Widescreen DS refresh on the way?

Nintendo might be cranking out new DS Lite colors left and right, but IGN says something bigger's brewing in Kyoto -- a third iteration of the DS with dual touchscreen displays, one of them widescreen. Those are pretty significant changes, so we'd actually say that sounds more like a second-gen DS rather than another rev of the current hardware, but IGN says the rumored release date of April or May 2009 doesn't jive with a whole new unit. We'll see when we see -- hopefully we won't be waiting long.

PS.- That's just IGN's mockup, don't get too excited.

[MastrCake @ Sep 4th 2008 5:21PM]

Wait... just one widescreen?

Well, there goes (part) of my excitement...

[required @ Sep 4th 2008 6:13PM]

"needs dual analogues"

[TaB @ Sep 4th 2008 7:50PM]

And you get a sword with it coool

[tom @ Sep 4th 2008 8:09PM]

R4 compatible would be nice

Hahahahahaha

[maveric101 @ Sep 4th 2008 8:10PM]

i don't see why you need two screens. all the best games ever made used only one screen. i say they keep the clamshell design, make the top widescreen, and somehow add dual analog to the bottom.

[Aguiluz @ Sep 4th 2008 5:21PM]

The DS should have an internet browser.

[miky @ Sep 9th 2008 6:34PM]

Uh, it does.

[DeoWulf @ Sep 4th 2008 5:25PM]

The internet should have a quick and easy fact-checker. Oh, wait, Google.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS_Browser

[Aguiluz @ Sep 4th 2008 5:26PM]

The DS should have an internet browser built in.

Happy?

[Ethan @ Sep 4th 2008 5:29PM]

I'd be happy with "should have a browser that's built-in and not crap."

[who? @ Sep 4th 2008 5:38PM]

Google Chrome?

[Aguiluz @ Sep 4th 2008 5:43PM]

Google Chrome does not support Java, unfortunately.

[tom @ Sep 4th 2008 6:46PM]

Not only a full feature browser

but also,

1. 3G data
2. phone capability
3. Bluetooth
4. Motion sensing
5. video and full mp3 capability

Geeee...sounds like this can be an iPhone killer LOL

[Turtles @ Oct 19th 2008 10:38PM]

theres an opera browse that came out for the ds lite last year .. i have one its ok its wifi...

[diuqil @ Sep 4th 2008 5:23PM]

Mock-up or not. That looks hot.

[Apple ROKZ @ Sep 5th 2008 6:20PM]

hot!? thats frekin ugly

[Aguiluz @ Sep 4th 2008 5:25PM]

Game console =/= Smartphone

[Serial 8-Ball Mouse @ Sep 4th 2008 5:25PM]

Shenanigans.

[phanbouy @ Sep 4th 2008 5:29PM]

you called it

[Flashpoint @ Sep 4th 2008 5:26PM]

Kids nowadays are so hypnotized by "getting whatever comes out" that they push their parents to buy whatever comes out. I'm sure if Nintendo makes a new DS, it will sell. However, I really think both Nintendo and Sony need to push for new systems.

Sony needs a dual analog PSP refresh. Nintendo needs an all around better system. The DS has sold very well, but I am dissapointed in the games from both manufacturers. Nintnedo hasn't been doing anything special lately. Wii and DS are both just remaking old games or tapping into the japanimation genre and cranking out those dumb ass Dragon Ball Z and Naruto pieces of crap.

By the way,.., When is Ryan Block gonna show us how much he lost on Wii Fit because I claimed a long time ago, he wouldn't lose a single pound. I bet he probably gained weight.

[phanbouy @ Sep 4th 2008 5:30PM]

so you're a sociologist too eh?

and i'll bet your face has gained weight.

[whowhatme @ Sep 4th 2008 5:37PM]

awesome, smartphone.. you'll be at the top of your class in hula hooping

[Haikibutsu @ Sep 4th 2008 9:17PM]

DDR > Wii Spit

[qwertyblue @ Sep 5th 2008 6:41AM]

Damn iperfection, you were so close to being on topic I thought the world was going to cave in. Keep trying though you'll get there one day.

And not one mention of the iphone. This surely is a day to be thankful!

[eddy @ Sep 5th 2008 10:54AM]

I've lost over 20 lbs on Wii Fit, combined with better eating.

[DeoWulf @ Sep 4th 2008 5:26PM]

Why would they put in a second touchscreen if it would be incompatible with every game released so far? If this is true it's probably a new gen.

[Peter R. @ Sep 4th 2008 6:57PM]

If it is true, why worry about the second touchscreen being incompatible with currently released games. Wouldn't it be possible for current games to play as normal in a dual touch DS, only difference being that the game would ignore the input of the 2nd touchscreen. Even if it was next gen, it should work out to be the same, cause I doubt Nintendo is going drop backwards compatibility of current gen DS games in it's next gen DS, dual touchscreen or not. I'm not educated in the ways of hardware to software compatibility, but that is the way it should work.

[Carl Vitullo @ Sep 4th 2008 5:28PM]

I'd hope it was a new unit. Could you imagine the pixel density if they stretched the screen? It's not great now, that would just be terrible.
However, I'm really looking forward to that if it is a new DS. Backwards compatibility would be sick, especially if the new hardware let it run at the new resolution.
I have a feeling that would be hard though.

[Engadgetier @ Sep 4th 2008 5:29PM]

Hey WTF?!?!?!

I photoshop'd that!


I think the widescreen is a good idea, i dont know about having it be a touchscreen. ive been wanting to get a DS, i have the old PSP-1000 model. kinda time to move on. lol

[Apple ROKZ @ Sep 5th 2008 6:22PM]

that thing iz dang ugly why did u cre8 it

[Ethan @ Sep 4th 2008 5:30PM]

I'm certainly not excited for that render. It looks worse than the phat.

[GDUB @ Sep 4th 2008 5:33PM]

Why would they release a new DS when they can just make a new color and mint money. hey guys we have introduced a new shit brown color with silk screened corn for good measure. the fanboys would kill for a limited edition crap version. hey they could also just rerelease the old DS fat as a retro revival , maybe even with faded plastic and weak hinges.

As a owner of 2 fat DS's i would love a new design but unless sales have dropped significantly i doubt the big n will throw in new hardware.

jaded

[Aguiluz @ Sep 4th 2008 5:32PM]

The DS should have an internet browser built in that is not crap and supports Flash Video and Flash Games.

Third time's the charm. I hope. >_>

[wootman @ Sep 4th 2008 7:53PM]

It should also dispense candy and love, solve world hunger, etc.
I for one shall satisfy my Web browsing game handheld thingy cravings with a pandora.

[John H. @ Sep 4th 2008 5:33PM]

I dunno, this actually seems legit. If you look, it's not a Mario Kart already released, also, each player has an icon with a picture of the person playing. Could that suggest a built-in camera? The graphics definitely are better than the DS, so this would definitely not be a new version of the current DS, but rather, a "DS 2." IMO, this is either an actual product, or someone is very good at rendering.

[Andy @ Sep 4th 2008 5:45PM]

It's a mock up that was on Gizmodo..
http://gizmodo.com/339601/nintendo-ds-2-the-3d-mock+up-makes-us-drool-alien+style

The game is the arcade version of Mario Kart aswell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Kart_Arcade_GP

[gonintendo @ Sep 4th 2008 5:46PM]

that's the arcade version of mariokart, developed by namco (also, it does have a camera)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Kart_Arcade_GP

[Jon @ Sep 4th 2008 6:16PM]

Yeah and the top and bottom screen aren't at the same point in the game at all... different time, different part of the course, different rankings...

[Wiizer @ Sep 4th 2008 5:34PM]

IF I actually had a penny for every time I read a new DS story... I'd have a lot of copper.

[Aguiluz @ Sep 4th 2008 5:42PM]

Well... If I got the same amount of coin for every apple story I read... I would have way more copper than you. :)

[required @ Sep 4th 2008 6:16PM]

since 1982 the penny has been 97.5% zinc

[phanbouy @ Sep 4th 2008 6:41PM]

required requisites obligatory buzzkill

[Jack @ Sep 4th 2008 6:44PM]

I think we would all win if it was number of Engadget visits

[John H. @ Sep 4th 2008 5:35PM]

Wow, I just looked again and my other post failed. The bottom screen doesn't even match the top screen. Top screen-"3rd/4" Bottom screen-"6th/8"

[John H. @ Sep 4th 2008 5:43PM]

Wow, after reading IGN's info, I have noticed that I am, in fact, a failtard. "User created mock-up"

[glucoseboy @ Sep 6th 2008 4:50AM]

I guess I'll be buying my 3rd DS now.

[TareX @ Sep 4th 2008 5:59PM]

When it comes to handhelds, I trust Nintendo.

There was a time when I was obsessed by the PSP. But without new controls (2nd analogue stick, shoulders) and better GFX card and processor (a sony gaming handheld shouldn't be inferior to smartphones), I don't think the hardware could live up to the gaming potential.

[Dahk @ Sep 4th 2008 6:46PM]

Eh, I still don't think Spore on the iPhone comes close to GoW:CoO.

But what the heck, those games are early on, Carmack and others say its more powerful, and I don't have the power to refute.

[Plothole @ Sep 4th 2008 6:05PM]

DS is 1. cheaper, 2. still comes with physical buttons standard, 3. is actually available throughout the country, 4. still uses physical media that can be sold when you're done with it, and 5. is far more recognized by the publishers.

[Steve @ Sep 4th 2008 6:35PM]

Sounds good as long as it doesn't look like that mockup.