The New Nintendo 2DS XL Sneak Peek Is Here And It's Heavily Improved

Nintendo is one of the biggest videogame companies in the world. They’ve innovated the game world countless times. While creating as well some of the most beloved consoles and characters of all time. As it seems they’re not resting on their laurels as they’re introducing the new Nintendo 2DS XL.

This release takes many by surprise. Especially since their strong bet for this year is the Nintendo Switch, that promises to be a game changer due to its portable/home console feature. Making us all wonder if the Japanese company would discontinue their DS line.

New Nintendo gets heavily improved

This new and unexpected version of the portable console has been released this Thursday. Since it seems that Nintendo is not stopping at any point. They recently stated that there will no longer produce the NES Classic, creating a buzzing campaign and shopping spree exclusively with Best Buy. Also, they’ve focused on promoting their new Nintendo Switch as it’s a new hot stuff has already got over 3 million units shipped and it surely ill change gaming forever. While the Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL are still around. But there is no time to rest on laurels, as it seems. So what is the new 2DS XL?

The 2DS XL is the perfect middle point between the 2DS and the 3DSXL. Since this new version has two enlarged displays screen, 4.88in on top and 4.18in on the bottom, and a clamshell design. Something that helps to make it lighter, smaller and easier to carry that its predecessor. It also has a faster processor. The 2DS XL comes in black, turquoise white and orange. They also took away the 3D feature since it was something few games took advantage of. It also comes with a built-in NFC support for amiibo cards and figures. It has the secondary C-pad/stick nub and the ZL and ZR buttons like the 3DS XL. Besides all of that is has a faster hardware than the 3DS XL and most importantly it’s cheaper.

The pricing and release date have already been announced

The console will be released on July 28th of this year, and it will have a $149 price in the U.S. while in the U.K. it will be something between £115 and £150. If you remember the 3DS Xl had a cost of $199 and the 2DS one of $99. So once again you’re in the middle but with a better option. Besides that, the new 2DS XL will allow you to play Nintendo DS and 3DS games, will still have a stylus, will allow you to play SNES games from the Nintendo eShop, and according to Nintendo due to it’s better hardware it will have “faster load times” and extra parental controls for software.

Obviously, this release doesn’t mean you have to throw your 3DS away. It still has a lot of life in it, especially if you like retro games. Since all of Nintendo’s Virtual Console offerings for NES, Game Boy, Game Gear, SNES and Sega’s arcade are still available. Along with the ones 3DS and DS already has. Like Zelda, Mario, Animal Crossing, and all the classic Pokemon games.

The reason behind it

The release of the new 2DS XL was explained by Nintendo of America boss, Reggie Fils-Aimé. As he says they’re practically satisfying a hypothetical market. Who wants the size and spatial comfort of the 3DS XL but couldn’t care less about the auto-stereoscopic feature. As Fils-Aimé looks to answer the question “How many people really care about autostereoscopic 3D?”.

As he said: “There is a visual impact difference between these different items, and we believe in our market by having these three different variants. The Nintendo 2DS really focused on that entry level gamer, the four-, five-, six-year-old that is just getting into gaming, but wants to play Mario Kart, wants to have a Super Mario Bros. experience, wants to play Pokémon.

The Nintendo 2DS really focused on that entry level gamer, the four-, five-, six-year-old that is just getting into gaming, but wants to play Mario Kart, wants to have a Super Mario Bros. experience, wants to play Pokémon. And we feel with Nintendo 3DS XL at $199 that it’s a fully-featured product, that it is, if you will, the Cadillac of handheld gaming. And then we heard from consumers, ‘Boy, I wish there was something in between.'”

It’s a very risky but interesting move since he said: “Our 3DS business is growing. Here in the Americas, our financial year-on-year 3DS hardware grew by 13% and 3DS software grew by 28%.” But even though these numbers are impressive they’re also pre-Switch ones. So we will have to see next year how the experiment went. It looks as well that Nintendo cut down the line of DS family. As the only ones remaining are Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 2DS XL, and the Nintendo 2DS.