We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
3DS

New Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL Out November 21 in Australia and New Zealand

by Clay Johnson - September 24, 2014, 8:04 am EDT
Total comments: 5 Source: Nintendo Direct Australia

The big news came via the first Nintendo Direct Australia.

The recently unveiled New 3DS and New 3DS XL models are set for release in Australia and New Zealand on November 21, as revealed in a surprise Nintendo Direct tailored just for fans in those territories.

The Direct details the same enhancements touted when the New 3DS line was introduced for Japanese release, including the C Stick, improved 3D viewing angles through Super Stable 3D functionality, NFC capability, and additional processing power leading to increased graphical output and download speeds.

The hardware models shown in the Direct were the same as those presented in the New 3DS line's Japanese debut, with the standard New 3DS being a white system customizable via separately-purchased cover plates priced at $17.95. The XL is available in blue or black and is not customizable. The New 3DS will launch at $219.95, while the New 3DS XL will carry a $249.95 price tag.

Xenoblade Chronicles was announced for Japan as the first game to take advantage of the New 3DS line's improved specs and thus was revealed as the first exclusive for the new hardware. The game is slated to come to Australia and New Zealand in 2015.

While some might point to this news as evidence that New 3DS hardware will come to other western territories sooner rather than later, don't get your hopes up. The Direct's host, Nintendo Australia Managing Director Tom Enoki, was clear that there are no plans to release these systems in North America or Europe in 2014.

For more info on the New 3DS models, check out the Direct in its entirety below.

Talkback

RodrigueSeptember 24, 2014

What the fuck Nintendo, Australia always gets all the love. What about us in Japan and North America?

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterSeptember 24, 2014

God damn it, Nintendo, if you are going to announce a new revision before the

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterSeptember 24, 2014

God damn it, Nintendo, I want to give you my money and be rid of this launch era 3ds but I'm not going to get an XL now that the NEW 3DS Xl is on the horizon, which by the way, leaves me with no reason to get a regular XL.

I see no reason why they would want to wait on these things, I don't get it.

Quote from: Rodrigue

What the **** Nintendo, Australia always gets all the love. What about us in Japan and North America?

It's always amusing when people conveniently forget the 20+ years of USA getting Nintendo games months, in some cases years, before Australia would even hear about them. Special events like the national Pokémon tours - Australia didn't have one of those since Mew was distributed.

Nintendo Power could only be bought in Australia through overpriced import bookstores like Borders from the mid-2000s onwards, and Aussie readers dedicated enough to pay the inflation were automatically disqualified from writing in or entering the contests, let alone obtaining any of the exclusive gifts.

Until Club Nintendo went down the turlet, USA's site was the only place outside Japan to get halfway decent merchandise, save for two exclusive prizes. The Australian Club Nintendo still doesn't even have elite statuses. Not to mention, USA is the only country outside of Japan to get either an exclusive store for Nintendo merchandise or a Pokémart.

All this aside, Nintendo games and systems here STILL cost almost double the price they do in the states, despite the US/AU dollars being almost 1:1 synced for at least five years now. A Wii Remote Plus costs $70 Australian. Should I go on? :P

CericSeptember 25, 2014

Despite all that you still get the more awesome Pokemon Video sets.

Though yeah, Australia gets the shaft a lot.

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement