Nintendo 3DS

portable 3D dual-screen handheld by Nintendo

The Nintendo 3DS (also called 3DS or N3DS) is a handheld video game console made by Nintendo which can display 3D effects without the need for any special glasses. It succeeded the Nintendo DS family. Like the Wii, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, and all the members of the Nintendo 3DS family, it has a Mii Maker application, letting the user create their own personal avatar, which some games use to replace the standard characters. It was released in Japan on February 26, 2011, on March 25, 2011 in Europe and the United Kingdom, on March 27, 2011 in the United States and Canada, and in Australia on March 31, 2011. The Nintendo 3DS lets the user play games in either 2D or 3D. A slider lets the player change the level of 3D in the game. The Nintendo 3DS also lets the user play most Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games, but only in 2D. Similar to the DSi and DSi XL, DS games that use the Game Boy Advance slot cannot be used. It comes with extra channels (some have to be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop), such as Nintendo Video, Nintendo Zone, and Swapnote. The system has a camera on the inside, and two on the outside. The outer cameras let the user both take pictures in 3D and shoot videos up to 10 minutes long in 3D.

Nintendo 3DS
An aqua blue original Nintendo 3DS in an open position
Also known as3DS (abbreviation) iQue 3DS (in China)
DeveloperNintendo Research & Engineering
ManufacturerNintendo, Foxconn
TypeHandheld game console
GenerationEighth generation
Release dateNintendo 3DS:
  • JP: February 26, 2011[2]
  • EU: March 25, 2011[1]
  • UK: March 25, 2011
  • NA: March 27, 2011[3]
  • CAN: March 27, 2011
  • NZ: March 31, 2011
  • IND: April 5, 2011
  • BRA: July 9, 2011
  • KOR: April 28, 2012
  • HK: September 28, 2012
  • CHN: September 28, 2012
  • ROC: September 28, 2012
Nintendo 3DS XL:
  • JP: July 28, 2012 (as Nintendo 3DS LL)
  • EU: July 28, 2012
  • UK: July 28, 2012
  • NA: August 19, 2012
  • CAN: August 19, 2012
  • AUS: August 23, 2012
  • NZ: August 23, 2012
  • BRA: September 3, 2012
  • HK: September 28, 2012
  • ROC: September 28, 2012
  • CHN: December 7, 2012 (as iQue DS XL)
Nintendo 2DS:
  • NA: October 12, 2013
  • EU: October 12, 2013
  • AUS: October 12, 2013
  • NZ: October 12, 2013
  • CAN: October 12, 2013
  • UK: October 12, 2013
  • CHN: October 19, 2013
  • ROC: December 7, 2013
  • JP: February 27, 2016
New Nintendo 3DS:
  • JP: October 11, 2014
  • HK: November 2014
  • AUS: November 21, 2014
  • NZ: November 21, 2014
  • EU: January 6, 2015 (Ambassador Edition)
    February 13, 2015 (Standard Release)
  • UK: February 13, 2015
  • KOR: September 10, 2015
  • NA: September 25, 2015
  • CAN: September 25, 2015
  • ROC: 2015
New Nintendo 3DS XL:
  • JP: October 11, 2014 (as New Nintendo 3DS LL)
  • HK: November 2014
  • AUS: November 21, 2014
  • NZ: November 21, 2014
  • NA: February 13, 2015
  • EU: February 13, 2015
  • CAN: February 13, 2015
  • UK: February 13, 2015
  • KOR: May 1, 2015
  • ROC: 2015
New Nintendo 2DS XL:
  • AUS: June 15, 2017
  • NZ: June 15, 2017
  • JP: July 13, 2017 (as New Nintendo 2DS LL)
  • KOR: July 13, 2017
  • NA: July 28, 2017
  • EU: July 28, 2017
  • CAN: July 28, 2017
  • UK: July 28, 2017
Lifespan2011-2020
Introductory price
  • 3DS: ¥25,000, US$249.99, A$349.95
  • 3DS XL: ¥18,900, US$199.99, A$349.95
  • 2DS: ¥12,999, A$149.95
  • New 3DS: ¥16,000, US$219.99, A$219.95
  • New 3DS XL: ¥18,800, US$199.99, A$219.95
  • New 2DS XL: US$129.99, A$219.95
DiscontinuedNintendo 3DS:
  • EU: February 10, 2015
Nintendo 3DS XL:
  • JP: February 10, 2015
  • EU: February 10, 2015
Nintendo 2DS:
  • NA: February 8, 2020
New Nintendo 3DS:
  • JP: July 14, 2017
  • EU: July 14, 2017
New Nintendo 3DS XL:
  • EU: December 30, 2017
  • JP: July 25, 2019
New Nintendo 2DS XL: September 2020
Units shippedAll models combined: 75.96 million (as of September 30, 2020)[5]
Media
Operating systemNintendo 3DS system software
CPU
Memory3DS: 128 MB FCRAM, 6 MB VRAM
New 3DS: 256 MB FCRAM, 16 MB VRAM (Fujitsu MB82M8080-07L FC-RAM)
Storage3DS and New 2DS XL: 2 GB Toshiba eMMC

2DS: 1 GB Toshiba eMMC

New 3DS: 4 GB Toshiba eMMC
Removable storage
  • 3DS: 2 GB SD card (included)
  • 3DS XL: 4 GB SDHC card (included)
  • New 3DS: 4 GB microSDHC card (included)
  • Cartridge save
Display
2 TN LCD screens
GraphicsDMP PICA200 @ 133 MHz
SoundStereo speakers (pseudo-surround), microphone
InputA/B/X/Y buttons, Circle Pad, L/R bumpers, D-pad, 3D depth slider, volume slider, wireless switch, power button
CameraOne user-facing and two forward-facing VGA cameras
Connectivity2.4 GHz 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Infrared
Power
  • Nintendo 3DS:
  • 1300 mAh, 3.7 V lithium-ion battery
  • Battery life
    • 3DS games: 3–5 hours
    • DS games: 5–8 hours
    • Sleep Mode: ≈ 3 days
  • Nintendo 3DS XL:
  • 1750 mAh, 3.7 V lithium-ion battery
  • Battery life
    • 3DS games: 3.5–6.5 hours
    • DS games: 7–10 hours
    • Sleep Mode: ≈ 3 days
  • Nintendo 2DS:
  • 300 mAh, 3.7 V lithium-ion battery
  • Battery life
    • 3DS games: 3.5–5.5 hours
    • DS games: 5–9 hours
    • Sleep Mode: ≈ 3 days
  • New Nintendo 3DS:
  • 1400 mAh, 3.7 V lithium-ion battery
  • Battery life
    • 3DS games: 3.5–6 hours
    • DS games: 6.5–10.5 hours
    • Sleep Mode: ≈ 3 days
  • New Nintendo 3DS XL:
  • 1750 mAh, 3.7 V lithium-ion battery
  • Battery life
    • 3DS games: 3.5–7 hours
    • DS games: 7–12 hours
    • Sleep Mode: ≈ 3 days
  • New Nintendo 2DS XL:
  • 1750 mAh, 3.7 V lithium-ion battery
  • Battery life
    • 3DS games: 3–5 hours
    • DS games: 5–8 hours
    • Sleep Mode: ≈ 3 days
Current firmware11.13.0-45, as of 3 December 2019; 4 years ago (2019-12-03)
Online services
Dimensions
Body
  • Nintendo 3DS:
    Width: 134 mm (5.3 in)
    Height: 74 mm (2.9 in)
    Depth: 21 mm (0.83 in)
    Nintendo 3DS XL:
    Width: 156 mm (6.1 in)
    Height: 93 mm (3.7 in)
    Depth: 22 mm (0.87 in)
    Nintendo 2DS:
    Width: 14.4 mm (0.57 in)
    Height: 12.7 mm (0.50 in)
    Depth: 2.03 mm (0.080 in)
    New Nintendo 3DS:
    Width: 142 mm (5.6 in)
    Height: 80.6 mm (3.17 in)
    Depth: 21.6 mm (0.85 in)
    New Nintendo 3DS XL:
    160 mm (6.3 in)
    Height: 93.5 mm (3.68 in)
    Depth: 21.5 mm (0.85 in)
    New Nintendo 2DS XL:
    6.4 mm (0.25 in)
    Height: 6.3 mm (0.25 in)
    Depth: 0.8 mm (0.031 in)
Mass
  • 3DS: 235 grams (8.3 oz)
  • 3DS XL: 336 grams (11.9 oz)
  • 2DS: 260 grams (9.2 oz)
  • New 3DS: 253 grams (8.9 oz)
  • New 3DS XL: 329 grams (11.6 oz)
  • 3DS XL: 260 grams (9.2 oz)
Best-selling gameMario Kart 7, 18.68 million units
(as of December 31, 2019)[6]
Backward
compatibility
Nintendo DS
Nintendo DSi
PredecessorNintendo DS (2004)
SuccessorN/A
Websitewww.nintendo.com/3ds

The Nintendo 3DS was first shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010.[7]

On July 28, 2011, Nintendo announced that they would cut the price of the 3DS to $170 on August 12. People who got it when it was at the higher price of $250 got 10 free Nintendo Entertainment System games, along with 10 free Game Boy Advance games from the Nintendo eShop.[8] NES games later became available to the public, but GBA games remained exclusive to ambassadors.

A bigger version, called the Nintendo 3DS XL, was shown to the public on June 21, 2012. Similar to the DSi XL, this version has screens much larger than the regular 3DS. It was released in Japan in July 2012 and August 2012 worldwide (along with New Super Mario Bros. 2), and currently costs $199.[9] A third version of the console, called the Nintendo 2DS, was announced on August 27, 2013 and released on October 12, 2013 worldwide and in Japan on February 27, 2016. This version does not have the 3D feature and is the first handheld since the Game Boy Micro not to have the clamshell design. Two newer upgraded versions were released, called the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL, similar to the DSi and DSi XL. Like the original 3DS, the New 3DS also has an XL variant. They were announced on August 28, 2014 and released in Japan on October 11, 2014, in Australia on November 21, 2014, and in Europe and North America on February 13, 2015. However, in North America, only the XL version was released at launch.[10] The standard-sized version was released only in special bundles on September 25, 2015. The sixth and latest model called the New Nintendo 2DS XL was announced on April 27, 2017 and released in June/July 2017. Like the Nintendo 2DS, it does not have the 3D feature, but retains the clamshell design and has the same features as the New 3DS and New 3DS XL.

In the first year, Nintendo 3DS sold 15 million units and Nintendo 3DS fans created 213.8 million Miis.[11]

The 3DS was discontinued in September 2020.

Games change

The Nintendo 3DS first launched in Japan with Pro Evolution Soccer 3DS, Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, Samurai Warriors: Chronicles, Bust-a-Move Universe, Nintendogs + Cats, Ridge Racer 3D, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D, and Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask. Titles for the North American and European launches of the 3DS are The Sims 3, Madden NFL 3DS, Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, Super Monkey Ball 3D, Asphalt 3D, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, and Steel Diver.

List of built-in applications change

  • Health and Safety Information
  • Nintendo 3DS Camera
  • Nintendo 3DS Sound
  • Mii Maker
  • StreetPass Mii Plaza
  • AR Games
  • Face Raiders
  • Activity Log
  • Nintendo 3DS Download Play
  • System Settings
  • Nintendo eShop (discontinued)
  • Nintendo Zone (discontinued)
  • Miiverse (discontinued)

Related pages change

References change

  1. "Supplementary Information about Earnings Release" (PDF). Nintendo. October 29, 2010. p. 9. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  2. Harris, Craig (September 28, 2010). "Nintendo Conference 2010 Details". IGN. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  3. Kaluszka, Aaron (January 19, 2011). "3DS North American Price, Date, Colors Set". Nintendo World Report.
  4. Daniel Vuckovic (February 8, 2011). "Nintendo 3DS launches in Australia on March 31st for $349". Vooks.net. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  5. "Dedicated Video Game Sales Units". Nintendo. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  6. "Top Selling Software Sales Units". Nintendo. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  7. Espineli, Matt (May 29, 2015). "A Visual History of the Nintendo 3DS". GameSpot. Retrieved 2020-09-02. Nintendo officially unveiled the Nintendo 3DS at E3 2010.
  8. Nintendo What's New 2011-7-28
  9. Nintendo 3DS XL Price and Release Date Revealed
  10. https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-New-3DS-XL-Black/dp/B00S1LRX3W/ref=dp_ob_title_vg?th=1
  11. Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition (2013 ed.). Craig Glenday. 2012. pp. 28-29. ISBN 9781904994947.