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Nintendo Reveals "New" 3DS With Updated CPU

There are some new buttons on this thing, too.

This October, Nintendo will ship an updated 3DS in Japan called "New 3DS." This tweaked 3DS includes a tiny analog stick on the right, built-in NFC, two additional shoulder buttons, and an improved CPU.

The updated 3DS isn't expected to arrive over here until sometime next year, but the new CPU is already creating some wrinkles. For example, Nintendo announced a port of Xenoblade Chronicles to the 3DS, but it's only for this new 3DS, as it takes advantage of the CPU. It won't run on the 3DS you own right now.

Huh.

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Patrick Klepek on Google+

399 Comments

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Chicken008

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Stupid name, love the Super Famicom buttons though.

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slax

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Welp, if local game stores do a trade in, I'd probably be in for that. Looks sleek.

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Springfart

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don't really like the different colored buttons, hopefully they'll release a version without it

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FreakAche

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@corruptedevil: How's it any different than when Apple announced the New iPad?

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Crono

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Newtendo 3DS

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Snail

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Edited By Snail

Hardware revisions are neat! It's like we're in the 90's again.

I want one of those!

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vaiz

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Edited By vaiz
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It sure has been a day

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EXTomar

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@corruptedevil: How's it any different than when Apple announced the New iPad?

The differences between iPad releases are major upgrades where their marketing shows people what the differences are. Retina displays, new connectors, larger storage, etc.

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Calmgamer

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Did not see this coming.... Will probably get one... Damn it.

Can't believe "New" Nintendo 3DS was the best name they could come up with.

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ptys

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Edited By ptys

I've been waiting for this for three years, glad they update the CPU and brought back the original size.

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Fawkes

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Is there an audio clip somewhere of Patrick saying this will never happen that Vinny could put on a loop?

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HibikiRush

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Edited By HibikiRush

Looking forward to it and curious how much more CPU power this thing has. Went from OG Aqua 3DS (which my girlfriend now uses) to an Animal Crossing XL. Hoping we'll get the white version out here.


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brunom33

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Fucking nintendo, they should have made this system from the start. if they stop supporting the older models they can kiss may ass goodbye, im not buying another 3ds

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Corevi

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@corruptedevil: How's it any different than when Apple announced the New iPad?

As I've said before, I hate all these comparisons to Apple because I hate them partially for that very reason.

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Spitznock

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Edited By Spitznock

Why don't they call it something different? Think of the parents.

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friendlypossum

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I really like my current 3DS. This one seems better.

SOLD!

I was fine with my original 3DS, but I hear Zenoblade is incredible....if I could play that on the go.....I will probably pick this up.

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Solidsnak

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happy I held off buying an xl

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49th

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I don't see what the problem is, Nintendo has always iterated upon their handhelds. The DSlite was not able to access downloadable games.

I don't think they should be stopped from releasing a more powerful version if it can support a few more games. Does anyone even care about Xenoblade enough to buy another 3DS? I really doubt there will be many games exclusive to it.

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Sevith

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Think I'm just gonna hold off and wait for the New 3DS 2.

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geirr

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Edited By geirr

Nintendo naming conventions aside, if you like 3DS/XL and want an upgraded version of it, this seems to be great? So basically, yay!

Also I really love the colored buttons. Punches me right in the retro nerve; in a good way.

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bbillade

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I love the look of the white one. I really hope they come up with a better name than just "New" 3DS for the U.S. release, but I doubt it. I'm sure games will be able to make use of the new features like the analog nub and extra buttons, but still work on older 3DS systems as long as the game doesn't require the faster processor. I bet Smash Brother's and Monster Hunter will support it but work on both.

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Icecreamjones

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Edited By Icecreamjones

"How is this different from the iPad"

You're assuming a lot there. Mainly that people didn't think it was dumb when Apple did it too. Not so, I saw a lot of articles at the time questioning their judgement. Not that I ever buy Apple products to begin with.

This seems cool but whoever is in charge of product naming at Nintendo needs a solid firing after the WiiU confusion and now this. And splitting their demographics with different skus that can't play some games is a fucking terrible idea

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pekoe212

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Geez I just got a 3DS XL last Christmas. And that was replacing a normal 3DS. I can't be replacing the damn thing every year, Nintendo. arrrghh. I guess it's great they keep improving the model, but some of it just seems like poor planning....I mean, NOW the second analog stick? Are there going to be three different 3DS models floating around in the future? Will there be some (new) games that only run on the faster CPU model? So many questions.

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kasaioni

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I'll probably get rid of my regular 3DS for a NEW 3DS LL at some point, mainly because of the CPU being that there will be games only these ones can play.

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Farkas

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Seriously though. Those buttons. <3

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mackgyver

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Edited By mackgyver

I will be really pissed off at games that will run only on the "new" 3DS.

I guess It all depends on what games will come out for it and how much better they will look/run on it.

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sprode

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It's like Nintendo keeps trying to piss off its most loyal supporters, such as myself.

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Fonzinator

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@meptron said:

So my 3ds is obsolete and won't run new 3ds games then? This is dumb. I just bought my 3ds and I'm not at all interested in new hardware.

There will be some games like that (think gameboy color vs regular) but they only game announced that needs the new hardware is Xenoblade.

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yoshimitz707

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@pekoe212: The XL came out 3 years ago. It's not even close to a yearly thing.

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mikael110

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Edited By mikael110

@hunkulese said:

This isn't a brand new device so the name works. Calling it a super 3DS would be more confusing since the Super Nintendo was an actual new console.

The problem here is exactly the fact that it is a brand new device, The most defining aspect of consoles and what primarily differentiates them from regular PCs are that they have one universal hardware configuration to target, if you make a game for a console it works on all consoles of its type.

But If a dev makes a game targeting this "new 3ds" then it won't work on what we call the 3ds today, that makes it a new console platform, the fact that it looks similar to the 3ds design wise and is backwards compatible with old 3ds games does not change the fact that it is a new platform and new platforms need to be named differently to reflect the fact that they are not like their predecessor hardware spec wise.

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selbie

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It sure has been a day

Precisely. I can't even begin to comprehend this move, let alone the stupid name.

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StoutLager

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Jesus fucking christ, Nintendo. You need to give new titles to new things. Newy New New Old Thing That is New is not a good naming convention. >_<

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wonderva

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Edited By wonderva

Damn, made my choice between 3DS or Vita even harder now that it has 2 analog sticks.

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mr_creeper

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Although I want to agree that these small, incremental changes to the 3DS every few years makes fragmentation of the system an issue, it's how Nintendo has handled their handhelds since the beginning. Worked for them so far, so it's not really my place to say otherwise.

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Skeksis

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If Sony or Microsoft introduce a new version of their console where some games will only work on that version, the internet would be up in arms. Nintendo does it = All praise Nintendo.

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kerikxi

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As it stands right now, calling this the "New 3DS" is maybe the dumbest move Nintendo has ever pulled. Did they learn a single goddamned thing from the WiiU debacle? Joe Consumer walking into Walmart isn't gonna have one sweet fucking clue what this nonsense is all about. This is a marketing disaster waiting to happen.

So what do they do then? I think the idea is fundamentally flawed. They're making a system that is only sliiightly more powerful with only a smidge of new features. On it's own, it's not enough of an upgrade to justify being it's own generation of hardware, so you're gonna leave people feeling cheated if you make it out to be a new platform. It's very similar to the Gameboy vs Gameboy Color, but that had the advantage of a very clear and obvious distinction between the two. Going back to Joe Consumer, what does a "better CPU" mean to him?

This is less than a half-step, and one almost destined to die on the shelf. The smarter, better move would have been to wait until the "next gen" handheld was ready. Keep the 3D gimmick if you really want, make it backwards compatible with the 3DS for sure. But this, this is just dumb. What is even going on at Nintendo these days...

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generic_username

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I... really hope that nothing interesting enough to make me buy this is ever released. I don't want to pay money for another goddamn 3DS.

Don't get me wrong, I love mine, it's fantastic. I just don't want to have to buy another one.

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audiosnow

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I was looking at 3DS XL bundles about a month ago but I held off, "knowing" that Nintendo was sure to announce in early 2015 a successor.

Now I don't know anymore, but I'm even more apprehensive about jumping into the pool.

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RuthLoose

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I was looking at 3DS XL bundles about a month ago but I held off, "knowing" that Nintendo was sure to announce in early 2015 a successor.

Now I don't know anymore, but I'm even more apprehensive about jumping into the pool.

Is this the 32X of portable hardware?

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BloodShotRobot

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This sounds like the DSi all over again. Remember all those great DSi only games that took advantage of its better CPU?

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dcraig814

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@larrydavis: I was also toying with the idea of buying an XL a couple months ago. Then I bought one. I can already feel the twinge of guilt as I ponder double dipping.

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Jennifyre

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Good thing i've waited. Knew this would happen eventually. Better come in pink or purple this time at launch..

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korwin

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I wonder if they'll patch Kid Icarus to support the new analogue stick.

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sub_o

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Edited By sub_o

I was hoping for something like this. But I guess, their design is probably due to technical constraint and the need to keep it portable.

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daclynk

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i don't see why this is a mistake when the New 3ds is simply just the old 3ds + circle pad pro + amiibos peripherals all in one. there is nothing new at it just the CPU boost. why are people pissed at this. Nintendo is not degrading the system unlike Sony who removed the LED from the PS Vita i didn't see anyone complain but Nintendo, noo people will as always have something to complain about. go ask Sony why they PS vita tv. to play vita games with the duo shock 3. so dumb.

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shozo

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Why would any developer want to build a game exclusively for this modded system? Now if you excuse me, I'm off to play my Nvidia Shield.

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dcraig814

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If Nintendo were to confirm SNES virtual console play I might be compelled.

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Druminator

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Edited By Druminator

So many DSESSES

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Daveyo520

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Edited By Daveyo520

Please don't make my 3DS useless Nintendo.