nintendo3ds
Latest
What did the Nintendo 3DS mean to you?
With this week's announcement of Nintendo's new Switch Lite console, we've been thinking about the handheld that preceded it: The Nintendo 3DS, a successor to the wildly popular DS that took the dual screen and added the ability to display games in 3D -- without glasses. When Engadget reviewed the first model of the 3DS, it hit big with its satisfying clamshell design, circle pad thumb slider and 320 x 240 touchscreen. Reviewer Tim Stevens found the 3D gameplay a bit finicky but a nice enhancement to the graphics quality in titles like Ridge Racer 3 and Face Raiders.
'Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth' coming to North America June 4th
It's been a long time coming, but Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is finally making its way to North America. The game, which was first teased back in 2017 and was released in Japan last year, will be available exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS on June 4th according to IGN. The game will retail for $39.99, but a premium edition that comes with an art book, plush toy, buttons and playing cards will be available for $69.99.
'Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon' summons 8-bit 'Castlevania' charm
Japanese developer Inti Creates has lifted the lid on Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon at this year's BitSummit -- an annual, Kyoto-based celebration of the finest indie games. Curse of the Moon is a classic 8-bit follow-up to Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, originally promised as a Kickstarter reward if certain stretch goals were met.
Nintendo’s Switch is a moneymaking hit and the future looks good
The last time Nintendo opened its books, we learned that the Switch had already sold more in nine months than the Wii U had in its entire lifetime. But it's only natural that after a spike in interest over the holiday period, things would start to slow down. And that's exactly what we're seeing today in Nintendo's latest earnings, marking the end of its financial year. Over the past three months, Nintendo has shifted 2.93 million Switch consoles. That's nowhere near the 7.23 million figure for the three months prior, but it still pushes total sales up to a tasty 17.79 million.
Set sail with your pals in a new ‘Adventure Time’ game
A new Adventure Time game is in the works and it features some maritime fun, a nameable boat and pirates. Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion begins with a flooded Land of Ooo and Adventure Time characters have to set off to figure out what's going on. You'll be able to play as Finn, Jake, Marceline and BMO as you battle pirates, add others to your crew and hunt for clues. And the boat you and your pals will be riding on -- you can enter to name it through a competition that opens today.
The US is getting a SNES-themed new 3DS XL too
Turns out that SNES-themed 3DS XL isn't a Europe exclusive after all. As Twitter user @Wario64 (who else?) points out, the handheld is currently available for pre-order in the US for $199.99. It will ship a whole two weeks after the Europe release on November 27, but that's better than never, right? It also follows in the footsteps of the Super Famicom-inspired 3DS XL, which landed exclusively in Japan in March of last year. Okay, we'll stop rubbing it in. To add to the nostalgia, Nintendo is packing a download code for Super Mario Kart with the variant.
Nintendo's 'Samus' 3DS XL is perfect for that 'Metroid' reboot
Huge Metroid fan? You'll be thrilled to know that Nintendo has designed a New 3DS XL to go with the upcoming Metroid II reboot, then. The Samus Edition console will be available on September 15th, the same day Metroid: Samus Returns lands on shelves. It features an orange and yellow case with a print of the armor-bound intergalactic bounty hunter on the front.
Nintendo continues to flourish with strong Switch sales
With the Switch riding high and the beleaguered Wii U all but retired, Nintendo's accounts are looking a little brighter than usual. The Japanese console maker posted some strong financial earnings today for the three-month period ending on June 30th, with 64.73 billion yen ($578 million) in gross profit and, with the usual operating expenses deducted, 16.21 billion yen ($145 million) in operating profit. That's in stark contrast to a year ago, when Nintendo posted a pretty dismal 30.5 billion yen ($272 million) in operating profit and lost 5.13 billion yen ($46 million) overall.
Nintendo’s New 2DS XL is the closest you’ll ever get to a ‘3DS XL Lite’
When most of us think about Nintendo hardware, we think about the gimmick. The motion controls of the Wii, the second screen of the Nintendo DS, the stereoscopic visuals of the 3DS and the duality of the Nintendo Switch. These innovations define Nintendo's brand -- but it's not the only hallmark of Nintendo hardware. The company is as much of a house of iteration as it is innovation, particularly when it comes to portable gaming. Almost every one of its handheld consoles -- from the original GameBoy to the Nintendo DS -- has been revised, retooled and released in a new form. Nintendo has made five versions of its original 3DS hardware, and it's about to release one more: The New Nintendo 2DS XL.
Nintendo's 3DS isn't dead, but it is trapped in the Switch's shadow
Earlier this year, Nintendo announced a brand-new console, a hybrid portable device that serves as both a portable entertainment machine and a game system for the living room. At a glance, it looked great -- but some criticized the Nintendo Switch for having "nothing to play" except the new Legend of Zelda game, of course. Nintendo's E3 show served as a strong answer to those critics: Between Super Mario Odyssey, the promise of a new Pokémon game, new Xenoblade, Yoshi and Kirby titles and a Switch port of Rocket League, Nintendo gave buyers every reason to pick up its latest portable console. At the same time, it gave fans almost no reason to pick its other handheld device. If you don't already own a 3DS, you're probably never going to buy one now.
Atlus is bringing three great JRPGs to North America for the 3DS
The Switch may have already arrived, but you may want to wait a bit before putting your 3DS in storage. Atlus, which you might know as the studio behind Persona, has just announced that it's releasing three Japanese RPGs for the handheld in the US and Canada. One of them is the latest entry in the Etrian Odyssey franchise, while the other two are remasters of Radiant Historia and Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, two critically acclaimed games originally released for the Nintendo DS. Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth is a dungeon-crawling, map-drawing game chronicling the journey of an adventurer on a quest to reach the top of a towering Yggdrasil tree. It'll be available sometime this fall.
Federal appeals court upholds Nintendo's win in 3DS patent battle
Just months after the Nintendo 3DS launched in 2011, it faced patent infringement allegations. Tomita Technologies was accusing Nintendo's new handheld of using its glasses-free 3D display technology without paying royalties. Like most patent lawsuits, it dragged on for years -- first awarding a victory to Tomita before handing the win to Nintendo in appeals. Now, a higher court has confirmed Nintendo's victory. On Friday, the Federal Circuit court ruled that the Nintendo 3DS does not infringe Tomita's patent.
The Pokémon constant: Someone will always beat it with Magikarp
Worthless. Pathetic. Horribly Weak. Virtually useless. This is how Pokémon games' in-game encyclopaedias describe Magikarp, a hapless fish-creature that is widely regarded as the "worst" monster in the game series' ever-growing list of fighting creatures. It only has three attacks, and one of them literally does nothing. So, naturally, someone beat Pokémon Sun And Moon using nothing but the worthless flounder. Because why not?
Nintendo made a special 3DS XL for Pokémon Sun and Moon
You probably already have a Nintendo 3DS if you're waiting for the new Pokémon to drop. But if you're always on the lookout for special editions to add to your growing collection, you can get a Pokémon Sun and Moon-flavored New Nintendo 3DS XL on October 28th (or November 18th in the UK). This one's definitely for those who want something much simpler than the colorful bundle released for the franchise's 20th anniversary. It's just a black console with minimalistic illustrations of Sun's and Moon's legendaries, Solgaleo and Lunala.
Nintendo finally increases the 3DS StreetPass limit to 100
The ability to share information via StreetPass with other players has always been a fun reason to carry your 3DS everywhere. But you can only capture up to 10 users' Miis at a time, and going through them is a time-consuming pain. On this morning's Nintendo Direct the company announced a new "Quick Plaza" to make the process a lot smoother, as well as a new premium feature that can increase your number of potential encounters to 100.
The next 'Pikmin' game is a Nintendo 3DS side-scroller
It's been well over a year since Shigeru Miyamoto teased us with the possibility of a Pikmin 4, and during today's Nintendo Direct stream, the company announced... something else. The company closed out its 2017 line-up with a new, unnamed Pikmin adventure for 3DS. Okay, it's not the full sequel we were hoping for, but it looks pretty darn cute.
'Pokémon Sun and Moon' will offer four-player battle royales
There's more to Pokémon Sun and Moon than a new region and monsters. Nintendo has revealed during its E3 live stream that the game will also introduce a four-player battle mode called 'Battle Royal.' Each trainer selects their preferred Pokémon and then enters the ring at the same time. On your turn, you can choose to target any of the three creatures in front of you -- this opens up new strategies as you focus on particular opponents and form uneasy alliances. Our only concern is the wait times -- four trainers mean it could be a while before you can select another attack.
Nintendo tour lets you try 3DS games this summer
If you or your kids are jonesing for something to do this summer but would rather play Super Mario Bros. than go on vacation, Nintendo has your back. It's launching a free Play Nintendo Tour that, as the name implies, gives you a chance to play a range of 3DS games in a kid-friendly environment. On top of getting to try some of Nintendo's better-known titles (ranging from the shiny new Kirby: Planet Robobot to an older title like Mario Kart 7), the 12-stop US tour has contests, photo ops and prizes.
The new 'Ace Attorney' lands in September
Phoenix Wright and his band of lawyers, circus performers and spirit mediums are making their way to North America and Europe. The newest installment for the courtroom-slash-visual-novel franchise Ace Attorney will be released in the West in September this year. It's called Spirit of Justice and will (unfortunately) only be available as a digital download from the Nintendo eShop, just like Dual Destinies, for $30 (£25 / €30).
'Pokémon Sun' and 'Moon' arrive on the 3DS November 18th
Earlier this year, Nintendo vaguely revealed that Pokémon Sun and Moon would hit its 3DS during the holiday season. But thankfully for die-hard fans of the franchise, we now have an exact release date. The new Pokémon titles are set to arrive November 18th in North America, while those of you in the UK will catch them a few days later, on November 23rd. As part of today's announcement, Pokémon also introduced Rowlet, Litten and Popplio, the three adorable characters that'll help you get started on your adventure. Seriously, they're so cute.