News
Analyst: New thinner DS is ready to go
Ben Parfitt Nov 15 2007, 12:07pm
Comments (4)
Claims that Nintendo is preparing to unleash a third version of its portable global hit
Speaking to GameSpot, Pacific Crest Securities analyst Evan Wilson has claimed that Nintendo has completed work on a second revision to its DS hardware, but that it is holding off on the launch until DS sales show signs of slowing.
"Our contacts indicate that a refreshed DS is complete,” Wilson stated. "It is thinner, has no Game Boy Advance port, has on-board storage and larger screens. However, we do not expect a revamped Wii or DS until sales begin to tail off in all three major geographies."
With DS continuing to boss the market in many territories over the world, however, it could be some time before Nintendo decides the machine needs an extra boost.
Comments
“So that means never...”
Posted by: Ryu Hyabusa - Nov 15, 12:18pm
The DS Lite is already a sweet little handheld that imo is more fun than the PSP.
It constantly sells bucket loads in Japan and considering a country of its size one must ask 'What on earth do they do to their DS Lites??' because they keep buying and buying.
In all other countries it continues to sell pretty well so I dont expect a new one until a very long time.
“Re: So that means never...”
Posted by: MrJolly - Nov 15, 3:42pm
Considering you get a new revision of hardware every 18-24 months with Nintendo to further mine the fanbase I'll be suprised if ones not here for next easter.
“Re: So that means never...”
Posted by: Reythor - Nov 15, 4:48pm
Mr Jolly, this is hardly something unique to Nintendo! How many incarnations of the PS3 and Xbox360 have we seen already, and how many more to come?
I welcome Nintendo's efforts to further improve the DS and I'm intrigued as to what the onboard memory will be used for. Removing the GBA compatibility is something of a shame, though I've rarely used that feature myself.
“Re: So that means never...”
Posted by: Rikki - Nov 15, 5:39pm
The incarnations of PS3 and 360 have all been the same machine just with different appendages to target different markets. The point is that Nintendo release a significantly different style of the same handheld, which previous owners then buy in shed loads because they feel they should get the new style one.
Examples:
Game Boy -> Game Boy Pocket -> Game Boy Color (ok slight difference here, but not significant)
GB Advance -> GB Advance SP -> GBA Micro
DS -> DS Lite -> DSv3
The only equivalent strategy is Sony's release of PSone and PStwo, which only tends to occur once per console lifecycle (though there was recent talk of another PStwo), and as far as I remember, only the PStwo had significant take up amongst existing PS2 owners.