Nintendo To Release 3-D DS Device In 2011
Nintendo will continue its attempts at handheld gaming dominance next year when it releases a new device that allows players to enjoy "Avatar"-like 3-D graphics without the need for glasses. Called the 3DS, it will be a successor to the Nintendo DS, DSi and DSi XL (the latter of which comes out next week).
The current plan is to launch the 3DS in Japan in 2011, with an assumed release worldwide sometime later.
The unique 3-D capabilities of the 3DS are said to rely on head-tracking software, which will simulate depth and perspective, similar to the techniques used in Hollywood. In addition to new 3-D games, the 3DS will also be compatible with original DS and DSi games.
Unfortunately, Nintendo is keeping quiet on details such as price, design and a specific release date. The company said that more details will be unveiled at the annual E3 gaming convention in June.
The 3DS announcement comes after months of speculation regarding what the future holds for Nintendo's next handheld device. The speculation was often fueled by the company's president and CEO, Satoru Iwata. In a January interview with Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, Iwata told a reporter that the DS successor would offer "highly detailed graphics, and it will be necessary to have a sensor with the ability to read the movements of people playing."
It's been more than five years since the original Nintendo DS launched, an eternity in the world of gaming hardware. The delay makes sense, though, given the enormous success of the DS platform, which has sold more than 125 million units worldwide.
The timing of the news is strange, however, given that Nintendo will be releasing a new hardware design for the DSi next week. Titled the DSi XL, it will offer larger screens for more accessibility, but tech fans looking to be on the cutting edge may want to hold off until next year if they want the latest and greatest.
Do you think the 3DS is going to undercut sales of the DSi XL? Let us know in the comments!
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