Today, as part of the company's earnings announcement, Nintendo confirmed the new, larger DSi. Functionally, it's the same system, just larger. However, it's starting to look like that's not the only new handheld Nintendo will introduce next year.
Following a recent report that Nintendo has tapped Nvidia for a new DS to be launched in 2010, Hiroshi Kamide, a director at KBC Securities Japan, told the Associated Press that a new handheld is likely. He called 2009 a "filler year," but said he expects hints about Nintendo's Wii successor to be revealed next year, and he believes the company is planning another portable. "Next year, I still suspect there's a new handheld turning up," he noted.
Unlike its console business, Nintendo has always iterated on its handhelds at an almost alarmingly fast rate. The DS and DSi are fine machines, but the PSP and new iPhones offer sharper visuals. With the cost of components continuing to fall, it wouldn't surprise us to see Nintendo launch a more powerful portable.
5 Comments
October 29, 2009
Let's see, we now have the original DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL and now the DS ??. Like what Apple does with the iPod, Nintendo offers new versions/colors of their portables to keep them from getting blase.
October 29, 2009
its getting a little tiring to hear of a new DS, i love nintendo as much as the next guy but constantly bringing em out is a real drain on the old purse strings.
October 29, 2009
It's the Nintendo way Craig. Look at the GBA... you had the GBA, the GBA SP, the GB Micro and of course a zillion colors and limited editions.
October 29, 2009
Sweet Jesus, won't someone think of the market?! Stop saturating it already >.
October 31, 2009
Craig, you don't have to buy every version of systems. I never got a DS Lite because the minuscule changes they made for it was not worth $130 +tax. I was about to get the DSi, but I decided to wait after Nintendo announced the DSi XL (although I may just get the DSi if they end up charging more for the DSi XL).