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'Yoshi's Woolly World' hits 3DS next year with an adorable Amiibo
Yoshi's Woolly World is the next game in Nintendo's Wii U library to make its way to 3DS, further proving that while the Wii U is a wonderful system, Nintendo is winding the console down to make room for the NX. The complete Yoshi's Woolly World game lands on Nintendo's handheld on February 3rd, and it's bringing a friend along for the ride.
'Super Mario Maker' heads to 3DS on December 2nd
Super Mario Maker is already a success on the Wii U, and now it's making its way to the 3DS on December 2nd. Nintendo announced the handheld version during a 3DS-specific livestream this morning. Super Mario Maker on 3DS includes the full game plus the ability to share courses with your friends via WiFi or StreetPass. Players can even collaborate on incomplete courses to create friendship masterpieces.
Watch Nintendo's 3DS-focused Direct here at 10AM ET
Nintendo is giving some love to its handheld 3DS console at its IFA 2016 Nintendo Direct event this year. Expected titles include Shin Megami Tensei 4 Apocalypse, Yo-kai Watch 2, Pokemon Sun & Moon and more. We can also expect some Amiibo figurines that work with Nintendo's New 3DS and New 3DS XL, or on the older models via a reader.
Nintendo celebrates indie gaming this September
Nintendo is placing the spotlight squarely on a month's worth of independent games, introducing the #Nindies Summer Jam promotion going on in the Nintendo eShop.
Nintendo didn't show the NX at E3 over copycat concerns
Away from the media's prying eyes, Nintendo's investor meeting allowed some people to ask some surprisingly frank questions -- and glean a few more insights into where the company is going -- whether that's smartphones, new consoles, VR, theme parks, movies... or all the above. If you were surprised that Nintendo wasn't showing its incoming NX console (currently pegged to launch in March 2017) at E3, the world's biggest gameshow, earlier this month, there was at least a reason. According to Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, the company didn't because it feared copycats if it revealed the console so far in advance of the launch.
'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.
PS Vita slasher 'Severed' is coming to iOS, 3DS and Wii U
Back in April developer Drinkbox Studios, best known for the colorful platformer Guacamelee!, launched a little game called Severed on the PlayStation Vita. As much as we love Sony's handheld, it's not a popular system, so we're not surprised to hear that the game is headed to other platforms. Specifically, the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U and iOS. If you need a quick recap, Severed is a first-person dungeon crawler starring a one-armed warrior named Sasha. The touch-based controls have you fighting monsters and solving puzzles to overcome its bright but creepy world.
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.
Nintendo's 2DS is now cheaper than ever. Play these games.
Who needs stereoscopic 3-D, or a hinge? Nintendo's cheaper, flatter 2DS is now a mere $80. It even includes a free digital copy of Mario Kart 7. That's a bargain for a current-generation hand-held, but where should you start your games collection? How about here, with Engadget's favorites. (And remember, the console plays DS games, so there's over 10 years of hits to pick from.) We'd still advise starting with some of the most recent titles, which include animal villages, a particularly weird Zelda title, Square Enix's resurrection of the JRPG and Mario, somewhere, along the way.
'Yo-Kai Watch 2' invades the US this September
Yo-Kai Watch 2 is on the horizon, and it's headed to the US this September, with a second season of the anime series to follow. Originally launched last November for western audiences, the 3DS title served up decadent and accessible role-playing goodness, with collecting elements for the youngsters and meaty side quests and commentary for adults.
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.
Nintendo pulls a 3DS game to fight another homebrew exploit
Nintendo's cat-and-mouse game with homebrew exploits isn't over yet. The gaming giant recently pulled Terry Cavanagh's retro platformer VVVVVV from the 3DS eShop after Shiny Quagsire discovered a way to use the game to run your own code. It's not a direct method, as you need another exploit for this to work (such as in the browser or another game), but that apparently doesn't matter to Nintendo.
Long-delayed 'Mighty No. 9' arrives June 21st
No, your eyes aren't deceiving you -- after more than a few delays, Comcept has announced that Mighty No. 9 is finished. Keiji Inafune's spiritual sequel to Mega Man will arrive in Asia and North America on June 21st, and the rest of the world on June 24th. The initial release is limited to console and computer players (albeit on virtually every platform), but versions for both the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita are due "at a later point." Just be sure to think carefully about your choice of media format: while downloads are more convenient, a retail copy includes the Ray add-on.
Nintendo to launch NX console in March 2017
We don't know what it looks like. We don't know how it works. But now, we finally know when Nintendo's next system will launch: March 2017. The company's mysterious "NX" platform was first teased more than a year ago, during an investor presentation that also outlined its smartphone strategy. We've heard plenty of rumors since then, including a console-handheld hybrid, a system more powerful than the PS4 and Xbox One, and a console with a bizarre touchscreen controller (including faked photos) based on Nintendo patents. The house of Mario has stayed quiet throughout, stating only that it will talk about the console later in 2016.
Court: Nintendo's 3DS patents are not guilty of infringement
New York federal court judge Jed Rakoff announced his verdict in the appeal of Nintendo's 3DS patent case against Tomita Technologies on Sunday. The judge found that the technology in question -- specifically, that "relating to displaying stereoscopic images on-screen for viewing with the naked eye, i.e., without utilizing glasses or other devices" -- performed differently in Nintendo's system than in Tomita's and did so in a manner which was not envisioned by the plaintiff's original 2008 patent. As such he ruled in favor of Nintendo, reversing the lower court's initial decision from 2013 and confirming the results of a 2015 retrial. What's more the decision invalidates Tomita's initial award of $30.2 million in damages.
'Metroid Prime: Federation Force' launches August 19th
It's been eight years since the last Metroid Prime game came out for the Wii, but a successor was finally announced for the New 3DS handheld system at the game conference E3. Today, Nintendo announced that Metroid Prime: Federation Force will be released on August 19th in the US and September 2nd in the UK, but players can get a hands-on demo at PAX East this weekend.
In a world of smartphones, Nintendo's 3DS reaches five years old
Nintendo's (not quite) first steps into 3D were shaky. Some of us complained that the 3D effect hurt our eyes, while others found the battery life on the first-generation 3DS just awful. (It was.) However, with bigger (and some flatter) iterations along the way, the handheld has started to hit a groove. Five years since it hit stores in the US, there's now a strong stable of quality games, and the company is bringing back some older SNES hits , as long as you've got the newer hardware.
A Super Famicom-themed Nintendo 3DS is headed to Japan
If you were watching the Japan-specific Nintendo Direct yesterday, you would have noticed a little hardware treat for classic console fans. A special edition New 3DS XL is coming to Nintendo's home turf with a Super Famicom design, complete with classic colors and nostalgic "buttons" on the outer shell. It'll launch in April for 21,600 yen (about $190) but sadly, there's no word on a wider international release. Of course, to make the jump to North America, it would need a little splash of SNES purple...
Nintendo Direct roundup: 'Mario Maker,' 'Splatoon' and more
Today's Nintendo Direct featured a light feast of sci-fi adventures and fantasy tales, including a new Star Fox game, the return of classic Super Nintendo games (exclusive to the New 3DS handheld), a new Kirby game and the announcement of Monster Hunter Generations for Western audiences. Phew. But that wasn't everything -- we've collected the best trailers and tweets from today's Nintendo Direct below. Feast on this:
