NAND flash memory and hard disk drives may be at odds - each offering distinct benefits to gamers - but new research suggests current and upcoming video game platforms may increase the overall density of NAND memory in the years to come.
"Despite the high cost of NAND flash memory that makes it challenging to incorporate into gaming hardware, NAND densities in 2011 will rise north of 40 percent in home consoles and handheld devices, the principal modes for gaming entertainment," explained Ryan Chien, memory and storage researcher for IHS iSuppli.
Chien's remarks are based on the group's "Gaming Déjà Vu: Solid-State Storage in Consoles" report.
The research firm predicts an over 40 percent increase (nearly 300MBs) in NAND density for consoles this year, bringing the amount to almost 1GB. Handheld devices will see a similar boost at a much smaller scale according to the group, with an increase from 87MB to 123MB. But that's OK, reasons Chien, who points out consoles play a much more important role in the NAND industry as they "carry a higher sticker price than handhelds and are not as quickly replaced because of their much-longer lifetimes."
IHS believes the upwards trend won't stop any time soon: by 2015, consoles will offer 3.5GB of NAND flash memory and handhelds will ship with over 400MB.
Aiding the expected growth will be the Wii U, Nintendo's recently announced new gaming system currently slated for a 2012 global release. IHS thinks Nintendo's next console, which boasts a tablet-esque touch-screen controller and 1080p graphics, will provide players with more than 2GB of internal memory. The exact amount has yet to be confirmed, though external hard drive support remains a promised option.
One device which will not aid in the proliferation of NAND storage is the PS Vita. Sony's upcoming portable gaming system and successor to the PSP lacks internal flash memory notes Chien, instead boasting a completely optional external storage system. Game saves, however, will be stored directly to the flash-based software medium itself - similar to Nintendo's 3DS and its previous DS models. While the analyst argues that such a move could mean gamers want a tangible storage solution rather than an unseen one, he speculates that Nintendo's insistence on adding flash memory to the Wii U could possibly spur its competitors to mimicry when finalizing the specs and features of their still unannounced next-gen consoles.
