Nintendo Introduces New 3DS Color, Wii Bundle In Japan

Nintendo announced its first post-launch color variation for 3DS, Flare Red, for Japan -- as well as a new Wii bundle adding an extra WiiMotion Plus controller and a copy of Wii Sports Resort. The company initially showed off a red 3DS model in its promotional materials for the handheld last year, but it launched with only Cosmo Black and Aqua Blue variations in both Japan and the West. Nintendo will ship the Flare Red 3DS in Japan on July 14, the same day it will release Star Fox 64 3D in that region. The Star Fox remake is scheduled to release in North America on September 11, but there are no announced plans for the Flare Red 3DS in the States yet. The new Wii Hardware bundle launches on June 23 with two Wii MotionPlus controllers and Wii Sports Resort (the previous standard bundle included just one controller and no game), and will be available in both black and white, according to Andriasang. Both the Flare Red 3DS and new Wii bundle will remain at the same price -- ¥25,000 and ¥20,000 ($312, $249), respectively -- despite plateaued Wii sales and many consumers citing the 3DS' high cost as their primary reason for not buying the handheld.