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Nintendo Confirms Larger 3DS, DLC in New Super Mario Bros. 2

Nintendo announced during its Nintendo Direct webcast on Friday that it will release the Nintendo 3DS XL, a larger version of its 3DS handheld system with a 4.88-inch screen.

The 3DS XL (or 3DS LL in Japan) will measure 93 by 156 by 22 millimeters, versus 74 by 134 by 21 millimeters for the regular 3DS. It will weigh 336 grams versus the original's 235 grams. The new 3DS XL will run about 3.5 to 6.5 hours on 3DS software or 6 to 10 hours on DS software, compared to 3 to 5 hours and 5 to 8 hours, respectively, for the original 3DS. Nintendo did not say that the 3DS XL will have a higher screen resolution or a built-in second circle pad.

The new system will come in white, red x black, or silver x black for 18,900 yen in Japan or US$199.99 in the United States. It will go on sale on the same day as the New Super Mario Bros. 2 game — on July 28 in Japan and on August 19 in North America. The North American version will come with a 4GB SD card, but not the Japanese version.

Nintendo also announced that it will release downloadable content for the New Super Mario Bros. 2 after it ships. Meanwhile Bandai Namco is developing the next Super Smash Bros. games for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems.

Less than three weeks ago, Nintendo had denied a Nikkei Shimbun newspaper article that said that the company would release a version of its 3DS with a 4.3-inch screen by this summer at the earliest. Nikkei also reported an approximate 30,000-yen (about US$380) price point for the upcoming Nintendo Wii U console.

[Via Hachima Kikō, Siliconera]