Nintendo Unveils New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL
Nintendo unveiled the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL during their latest Nintendo Direct event earlier today. Both sport a second analog pad, dubbed the “C-stick” by Nintendo. The new C-stick will be used in Dragon Quest X: Online, Final Fantasy Explorers, Monster Hunter 4G and the upcoming Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS for in-game functions. Nintendo executive Satoru Iwata says it is closer to a button, designed with the GameCube’s C-stick in mind and is easy to use.
The New 3DS comes in White and Black while the XL iteration comes in Metallic Blue and Metallic Black. In addition, the New 3DS has new colored face buttons, which are colored after the Super Famicom controller and the New 3DS XL has buttons colored after the GameCube controller. The New 3DS’s screens can also adjust the brightness depending the lighting. 3D functions will improved by using the New 3DS’s camera and gyro sensor. The bottom screen also has a NFC reader/writer, meaning that players can put their Amiibo toys on the screen and the New 3DS will read them. Both handhelds will have a better battery life; from 3.5 to 6 hours for the New 3DS and from 3.5 to 7 hours for the New 3DS XL. The New 3DS has a more powerful CPU, which means that players can download content and games faster. An announced 2015 port of the 2010 RPG Xenoblade Chronicles will use the new CPU, meaning it will not be playable on available 3DS systems.
The New 3DS is priced at 16,000 yen ($154) and the New 3DS XL is priced at 18,800 yen ($181). Both will be out on October 11 in Japan. Nintendo did not reveal any plans for a Western release other than it will not be in 2014. Check out the gallery below for more information.