Nintendo Announce 2DS

This is the sort of headline I’d feel more comfortable writing if it was April 1st, but there you are. Nintendo have announced a brand new handheld: the 2DS. The 2DS is a 3DS without the 3D support and with a few physical changes (such as being in a single unit, as opposed to two hinged sides).

The 2DS doesn’t look as nice as the 3DS, but as a gift for children, I can definitely see the plus side. There no way you can break it in half, no 3D support (if you dislike your kids seeing that sort of thing) and it’ll probably be available at sub-£100 by Christmas.

The 2DS is fully compatible with the entire 3DS library, and even plays games from the original DS as well. For somebody who has never owned a DS before, this is the perfect time to jump in.

As a response to the Vita price reduction announced last week, I’m not sure Sony could have seen this coming. Nintendo have wrecked the Vita as a Christmas handheld must-have in a single swoop. Many core gamers may be confused by the move, and I certainly won’t be trading in my 3DS for a 2DS, but it’s very clever on Nintendo’s part.

Speaking with Kotaku, Reggie Fils-Aimes explained why the 2DS hits all the right spots:

“We expect consumers to use it just the way they use a current 3DS,” said Fils-Aime. “And, really, from a target standpoint, this is designed for that entry-level gamer. For a family of four with two kids, when you’re looking at spending either $169.99 or $199.99 for two this holiday, now you’ve got a more affordable choice with Nintendo 2DS.”

The Nintendo 2DS will be released on October 12th. It’s available to pre-order from GAME now.