In a move that signifies Amazon's newly forged relationship with Nintendo, the e-commerce firm is now selling the Japanese game company's new Nintendo 3DS XL.
Gamers who are planning on picking up Nintendo's new gaming system can purchase it from Amazon for $199.96, only a teeny, tiny bit less expensive than the $199.99 that Nintendo charges for the device.
There is also the option of purchasing the 3DS XL in New Black or New Red, although we have yet to see if Amazon will start offering the 3DS XL in the Majora's Mask and Monster Hunter 4 special editions.
Amazon and Nintendo have had a rocky business relationship in the past, but both companies have declined to comment on what fueled their differences. While both Sony and Microsoft have enjoyed a wider distribution channel for the PlayStation and the Xbox by partnering with Amazon, Nintendo has opted to sell its own video game systems through its own online store and retailers such as GameStop, Best Buy, Toys R Us and Target.
The last time a Nintendo product was available through Amazon, except for secondhand and refurbished items sold by various sellers, was in 2011 for the original Nintendo 3DS. However, things appear to be taking a turn for the positive for the Amazon-Nintendo relationship.
Just last week, Amazon caused a tiny spark of excitement in the gaming community when it began selling very rare Amiibo figurines for Wave 4. Thousands of gamers went to the website in droves to purchase Amiibo for characters such as Lucina, Robin and Pac-Man, only to find out that Amazon has run out of stock within minutes of launching the new figurines.
The Nintendo 3DS XL is simply the bigger version of the new Nintendo 3DS, which is not available for sale in the U.S. As its name implies, the 3DS XL's claim to fame is a 3D face-tracking technology that adjusts images so that the user enjoys full immersion even when viewing from different angles.
It also comes with built-in Amiibo support with a near-field communication (NFC) reader to allow players to unlock new content and bonus items in Amiibo-compatible games. Gamers will also find faster loading times on the new 3DS XL, although Nintendo declined to mention what processor it uses for the system.
However, if there is one complaint many people have with the 3DS XL, it is the lack of a charger that normally comes with the device out of the box. To arrive at the sub-$200 price point, Nintendo decided to get rid of the charger, selling it instead separately on the Nintendo store for $15, although users can buy a USB charger for much less from local retailers.
