New Nintendo 3DS - Timeline
Monday22nd Jun 2015
News Reggie Fils-Aime Hints at Smaller New Nintendo 3DS for North America
Also states that New 3DS-exclusive download games are coming
When Nintendo announced earlier in the year that only the New Nintendo 3DS XL would come to North America, heads were scratched, petitions were launched and fury was vented. Subsequent justifications from Nintendo of America generally weren't accepted by online communities - including when...
News Hyrule Warriors Producer Confirms More Characters Are Coming to Hyrule Warriors Legends
But won't say who exactly...
For some, the announcement of Hyrule Warriors Legends coming to the Nintendo 3DS is a great reason to relive/start the game that originated on the Wii U. However, to those needing more of an excuse, it was confirmed during Nintendo's E3 Digital Event that Hyrule Warriors Legends will come with all the DLC from the...
Wednesday17th Jun 2015
News Metroid Prime: Federation Force Producer Explains Why Samus Aran Isn't In The Game
"If we have four 'Samuses', that would be odd"
Engadget has been speaking to Metroid Prime: Federation Force producer Kensuke Tanabe about the game, its origins and how it plays. While the title has gained a lot of hate from various parties online, it's actually shaping up to be a very interesting team-based shooter - and it would appear that it
News New Nintendo 3DS XL Back On Top In Japan As Wii U Leads Home Console Sales
Rhythm Heaven: The Best+ makes debut in first place with over 150,000 sold
The latest Media Create Japanese sales charts are in, and it's good news for Nintendo as its games and hardware have risen to the top of the pile. Rhythm Heaven: The Best+ made its debut at number one with 157,591 copies sold between the 8th and 14th of June. This robust...
Friday12th Jun 2015
News The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Pricing and Features Outlined by Nicalis
New 3DS misses out on multiplayer
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth was a slightly surprising announcement for Wii U and New Nintendo 3DS earlier this year, for multiple reasons; it's a game that was previously rejected by Nintendo due to its themes and content, and it'll also likely be the first eShop title exclusive to the New models of the portable...
Thursday11th Jun 2015
News 3DS Hits 15 Million Sales Landmark in the US
Nearly 270 million US Nintendo system sales overall
After a rocky start in 2011, the 3DS family of systems - which includes the 2DS and New Nintendo 3DS - has evolved into a success. Against increasingly challenging odds due to the rise of smart devices and plenty of other distractions, it's led the charge for the dedicated gaming handheld space...
Wednesday10th Jun 2015
News Splatoon is Still Number One in Japan as Wii U Sales Increase Again
The momentum Wii U needs?
The Japanese Media Create chart results are in, and much focus has been on Splatoon and Wii U; after an excellent début for the shooter, it's momentum has been key. The numbers that have come through seem rather positive, too, especially for a new IP. In its second week the Wii U exclusive sold 68,913 copies in Japan,...
Monday8th Jun 2015
News Europe, You're Getting Three More New 3DS Cover Plates This Month
Splatoon Cover Plates coming earlier than planned
Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that three new Cover Plate designs for New Nintendo 3DS consoles will be arriving on June 26th - including the famous Splatoon plates, which weren't expected until next month. The Splatoon design is - as you might expect - covered in colourful ink splats. The other...
Saturday6th Jun 2015
Poll We Need to Talk About amiibo - Where Do You Stand?
Awesome collectibles, source of frustration, a bit of both?
As we approach the 'expo we cannot name' - oh alright, E3 - we can't help but wonder how many times Nintendo will mention amiibo. Will we learn more about the amiibo cards that'll accompany Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer? Will there be more blasted Smash Bros. waves that we'll...
Wednesday3rd Jun 2015
News Splatoon Storms to Top Spot in Japanese Charts With Six Figure Sales
Wii U sales more than double to lead hardware chart
It's that time of the week, once again, for Media Create Japanese chart results, and there are some strong sales for the latest Wii U exclusive, matching up to chatter that stock had been scarce due to demand; Wii U hardware sales jumped, too. We're referring, of course, to Splatoon, the colourful...
Sunday31st May 2015
Feature The Big Nintendo Direct Summary - 31st May 2015
Say hello to Morimoto-san
In what was surely the last notable information blow-out ahead of E3, we've had a Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast focused on near-term Wii U and 3DS releases, with some Capcom Monster Hunter reveals thrown in. There were quite a few new games announced, fresh details on familiar titles and a new host in Morimoto-san,...
It's actually quite pricey
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer remains a bit of an oddity, at least in the opinion of this writer. It appears to be a rather simplistic game in which you decorate homes to satisfy cute characters, adopting one small part of AC charm into one package. It's also a vehicle for the first range of amiibo cards, which will...
News Fire Emblem If Allows You to Build and Manage a Town, All Four Current FE amiibo Supported
Ten minute presentation video released
It may not be coming to the West until 2016, but Fire Emblem If is hard to ignore as a result of its rapidly approaching release in Japan. With two distinct versions - and a third arc available via download - it's a title ambitious in scope, expanding upon the excellent Fire Emblem: Awakening. Today's Japanese...
Wednesday27th May 2015
News Pearl White Is The Latest New Nintendo 3DS XL Colour, Arrives In Japan On 11th June
Launches alongside Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus
Nintendo has revealed a Pearl White New 3DS XL will be released in Japan on 11th June alongside the launch of the latest entry in the Rhythm Heaven series, Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus. Pearl White joins the existing New 3DS XL colours Metallic Blue and Metallic Black. Let us know in the comments...
Friday22nd May 2015
News The Most Recent Media Create Japanese Charts Brought the Lowest Sales Since 2001
Tough times
The Media Create Japanese chart results for this week were particularly bad, with lousy software numbers and falling hardware sales. Nintendo had enjoyed a strong few weeks in terms of units sold and number of games in the top 20, yet the overall numbers were so low this time that little cheer could be taken; the fresh release from...
Wednesday20th May 2015
News Code Name S.T.E.A.M. Fails to Chart in Week of Poor Sales in Japan
Xenoblade Chronicles X clears 100,000 sales
In recent weeks there have been some decent game and hardware sales in Japan, so a tumble was always on the agenda. Even with that in mind, it's nevertheless been a rather lousy week of sales for Japanese retailers according to the latest Media Create results. Kicking off with the software charts, Final...
Sunday17th May 2015
Talking Point Nintendo's Modest Sales Targets Keep Wii U and 3DS Expectations Under Control
E3 surprises are still a solid bet, however
In consecutive years Nintendo predicted a return to good times, struggled to deliver and reported financial losses; with that in mind the recent annual results were a major positive. Nintendo reported a decent profit and showed enough positive intent that shareholders were happy, with the company's value...
Friday15th May 2015
News Official Nintendo UK Store Bundles Fire Emblem amiibo with Code Name S.T.E.A.M.
Sneaky strategy
Capitalism has some simple rules, one of which is to balance demand with strategy; if something's rare then you can get more money for it, or use it to promote other goods. A notorious example was GameStop's insane 'Massive Bundle' for a Majora's Mask 3D New Nintendo 3DS XL, which had a price tag of $500. Nintendo's not quite gone...
Wednesday13th May 2015
News Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition Leads in Japan as 3DS Tops Hardware Sales
Xenoblade Chronicles X holds firm in fourth
It's the week after Golden Week in Japan, which typically brings a drop-off in sales as the public holiday becomes a fading memory. With that in mind, and in the absence of new releases, the latest Media Create sales for the country bring positives for Nintendo. Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros...
Tuesday12th May 2015
Platform still has "momentum", according to Nintendo boss
The 3DS may be four years old now, but Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes it still has a bright commercial future ahead of it - despite the fact that the console's release schedule is currently looking a little light on smash-hit games. Speaking to investors at the recent Financial...
Friday8th May 2015
News Xenoblade Chronicles X and Dragon Quest Help Wii U to Top Spot in Japan
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition tops software results
In recent weeks the Media Create Japanese charts have shown Sony systems and its releases nicking ahead of Nintendo's offerings, so with that in mind this week brings happier news for the big N. The company and supportive third-parties have topped the software and hardware results to...
Wednesday6th May 2015
News Three New Nintendo 3DS Bundles Heading to Europe on 26th June
Include cover plates, game copies and HOME themes
The New Nintendo 3DS arrived on 13th February along with some key releases, providing a fairly substantial update to the original models. An improved 3D screen with head tracking, NFC (amiibo) support and the C-Stick are among its additions, while in Europe there were smaller models and XL...
Tuesday5th May 2015
Video 'Smashified' Series Adds King K. Rool to the Collection of Super Smash Bros. Speed Paintings
In a while, crocodile?
YouTuber Artsy Omni has added a new video to the 'Smashified' series (a series that takes our favourite and most-wanted characters for Smash Bros. DLC and recreates them in the game's art style), and this time the focus is on King K. Rool - a logical choice considering that the antagonist of the Donkey Kong series is arguably...
Monday4th May 2015
News Hacker Produces Region Free Exploit for Current New Nintendo 3DS System Version
New 'stability' update no doubt on the way
Though the DS days of mass hacking and playable ROMS through common R4 cards are a thing of the past - to the relief of developers and publishers - there are still those that mod the 3DS for niche purposes. Such has been Nintendo's aggressive approach to firmware updates to lock out exploits, any attempts...
News Nintendo of America Apologises for amiibo Shortages and Promises More Re-Stocks
"We understand how frustrating it can be at times"
We don't think any dedicated Nintendo fan would disagree that the company's had plenty of problems with stocking and distributing its amiibo range of toys. While there's an abundance of certain 'main' figures, some options sold-out at the pre-order stage and have never returned, while tales of...
Thursday30th Apr 2015
News Fire Emblem If Box Art Confirms amiibo Support and 15 Years and Up Age Rating
Now we just need to find Fire Emblem amiibo in stock...
Fire Emblem If is already shaping up to be one of the most intriguing entries in the popular series to date. Though it's not due in the West until 2016, it's raising eyebrows with its approach to two separate retail releases + DLC for its Summer release in Japan, which will be combined through...
Wednesday29th Apr 2015
News Bravely Second: End Layer Passes 100,000 Sales in Its Launch Week in Japan
Wii U has a small boost as 3DS remains static
There's some cheer for Square Enix and 3DS fans in the latest Media Create charts from Japan, with a fresh release sealing top-spot and six-figure sales. Despite that, there's still an overwhelming volume of new releases on Sony systems hogging the top 10. It's Bravely Second: End Layer that claims top...
Monday27th Apr 2015
Video Gawk at Streets of Rage 2 in 3D on Your New Nintendo 3DS
Grand Upper!
We may be waiting until the Summer for the next batch of 3D Classics from Sega in the West, but Japanese gamers can look forward to 3D Streets of Rage 2 this week, on 28th April; yes, we're jealous. The good news is that Sega's official YouTube channel has served up a taster of how the brilliant fighting game will look on Nintendo's...
Friday24th Apr 2015
"We hope to be able to do a better job of satisfying these needs"
The life of an amiibo collector isn't easy - getting some of the figures is simple enough, especially if you're not picky, but when it comes down to grabbing specific and less common toys the going gets rather tough. Pre-orders sell-out in minutes and can often be left unfulfilled,...
Wednesday22nd Apr 2015
News Girls Mode 3 Struts to Number One in Japan, Though Hardware Sales Stumble Again
Worth it for the Kirby bag
It's easy to be dismissive of Style Savvy / New Style Boutique, with its focus on fashion, designer coffees and neat apartments, but it's a rather fun and entertaining title on the 3DS. The release of the latest entry in Japan has given some life to the country's charts this week, too, though overall sales are still...