Nintendo will finally release the New 3DS for those of us who prefer skin-tight slacks. Yes, that is a 3DS in my yoga pants, but I’m also happy to see you.
The New Nintendo 3DS will launch in the U.S. on September 25 in a bundle with the upcoming Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer for $220. This version of the New 3DS comes with all the new features that the New 3DS XL launched with in February but it is smaller and features removable face plates. This bundle will come with Animal Crossing-themed face plates, but Nintendo will also ship a variety of different designs that you can deck out your new handheld with.
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":1794475,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"games,","session":"A"}']This isn’t the only revamped 3DS hitting the market in time for the gift-giving holidays. Nintendo revealed it is partnering with GameStop to release a Hyrule Edition New 3DS XL for $200 on October 30. That is timed to hit simultaneously with The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, which is sold separately.
Of course, this news is primarily exciting for U.S. gamers since the standard New 3DS came out in every other major market outside of North America. Europe, Japan, and Austrlia got the New 3DS XL and the New 3DS at the exact same time. But Nintendo only went with the bigger system in America and the surrounding territories.
Holding off on releasing the New 3DS, however, means that Nintendo can time this upcoming release to give the system a boost through the holidays. The handheld has already sold very well throughout this year, but this will help it finish strong.
“More than 15 million systems in the Nintendo 3DS family have been sold in the U.S. alone,” Nintendo marketing chief Scott Moffitt said in a canned statement. “These new models offer additional fun ways to experience some of the great upcoming Nintendo 3DS games launching in the next few months.”
We’ve asked Nintendo if it plans to sell the standard New 3DS as a standalone product outside of a bundle, and we’ll update this post with any comment from the publisher.