Nintendo has today fired a miniature rocket at the gaming world with the announcement of its new portable game machine, the Nintendo 3DS.
The handheld device will be the successor to the Nintendo DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL, and will introduce a major new feature; 3D visuals without the need for 3D glasses.
Nintendo hasn't shed any details on how the handheld's 3D functionality will work, and instead states that further details will be shared at this year's E3 conference, beginning June 15th.
The surprise announcement comes via a simple Japanese press release, in which the company states that the Nintendo 3DS will be launched "during the fiscal year ending March 2011". Nintendo's entire statement reads:
"To Whom It May Concern:
Re: Launch of New Portable Game Machine
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Minami-ward of Kyoto-city, President Satoru Iwata) will launch "Nintendo 3DS" (temp) during the fiscal year ending March 2011, on which games can be enjoyed with 3D effects without the need for any special glasses.
"Nintendo 3DS" (temp) is going to be the new portable game machine to succeed "Nintendo DS series", whose cumulative consolidated sales from Nintendo amounted to 125million units as of the end of December 2009, and will include backward compatibility so that the software for Nintendo DS series, including the ones for Nintendo DSi, can also be enjoyed.
We are planning to announce additional details at E3 show, which is scheduled to be held from June 15, 2010 at Los Angeles in the U.S."
