Nintendo announced today in Japan that it will launch a new 3DS handheld game player in Japan during the fiscal year that ends March 31, 2011.
The move shows that Nintendo is serious about fending off challenges from Sony’s PSPgo as well as Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch. Rumors of the new machine have floated for a bit, but Nintendo finally confirmed that the new platform will feature a 3-D display that does not require the use of 3-D glasses. It will hit the Japanese market first, and it will be compatible with the Nintendo DS and DSi software. The company will reveal more about the 3DS at the E3 game conference in Los Angeles in June.
On March 28, Nintendo is releasing the latest handheld, the DSi XL, which sports a screen that is 93 percent bigger than the DS Lite’s. The rapid pace of introductions shows that Nintendo is serious about maintaining its dominance of the portable game business. The first DS debuted in 2004. Nintendo has sold an estimated 127 million DS units, making it the most successful handheld product, with sales far above Sony’s PSP at 57 million.
The 3-D display is a surprise, but it shows that Nintendo is willing to try out new technologies.