X-bit labs

ATI, IBM to Power Nintendo’s Next Game Console.

Category: Multimedia

by Anton Shilov

[ 03/17/2005 | 11:36 PM ]

ATI Technologies recently announced it would supply graphics processing unit for Nintendo’s upcoming console code-named Revolution, confirming rumours that have been floating around for over a year. The core technology providers for Nintendo’s next console remained IBM and ATI, one of the important caps the Revolution will have is support for wireless networking.

At the Game Developer Conference (GDC) 2005 Nintendo officially unveiled plans to launch its next-generation console code-named Revolution with IBM’s code-named Broadway processor and ATI’s code-named Hollywood visual processing unit. ATI and IBM also developed the core components for Nintendo’s GameCube console. The console will be backwards compatible with the currently shipped GameCube and will also feature trendy Wi-Fi features.

“Nintendo’s next game console, code-named ‘Revolution’, is proceeding on schedule,” Nintendo’s statement reads.

Technical specifications or capabilities of the Revolution’s technological heart – IBM’s microprocessor and ATI’s graphics processor – are not clear, but Nintendo claimed they had been designed “to deliver game experiences not possible to date”.

At the GDC Nintendo announced it would offer a free Wi-Fi connection service to Nintendo DS, the company’s handheld console, owners. The service will include gaming via the Internet from places were wireless networks with the Web connection are available.

Nintendo will announce more information about both Revolution and the Nintendo DS Wi-Fi service at the Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles in May, 2005.