Report: Nintendo planning larger 3DS

A report out of Japan claims that the 3DS is getting an "XL" hardware revision, making it 1.5x bigger. The reported new system could hit this summer.

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Nintendo's E3 press briefing isn't until tomorrow, but we may be getting a small glimpse at the company's plans today. According to a report, Nintendo is set to announce a bigger version of the 3DS. Also, the report gives a possible price for the Wii U, though it's unclear if that information comes from Nintendo.

Japanese newspaper Nikkei (via Andriasang) reports that the company will debut a 3DS roughly 1.5 times bigger than the current size, with a 4.3 inch screen. It would be a hardware revision, but it sounds more like a jump from the DSi to the XL than anything drastic -- like a second stick. The release could come as early as this summer.

The report also claims that the Wii U is expected to be priced at 30,000 yen (approximately $380). It's unclear if this is Nikkei passing along known information, or if it's hazarding an educated guess. Nintendo has claimed that it won't share pricing info at the event. If $380 sounds steep, keep in mind that the Wii is still priced at 20,000 yen in Japan, or roughly $250 here. Obviously, the prices don't translate perfectly.

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  • reply
    June 4, 2012 12:02 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Report: Nintendo planning larger 3DS.

    A report out of Japan claims that the 3DS is getting an "XL" hardware revision, making it 1.5x bigger. The reported new system could hit this summer.

    • reply
      June 4, 2012 12:03 PM

      It'll probably have a built in second analog pad. They had to announce this shit the day after I get Kid Icarus.

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        June 4, 2012 12:10 PM

        They've been calling this for months now.

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          June 4, 2012 12:17 PM

          I'll have to get a second 3DS for the girlfriend when Animal Crossing finally comes out anyways.

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      June 4, 2012 12:09 PM

      Fuck nintendo. Of course there's a newer version. I mean cheaper version. I mean better version. I mean...

      I'm tired of playing this game w/ Nintendo.

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        June 4, 2012 12:14 PM

        You mean everyone, everywhere, since tech has existed?

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          June 4, 2012 12:19 PM

          I think you can argue that Nintendo has been notably egregarious in this however

          GBA
          GBA SP
          GBA micro
          DS
          DSLite
          DSi
          DSXL
          3DS
          3DSXL??

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            June 4, 2012 12:23 PM

            Several of those (the GBA Micro and DSi/XL) are very much optional models, not direct improvements.

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              June 4, 2012 12:24 PM

              And really, the GBA SP is the only one I'd consider an essential upgrade (within each generation of device, of coursE).

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            June 4, 2012 12:34 PM

            [deleted]

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            June 4, 2012 12:39 PM

            iPad, iPad 2, New iPad, New iPad 2??

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              June 4, 2012 12:41 PM

              Also, DSiXL isn't really an improvement over the DSi unless you want a bigger screen. Some people want a smaller system (ala GBA micro) so it's just giving people options.

              If they add a 2nd thumbstick to the 3DS XL, then I can see why people may complain.

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        June 4, 2012 12:33 PM

        Yeah I feel like I'm about done with them entirely as well. They're like the graphics cards of consoles. You can buy one now, but you know there will be a new iteration of it in 6 months that is not truly a direct hardware upgrade, but enough of a quality-of-life improvement that you're cranky you bought the "old one".

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          June 4, 2012 12:43 PM

          I agree DS Lite was a big improvement over Fat DS, but DSi and DSiXL weren't really upgrades over DS Litel

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            June 4, 2012 12:47 PM

            I skipped the DSi, but going from a Lite to and XL was a big improvement. The huge-ass screen and the store alone make it worth the upgrade.

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          June 4, 2012 12:53 PM

          That's your problem, not theirs. Be satisfied with your DS lite, it's a solid system. Many people prefer it over the DSi.

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            June 4, 2012 1:10 PM

            Yes it's our problem, that's why we don't want to buy Nintendo stuff. But if enough people feel that way, it becomes Nintendo's problem.

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            June 4, 2012 1:53 PM

            Until I can read the future, this is a bullshit response. It's one thing to go from one "generation" to another, like the DS to the 3DS. It's quite another, and a big slap in the face, to iterate on the same piece of hardware 3 or 4 times in a single generation.

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              June 4, 2012 1:59 PM

              I honestly don't see how that's a slap in the face if you're not breaking compatibility or something.

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                June 4, 2012 4:04 PM

                As we all wait excitedly for iPad 17 and iPhone 35

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              June 4, 2012 4:30 PM

              [deleted]

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            June 4, 2012 9:03 PM

            I never had the urge to get a DSi. It's a completely non-essential upgrade. Slightly bigger screen? Big fucking deal. DSiWare? Yawn - like I'm going to trade that for losing the ability to play my GBA carts on the Lite's beautiful screen.

            If you bought a DS Fat I can see how you might be a little miffed about the DS Lite, but again, it's not really any different than what they did with the revisions of the PSP, or Xbox 360 or PS3 for that matter.

            New, better hardware comes out all the time. Even with game consoles. Deal with it.

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        June 4, 2012 12:34 PM

        And Apple?

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        June 4, 2012 3:11 PM

        ^^ I feel the same way dude.

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        June 4, 2012 5:02 PM

        This sounds like petulant whining.

        You buy a product, then they release a better one to rope in new customers. You still have the product you bought. And it only happens about every 2 years or so.

        DS: 11/04
        DS Lite: 06/06
        DSi: 11/08
        3DS: 03/11

        Everything in technology is like this. Video cards, processors.

        Playstation 3 gets higher capacity hard drives every year or so and eventually a slimmer housing.

        XBOX 360 gets higher capacity hard drives, a slimmer housing, and an upgrade to not overheat and stop working.

        I bought a phone a few months ago, and now there's a fancier version of the phone out.

        I bought a car last year, and what do you know? This year's car has been revised.

        I bought a steak at the store yesterday, and now there meat counter has a fresher one.

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        June 4, 2012 8:46 PM

        I honestly can't say I sympathize much. It's not any different than any other technology company, Apple, Sony, MS.

        Original iPad isn't as good as iPad 3.
        PSP-1000 isn't as good as PSP-3000.
        Loud, overheating, no wi-fi, no HDMI launch Xbox 360 isn't nearly as good as modern Xbox 360 S.

        I could go on. It's pretty clear you're singling out Nintendo for a "problem" that is universal to the world of technology.

        Early adopters end up with hardware that isn't the latest and greatest after a couple of years. It's the way it works.

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      June 4, 2012 12:14 PM

      The way Nintendo does business is so predictable. It might piss me off if I actually still bought their products.

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        June 4, 2012 12:15 PM

        Nah, you just have to adjust your purchasing habits accordingly.

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          June 4, 2012 12:55 PM

          Agreed. I think by now people have to realize there is a risk attached to buying the first iteration of any new hardware from any big tech company.

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      June 4, 2012 12:30 PM

      [deleted]

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      June 4, 2012 12:39 PM

      Time to sell my 3DS.

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      June 4, 2012 12:56 PM

      I'm not upset so much at a bigger screen, but if this new 3DS has a longer battery life, that might stick in my craw a tad.

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      June 4, 2012 12:58 PM

      I'd prefer a slightly smaller model with rounded bevels, something like the DSi. More battery life too

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        June 4, 2012 4:06 PM

        yeah, Nintendo somehow managed to make the 3DS look worse than the launch model DS.

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          June 4, 2012 4:07 PM

          Way less comfortable too. Those sharper edges are bad.

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      June 5, 2012 4:48 AM

      And this is what I was waiting for, Zelda remake woot!

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