GPD channels Nintendo for unnamed console that borrows heavily from the Switch

A few interesting pictures of a GPD handheld have appeared on the Chinese Baidu site. The three images don’t reveal any specifications, internal hardware, or even a name for the apparent gaming prototype, but it is plain as daylight to see the Nintendo Switch has been discussed at some point during the development phase.

The central part of the device looks like a tablet and may function in a typical tablet-like manner, although one of the images does show a range of buttons on the edge that are akin to handheld console/gamepad shoulder buttons. Unsurprisingly, two controllers accompany the console that can simply slide onto the ends of the GPD device in much the same way the Joy-Con controllers latch onto the Nintendo Switch.

GPD will have to bring in a unique selling point or two if the company is working on a direct Nintendo Switch competitor, to help distinguish it from its well-established rival. The Switch normally works on Nintendo’s proprietary OS, whereas the GPD “Switch” would likely utilize Android or Windows 10, which would help attract buyers.

The controllers for the GPD handheld also feature shoulder buttons, an analog stick, directional buttons, and the ever familiar X, Y, A, B combination – in fact, they look very similar in design to the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controllers. If GPD can get past any possible pending lawsuits from the Japanese gaming giant then it will be fascinating to see what the makers of the GPD P2 Max and GPD WIN have stuffed inside this particular device.