Since Nintendo pioneered the motion-controlled gaming with Wii, the Japanese multinational consumer electronics company has been known to launch some of the most excellent innovations in console gaming. Over the years, the company has introduced the Gamepad for the Wii U and the 3D facilities of the 3DS. A latest patent filed by Nintendo reveals a new innovation that the company many incorporate into its upcoming gaming device, dubbed the NX.

According to a report in IB Times, recently Nintendo filed a patent application for a console that does not include any optical disc drive. This has given rise to speculations that the upcoming patent may possibly be a part of Nintendo's upcoming console and it may also be a foretaste of the capabilities of the next console.

While Nintendo filed the patent last February, it was published only last Thursday. The patent shows a diagram having a card slot, wherein one can insert a memory card containing programs. In addition, the patent also reveals an internal hard drive as well as a socket for connected to an external hard drive.

A report in Polygon states that the patent filing was first discovered by NeoGAFfers. It is expected that the patent may possible see the renewal of a cartridge-based console that was for the last time in the Nintendo 64, a gamine console released almost 20 years ago. Nevertheless, as of now only a rough draft of what's to come is available. Currently, nothing is known about the precise programs the memory card could store, or whether or not the device is can download games from a digital service to the hard drive.

In March, Nintendo revealed that it was working on a new gen console which is currently called as the NX. However, Nintendo has yet to release any precise details regarding what the console may introduce. The company has promised that it would reveal the console next year. Hence, with the new patent, it is expected that fans could see yet another innovation from Nintendo.