Nintendo is no stranger to releasing handheld hardware revisions, and looks to continue the tradition with the newly announced “New Nintendo 3DS” and “New Nintendo 3DS XL”.
The New Nintendo 3DS can be seen on the left, while the New Nintendo 3DS XL is displayed on the right. Click on the image to view it in a higher resolution.
Announced during a Nintendo Direct presented earlier today in Japan, the New 3DS and New 3DS XL (Known as the New 3DS LL in Japan) feature numerous changes and improvements over previous 3DS models. The most noticeable changes to the hardware are the additions of a “C-stick nub” and ZL/ZR buttons, which offer built-in support for 3DS games that utilize the Circle Pad Pro accessories such as the Monster Hunter series, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. In addition, the new models feature improved 3D viewing angles, a micro SD card slot, HTML5 support in the Internet browser, built-in NFC support for the upcoming Amiibo figures, and an enhanced CPU that makes eShop and Miiverse browsing faster. The new CPU can be utilized for New 3DS-exclusive titles to enable better performance and visuals.
One such title is a port of Monolith Soft’s Wii game Xenoblade Chronicles, which seems to be a feature-complete version of the highly acclaimed RPG. While no release details have been given for the title, Nintendo has stated that the game is the first in a line of software that will only be playable on the New 3DS and New 3DS XL.
The New 3DS and New 3DS XL will be released in Japan on October 11 in white and black, and metallic blue and metallic black, respectively. Overseas releases are planned for 2015.
Sources: 8/29/14 Nintendo Direct (Japanese), Nintendo press release, Official New Nintendo 3DS website (Japanese)
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Definitely improvements that needed to be made, though given Nintendo’s history with revisions like this I wonder how much support the new 3DS will really get. And if it actually does get support, it’s going to cause a split in the user base.
I can’t imagine playing Xenoblade on a handheld though. That’s a game that begs for a big screen (even if it’s not in HD).
I welcome the new models. The Circle Pad Pro accessories are hard to come by and are pretty bulky, so having their elements built in definitely is an improvement in itself, especially since this means more types of games can be easily adapted to 3DS, or at least games will be more likely to support additional control schemes. As for the enhanced CPU, I didn’t quite expect it, but I don’t really have a problem with it, especially since it means we might get a few games that we otherwise wouldn’t.
Nice changes, but much too late in the game. I don’t think this will gain much traction.
The C-Stick nub looks awkward to use. Though I welcome the return of coloured buttons