Nintendo has confirmed that a super-sized version of its portable console 3DS will be hitting the shelves in North America this August
Going by the official name of Nintendo 3DS XL, the new system will be releasing in North America on August 19 at a retail price of $199.99. The launch date coincides with the release date of “New Super Mario Bros. 2,” the first-ever 3DS game to be available for purchase on both retail as well as digital market.
The launch date for the XL version of Nintendo’s portable console is set to July 28 in Europe and Japan. While the price of Nintendo 3DS XL is set at 18,900 yen for the Japanese market, the retail price for European market is yet to be confirmed.
The upcoming Nintendo console will see the size of the stereoscopic 3D display screen increase from 3.53 inches in current 3DS to 4.88 inches in the 3DS XL model. The console’s secondary display will also show a 90% increase, measuring 4.18 inches against the 3 inch screen in the previous model. Despite the change in size, the resolution on screen will remain the same for both the models.
Nintendo 3DS XL will also boast an extended battery life, which will take around three hours and 30 minutes to fully charge. While the previous version of 3DS could only manage to offer 3 to 5 hours of play on 3DS titles, the new model will have a battery life between 3.5 and 6.5 hours. The battery for the latest version of the portable console will also extend the hours of play from 5 to 8 on the current system to an estimate of 6 to 10 hours while dealing with DS titles.
Nintendo will be offering 3DS XL in two colour variations, blue and red, in North America, whereas the European version will have an additional option of silver colour to choose from.
It was also confirmed by the Nintendo of America that the XL version of 3DS will include an AC Adapter, along with a 4GB memory card, though an XL-sized charging cradle will be missing from the package. The AC Adapter, however, has not been confirmed for the Japanese and European version of the portable console.
With a number of exciting Nintendo games slated for release in the next few months, the company seem have to have made the strategically correct move by announcing the new version of its popular portable console. The previous version had players complaining about having to squint in order to properly make out the on-going action on the screen, but with the latest modifications, it turns out that Nintendo had been listening all along and is eager to ensure the comfort of its users. While the players following the development of Nintendo 3DS XL seem pretty excited about what they are about to be offered, it remains to be seen if the actual product manages to live up to the expectations.
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