Nintendo DSi XL Set for March Launch in U.S.

Share

The Nintendo DSi XL, the latest installment in the Japanese gaming company’s handheld range, has finally been granted a U.S. on-sale date and price tag, some four months after it went on sale in Japan under the name DSi LL.

Those hoping to grab the new device — which bucks the trend in the consumer electronics market with its larger-than-previous-model’s-dimensions — should note that it will launch on March 28 for $189.99, around $20 more than its current stablemate.

As well as offering a wider viewing angle (better for sharing), the screens of the Nintendo DSi XL are 93% larger than those of the Nintendo DS Lite, which Nintendo says will provide a “more vivid and engaging play experience” appealing to a wider demographic than the older gamers that the platform has attracted. The device comes in burgundy and bronze and includes a larger pen-like stylus offering a more “comfortable grip

The handheld will come with some Brain Age trial games pre-loaded, as well as the Nintendo DSi Browser and Flipnote Studio, a creative app that lets users make animations.

Other news from Nintendo sees Super Mario Galaxy 2, the sequel to the hit Wii game, launch on May 23, while the 100 Classic Books eBooks offering will go on sale in June for $20 — not exactly a bargain considering such copyright-free titles are available free online, but a price some may be willing to pay.