New Nintendo 3DS Arrives Sept. 25

In February, Nintendo released the New Nintendo 3DS XL with 3D face-tracking and faster performance, among other things, but the regular 3DS was left out. That changes on Sept. 25 with the launch of the New Nintendo 3DS.

The New Nintendo 3DS will be bundled with Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. For $219.99, gamers can pick up the portable console, the upcoming Animal Crossing title, two cover plates, and one amiibo card.

A special Hyrule Edition of the New Nintendo 3DS XL, meanwhile, launches exclusively at GameStop on Oct. 30 for $199.99. Just in time for The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (out Oct. 23), the gold-colored system features an intricate Hylian Crest on the front.

"More than 15 million systems in the Nintendo 3DS family have been sold in the U.S. alone," Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing, said in a statement. "These new models offer additional fun ways to experience some of the great upcoming Nintendo 3DS games launching in the next few months."

The New Nintendo 3DS incorporates the same features as its larger sibling, including a wider range of controls, face-tracking 3D, and built-in NFC functionality for communicating with amiibo figurines. Simply tap compatible amiibo cards while playing Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer to meet characters and learn more about their personalities.

If you have older versions of the portable consoles, you can still use the cards via the $19.99 Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory, also available on Sept. 25.

:story: PC Magazine