Nintendo announced the New Nintendo 3DS XL’s long-awaited North American launch today, with a release date set for February 13. The new handheld, expected to retail for $199.99, boasts a number of enhancements over past 3DS models including 3D ‘head-tracking’, improved WiFi, and a pre-loaded 4 GB microSD card.
“Different territories make their own business decisions regarding individual products and timing. We think New Nintendo 3DS XL makes the most sense for our market,” a Nintendo of America representative said to IGN about the gaming giant’s decision to bring the turbocharged handheld to the West.
Mobile gaming, stronger than ever before thanks to the ubiquity of high-powered smartphones, has established hardware manufacturers brainstorming new ways to retain their customer base.
Nintendo seems to view maximum customization — the sort afforded by add-ons like a microSD card — as their ticket to competing with mobile gaming, rising to the top worldwide with an install base passing the one billion mark last year.
Nintendo has not commented on their stance on mobile gaming, though they did announce a Mario-branded partnership with Puzzle & Dragons just this month amidst rumors of Game Boy titles making the jump to smartphones.
“If I was to take responsibility for the company for just the next one or two years, and if I was not concerned about the long-term future of Nintendo at all, it might make sense for us to provide our important franchises for other platforms, and then we might be able to gain some short-term profit,” CEO Satoru Iwata said in an interview with CVG. “However, I’m really responsible for the long-term future of Nintendo as well, so I would never think about providing our precious resources for other platforms at all.”
Core gaming is a top priority in the games industry, making Nintendo’s apparent move toward core handheld experiences an ambitious one that could pay lofty dividends if successful.
