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Yesterday we published an editorial chewing over some of the figures and implications of Nintendo's financial reports, with a headline point related to Nintendo's continuing confidence in the 3DS. Estimating six million hardware sales for the portable and a whopping 40 million software sales, we tried to consider how the company would do this. We wrote about the rumoured Pokémon Stars perhaps being on 3DS as well as Switch, a potential New 3DS price drop, and generally considered what Nintendo would have up its sleeve to chase those targets.

We did not say the following - "you know what Nintendo could do? A clamshell New 2DS as a new product".

Yet here we are.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL is a fascinating move by Nintendo, and one that seemed to be met with some bafflement online. Yet it's not entirely illogical - at $149.99 in the US it'll be cheaper than a New 3DS XL, and it gives a new clamshell design for those on the fence that haven't yet picked up a 3DS or are yet to upgrade to the 'New' series. It offers up all the benefits of the updated range outside of the super-stable 3D screen - the improved CPU for UI performance and a handful of games, the C-Stick and integrated amiibo scanning. In theory there's a market out there for it.

In this writer's view it looks slick and is an idea with its merits, but there are questions too. In releasing another variation Nintendo is backing the 3DS, surely, into 2018. Does that detract from Switch, or do they happily co-exist? Is this all build-up to a true 3DS successor, or is the hybrid Switch still going to eventually occupy both the portable and home console space? Is this a sign that Nintendo will maintain an affordable portable range and pitch the Switch as a 'premium' offering? In trying to figure out Nintendo's long game from the outside, the 2DS XL is a colourful spanner in the works.

It's intriguing, in any case, and we want to know what you think. You can be sure that we'll be banging out about it in some editorial content, but we're keen to see where the NL community stands. Sound off in the polls and comments below.

How surprised were you by the New 2DS XL reveal?
What do you think of the New 2DS XL design?
Do you think the New 2DS XL will be a success?
Do you think the New 2DS XL will have any impact on Switch?
Do you think you'll buy a New 2DS XL?