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But for the foreseeable future, the Big N is focusing on the 3DS XL
During a recent shareholders Q&A session, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata answered questions regarding possible future variations of the 3DS hardware. Iwata first explained that a variety of factors play a role in the decision to manufacture a new model of hardware. Concerns include whether consumers will be receptive to an increased price in exchange for new features and that too many options could prove overwhelming for customers to choose between.
Iwata elaborated, adding that the company must also take into consideration the falling value of the yen (which greatly affects export profitability). Producing mass quantities of one or two models of hardware is also cheaper than producing smaller quantities of multiple variations. “As such, we can’t afford to deploy so many model variations in our business,” Iwata said.
But what about the 3DS XL, the new model which is set to release stateside on August 19? Iwata stated that the XL was developed due to many requests from customers for the system to have larger screens, as well as the fact that “when we introduced a larger screen version of the Nintendo DSi in the past, it was very much appreciated by consumers, and the Nintendo DS market expanded.”
Even though Iwata asserts “we don’t have any concrete plans to develop another value-added model at this point,” he certainly isn't counting the idea out. While Nintendo is clearly planning to focus on the release of the 3DS XL for the foreseeable future, another 3DS variation down the line is still very much a possibility. “Looking at a longer range of the future, we won’t deny the possibility,” Iwata said.
During a recent shareholders Q&A session, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata answered questions regarding possible future variations of the 3DS hardware. Iwata first explained that a variety of factors play a role in the decision to manufacture a new model of hardware. Concerns include whether consumers will be receptive to an increased price in exchange for new features and that too many options could prove overwhelming for customers to choose between.
Iwata elaborated, adding that the company must also take into consideration the falling value of the yen (which greatly affects export profitability). Producing mass quantities of one or two models of hardware is also cheaper than producing smaller quantities of multiple variations. “As such, we can’t afford to deploy so many model variations in our business,” Iwata said.
But what about the 3DS XL, the new model which is set to release stateside on August 19? Iwata stated that the XL was developed due to many requests from customers for the system to have larger screens, as well as the fact that “when we introduced a larger screen version of the Nintendo DSi in the past, it was very much appreciated by consumers, and the Nintendo DS market expanded.”
Even though Iwata asserts “we don’t have any concrete plans to develop another value-added model at this point,” he certainly isn't counting the idea out. While Nintendo is clearly planning to focus on the release of the 3DS XL for the foreseeable future, another 3DS variation down the line is still very much a possibility. “Looking at a longer range of the future, we won’t deny the possibility,” Iwata said.