under construction for the last three years.

The new restructured division will investigate future platforms that could satisfy both handheld DS users and home console Wii and Wii U consumers.

The reorganisation in Japan is likely in reaction to the increasingly competitive games market, with smartphones and tablets also competing with Nintendo in attracting consumers and developers, with a number of other Android systems and Valve’s Steam Box also on the horizon.

Despite the big move, the impact of the change will not likely to be seen for some time.