A Third DS from Nintendo by 2007

The DS Lite hasn't even hit yet and already Nintendo is talking about a third variant.

The DS Lite doesn't even have a launch date outside of Japan yet and already Nintendo is talking about a third version of its popular handheld. In an interview with gadget site Engadget, Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime said DS owners can look forward to continuous tweaking of the handheld.

"Look at how many times we've improved on the Game Boy Advance in terms of the look, the feel, screen changes, and everything else," Fils-Aime said. "We believe that type of constant innovation is critical to driving this industry, and certainly if you look at the world wide sales of Game Boy Advance, I don't think anyone would disagree."

Nintendo has already confirmed that in the US it will phase out the current DS once the DS Lite arrives later this year. So far that follows the evolution of the Game Boy Advance, which saw its founding version disappear after the Game Boy Advance SP hit.

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This new version, possibly here by the end of 2007, could add to the DS line, much as the Game Boy Micro has to its range, rather than outright replace the DS Lite.

For now, though, all eyes are on the soon-to-be-released DS Lite. The handheld is slated for release in Japan on 3 March with North American and European releases coming later in the year.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games