Nintendo 'working on ideas' for its next system, Miyamoto says

After two uncertain years, it looks like Nintendo is finally finding some momentum for Wii U. But there's no time to dwell - the company has already set multiple teams to work on building its successor, according to Nintendo producer and director Shigeru Miyamoto.

Miyamoto told the Associated Press that the company is set on making a 'robust line-up of Wii U software for next year'. Oh, he would say that, wouldn't he? They're not just idle reassurances, though: between Star Fox Wii U, Zelda Wii U, Splatoon, and other projects, it looks like 2015 could be the best year yet to own a Wii U… but what about after that?

"For the time being, our focus is on the Wii U hardware, but Nintendo as a whole has groups working on ideas for new hardware systems," Miyamoto said. "While we're busy working on software for the Wii U, we have production lines that are working on ideas for what the next system might be."

He also hinted that whatever follows Wii U will be home to the next big Mario game, where the plucky plumber may take on a 'new role'. And remember that job listing for a lead graphics architect that came up in October? Looks like Nintendo's getting pretty serious about life after its GamePad-toting console.

I wouldn't expect too much more information soon - Nintendo might clip Wii U's wings by stoking anticipation for a new system too early on. Still, better get started on the 25 best Wii U games if you haven't already.

Connor Sheridan

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and now I'm a staff writer here at GamesRadar.