The Nintendo 3DS XL, previously the only version of the 3DS available in the U.S., is finally getting its smaller brother over to the U.S. Nintendo of America announced today that the notably smaller Nintendo 3DS will be available in the U.S. starting on September 25.
The new system will come bundled with Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer as a download, as well as an Animal Crossing Amiibo card, a 4GB memory card, and a total of six augmented reality cards. In total the bundle will cost $219.99.
The announcement is good news for fans of the Nintendo 3DS and brings the U.S. in line with Japan, which has had the handheld console for sale since it launched last October. Not only that, but the device also includes a second thumbstick, better audio, a faster processor, and even a longer battery life.
Of course, apart from that the device is notably smaller, weighing only 253 grams, compared to the 3DS XL's 329 grams. The larger XL is 6.3 x 3.68 x 0.85 inches, while the smaller version is only 5.6 x 3.17 x 0.85 inches. This makes it even more pocket-friendly, and is smaller than your average phablet.
Nintendo first decided not to sell its New Nintendo 3DS in the U.S. because of the fact that the original 3DS XL far outsold the original 3DS. Unfortunately, as highlighted by a vocal portion of the Nintendo fanbase, that decision left younger Nintendo fans, or those with smaller hands, stuck holding a less comfortable console.
The bundle itself isn't a bad price. The Nintendo 3DS XL currently runs for $199.99, however Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer costs a cool $39.99. The original 3DS cost $169.99, so users are basically paying $10 for all of the other extras in the box.
Unfortunately, Nintendo is not including a power adapter in the box, as it assumes most users are simply upgrading from previous Nintendo DS handheld consoles. Those that aren't, however, will have to pay an extra $13 to buy something that is basically essential to the console even functioning, as it does not include the ability to use swappable batteries.
Via: Time
