Rumour: Nintendo Releasing 3DS in October

9
Nintendo's 3D display-toting handheld the 3DS is scheduled for release in October this year, according to a 'very senior publishing source' who reportedly spoke to CVG.

"In my experience, you don't launch a product that early to Christmas unless you're confident in it--and going to spend a lot of money on it," the anonymous source is said to have told CVG. "We're reassured that Nintendo is going to give it some decent backing."

All Nintendo has confirmed so far is that the DS successor offers "3D effects without the need for any special glasses" and will be released before March 2011. The company promises to reveal more at E3 this year--including the release date, says CVG's source.

The technology powering the 3DS's display has been the subject of much speculation. Leading rumours suggest that the handheld contains an LCD screen by Sharp which uses a parallax barrier system to produce a 3D effect within a 'sweet spot.'

The plus-sized 'DSi XL' revamp of was released in North America less than a month ago--five days after the 3DS was hastily announced. Reports indicate that Nintendo had not intended to reveal the 3DS so early but rushed the news to pre-empt a press leak.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 21, 2010 8:10 AM

    I read that only 8% of people in Japan are interested in buying the 3DS. I think, knowing Nintendo, this is going to be awesome (I think they learned their lesson from the virtual boy). Consider me first in line.

    • reply
      April 21, 2010 8:44 AM

      I wouldn't base too much on that survey and especially not the 8.8% "want to buy" figure. Setting aside the usual issues related to surveys, let's not overlook that 55.8% responded they were "interested in it, but currently don’t want it." Considering nobody knows anything about the 3DS beyond "it has 3D tech" at this point, much of that middle-ground could easily stand to be swayed.

      Besides, if we do go ahead and apply the results of that survey to all of Japan, 8.8% of its estimated 2010 population is still 112,094,400 people.

      Surveys, you know?

      • reply
        April 21, 2010 8:51 AM

        Agreed. And if half of that 8.8% bought one in the first week, that would be phenomenal sales numbers.

      • reply
        April 21, 2010 9:36 AM

        hah, good points.. I just can't get over 3D minus the glasses. I can't believe the home media guys think the average joe is going to want to watch TV wearing 3D glasses all the time. I'm excited!

        • reply
          April 21, 2010 1:45 PM

          I'll be excited when they tell me it will be playable for one-eyed people, until then, I'm pretty mad about the whole thing.

          • reply
            April 21, 2010 1:53 PM

            I read a rumor that there is a hardware switch to toggle 3d on and off.

    • reply
      April 21, 2010 10:17 AM

      When almost 1/10 of an entire country want to buy your product when they literally know NOTHING about it, you've already won.

Hello, Meet Lola