Nintendo bolsters NX line-up with greater third party support and a Game Freak Pokemon title

Nintendo is working hard to ensure their upcoming NX console does not suffer in the same way as the Wii U and 3DS, according to a new report.

Sources close to Nintendo have revealed that the firm is busy securing third party deals with the likes of Activision, Square Enix and Warner Bros already on board, alongside its established relationships with Ubisoft and Sega.

The report form MCV also revealed that Pokémon developer Game Freak will develop a new game in their beloved franchise for the device.

It'll be one of a trio of launch window games including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and a new Mario title - all to be released within six months of the console's launch.

News shaping expectations for the device's software line-up follows a substantive report last week from Eurogamer which revealed the nature of the secretive device Nintendo has yet to officially reveal and has rarely discussed.

"It's a nice bit of kit, a bit of a novelty, but a good one," said an executive speaking to MCV, who has had hands-on time with the machine. "It won't appeal to PS4 fans. Nintendo seems set on trying to upgrade smartphone gamers. That's going to be a big job for the marketing department."

That same source confirmed the validity of Eurogamer's report and claimed the graphical prowess of the device would be "somewhere between a PS3 and PS4". This may disappoint some gamers, but it's important to remember that the device is primarily a handheld, and a handheld that's just shy of the PS4's power will be a mean piece of kit.

Whatever Nintendo's NX is eventually called (NX would be a fine name wouldn't it?) it will be released in March 2017 with the new Legend of Zelda potentially acting as a launch title.

For all the latest video game news follow us on Twitter @IBTGamesUK