Nintendo is adding yet another member to the 3DS family of consoles. The game company announced the New 2DS XL in a surprise reveal last night. Check out the trailer below.
It’s new. It’s 2D. It’s foldable. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to a lot of people. The Switch released two months ago and still suffers stock shortages, and now we’re seeing a new handheld from Nintendo. Why?
The original Nintendo 3DS released in 2011 and has been transformed into several different variations, including the 2DS. While the 3DS features two folding screens that play games in 3D, the 2DS is one hunk of plastic with two 2D screens. The idea was to create a handheld device that kids couldn’t snap in half. Also it’s cheaper.
Then came the New 3DS, and the New 3DS XL. Yeah, they have “New” in the actual product names. The New 3DS’s come with improved 3D and overall visuals, a C-stick for “more dynamic gameplay” (I’ve still yet to use it), and built-in amiibo functionality.
Now we’re seeing a “New” version of the 2DS with amiibo built in, bigger screens–the same size as the 3DS XL–and a foldable design like the 3DS, all while playing games solely in 2D for the lower prince point.
“This new addition to Nintendo’s portable hardware line demonstrates our commitment to the hand-held market,” Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President, stated in a press release. “New Nintendo 2DS XL sports a beautiful clamshell design and offers a great balance between price and performance.”
Did Nintendo really need to release a new console to show they’re committed to their handheld devices? No, but they did, and people are probably going to gobble it up anyways.
The New Nintendo 2DS XL launches alongside Hey! Pikmin and Miitopia on July 28th for $149.99.
