Nintendo has announced a new handheld console that takes the 3D out of the 3DS. The Nintendo 2DS arrives on 12 October and will allow users to play 3DS games in the classic two dimensions.
The new portable games console features a new take on the 3DS design, opting for a flattened slate-like format instead of the hinged clam shell used for its predecessor. A
All 3DS titles will be playable on the 2DS, as well as over 2,000 DS games.
Overall, the device is like a steamrolled 3DS, with the same dual screens, touchscreen controls and wireless connectivity for multiplayer gaming and purchases through the Nintendo eShop.
It also features two cameras that can snap photos and record video, which can be viewed in 3D on the 3DS.
The Nintendo 2DS hits North America on 12 October – the same date that Pokémon X and Pokémon Y will be released – at a price point of US$129.99.
The idea behind the 2DS is not for Nintendo to turn its back on 3D gaming. The real goal is telling in its price.
“We just wanted to continue growing the installed base and needed to find a way to get to a price point that was more accessible for a broad swath of consumers,” Nintendo marketing executive Scott Moffitt told GameSpot.