Game Informer: New Nintendo 3DS XL Review

GI

Nearly four years after the launch of the original 3DS in North America, the system’s 3D imagery finally works as intended. Most players gave the original 3D effect a try, experienced blurred visuals as soon as they unintentionally twisted the screen out of the narrow viewing sweet spot, got a headache, and turned it off forever. The so-called “New Nintendo 3DS XL” adds an infrared LED sensor that tracks your face, which enables the sweet spot to follow your eyes as you twist and turn the device in most reasonable angles. I tried several games and found the 3D to work well for long spans of time without fatigue, adding a fun twist to new and classic titles alike.

[Jdoki]

It's pretty clear the New 3DS is the last iteration of the 3DS before Nintendo move on to something new.

But it is a solid device and really what the original 3DS should have been.

Sure the pixel density is atrocious, but games still look good. The 3D improvements are not trivial - I have gone from never using 3D on my old 3DS to using it all the time on the New 3DS.

[IrisHeart]

But how soon can we expect the actual next thing by Nintendo? 6 months? A year?

[Jdoki]

That's the million dollar question... :)

The time between 3DS XL and New 3DS XL release was something like 4 years I think.

I don't think Nintendo will wait that long before introducing their next gen handheld. Maybe 2 years is my hugely speculative assumption.

Nintendo have often stated they have a '3 pillar' model for handhelds, so I don't expect the 3DS to disappear any time soon, and will certainly live on for a few years after the next-gen hardware launches.

[desolationstorm]

Original 3DS came out in March 2011. XL came out about year and half later. As for when there will be a new system I'd wager this one will make it through the next holiday season.

[3-4-5]

Irisheart - Please pay attention to history and don't just make things up.

If you honestly feel we get the new Nintendo handheld 6 months from now....well your not achieving the intelligence level you potentially could.

* 2016 = E3 reveal of next Handheld.

* 2017 = Release of Nintendo handheld & E3 showing of new Nintendo console.

* 2018 = New Nintendo console release.

[IrisHeart]

It was about 2 years if you count the release in Japan actually...I mean I can wait since I bought a 3DS like 3 times over. lol. That and the new 3ds will most likely play the 3DS games it is pretty much tradition.

[Neonridr]

So excited to pick up my Majora's Mask XL tomorrow.

Looking forward to picking up Xenoblade when it drops since I missed it the first time around on the Wii (and I am not paying those ridiculous prices to track down a copy).

[RosweeSon]

Got my Majora's mask edition console yesterday, it's already booked in for repair... Gutted ;( one screw came out no problem yet the left screw on the back will not just keeps getting to a certain point then clicking and won't go far enough to come out yet I can screw it back in tight again. At least it's going to get sorted they were just trying to give me a refund and I go without my Limited edition console, no I'll wait thanks.
What was even worse tho they were trying to tell me the back plate doesn't come off on the New XL (how else am I meant to put my micro SD card in? Haha) they then tried to tell me it was a little flap on the side... Yeah on the older XL's after a bit of retraining by myself he was soon up to speed, why would the new stylus be built to get the back plate off if you weren't meant to do it.

[towelie1288]

i am seriously considering getting one
more games i am interested in playing than a vita but just not sold on it all together yet

Currently dont have a handheld and havent had one in awhile

[desolationstorm]

I put off upgrading to 3DSXL because it didn't have the c-stick. I am excited to upgrade but it really comes down to the MM 3DS. Should GS actually fulfill my order then I am upgrading.