Joystiq Discussion: Will you get a New Nintendo 3DS?
When asked during Nintendo's October 2014 investor question and answer session why the New Nintendo 3DS wouldn't release outside of Japan in time for the holidays, company president Satoru Iwata was blunt. "The overseas markets are different from the Japanese market in both their stages of popularization of Nintendo 3DS and their market characteristics," said Iwata. "Nintendo 3DS is still at an earlier stage of popularization in these two markets." In other words: We haven't sold enough of the old ones. Maybe if enough people buy the old ones for Christmas, we'll give you the fancy new jazz with its improved screen, its extra shoulder buttons, amiibo support, and that extra analog nub.
Just two weeks into 2015, Nintendo confirmed that the New Nintendo 3DS XL will come to the United States and Europe in February. It will cost a cool $199. Of course, that's if you already have an AC adapter to actually power the thing. New Nintendo 3DS XL-whether the red, black, or Majora's Mask edition-doesn't come with a power cord, which is $10 on its own. That's an expensive upgrade for a machine that Nintendo believed wasn't selling enough in the West already, and even more so for existing owners lusting after the new toy.
The upgrade is demonstrable, though. For my part, the lure of portable Xenoblade is enough to convince me to take the plunge. I love Monolith Soft RPGs, though, and their game is currently the only New 3DS exclusive announced. If it enough for you to get the New 3DS? Take the poll, discuss in the comments.
[Images: Nintendo]
