Nintendo Confirms Bigger-Screen DSi For U.S., Japan, Europe

Nintendo confirmed earlier reports of a larger-screened DSi at a Tokyo press event today, where it unveiled the DSi LL, a version of its portable hardware featuring a 4.2 inch screen. The screen area is 93 percent greater than that of the DS Lite, although with the same number of pixels, reports consumer weblog Kotaku. According to the report, the DSi LL was a response to customer requests for greater screen area, and is aimed at customers who want to use the portable for internet and music. Debuting on November 21st in Japan, priced at ¥20,000 ($220) and available in three colors (Dark Brown, Wine Red and Natural White), the DSi LL will come pre-bundled with three DSiWare titles (two brain trainers and a dictionary). This places its price a little bit higher than the existing DSi, which retails in Japan for ¥18,900. The larger-screen model will be sold alongside the DSi and not as a replacement. The company confirmed to consumer site VG247 that the hardware would launch in Europe in the first quarter of next year as the DSI XL, where its price would be higher than the DSi, although its anticipated retail price was not announced. Nintendo of America reps were not available to confirm a larger-screened DSi for the U.S. as of press time. Nintendo announced today its first profit decline in six years, and slowing hardware sales may have spurred a new edition of the company's handheld. Nintendo has historically found success using hardware revisions to motivate sales. [UPDATE: Nintendo of America confirmed with Gamasutra that a DSi model with larger screens will hit U.S. shores early next year. Nintendo stated: "A new iteration of the Nintendo DSi system will be introduced in Japan on November 21, 2009. To be known as Nintendo DSi LL in Japan, and as Nintendo DSi XL in North America and Europe, it will offer a screen 93 percent larger than the current Nintendo DS Lite with a better view angle, an additional longer touch screen stylus, and preinstalled Nintendo DSiWare™ software." The statement added, "The new version will arrive in North America and Europe in the first quarter of calendar year 2010."]