UPDATE: Core Group, the official distributor for Nintendo in South Africa, has confirmed that the 2DS will be available locally on the 12th of October. A price, however, hasn’t been announced.
Nintendo yesterday announced its newest handheld console, a revised, cheaper version of the 3DS, now called the 2DS.
The 2DS does away with the folding form factor of the 3DS. Nintendo’s given the 2DS a wedge-shaped tablet form factor, while still retaining two screens. However, unlock the folding console’s two separate displays, the 2DS has a single, large LCD, with unused parts of the display masked off by the console’s housing. As a result, the 2DS also lacks 3D capabilities, but it’s all part of giving the new handheld a budget price: American consumers will pay just $129 (around R1 300) for the 2DS. That’s a whack cheaper than the 3DS and 3DS XL, which retail for $180 and $210, respectively. Local pricing is R1 999 and R2 399, respectively.
With that low price, fewer moving parts, and no 3D, it’s likely to bring Nintendo back into play for parents who want to get their kids a portable console without breaking the budget.
Nintendo South Africa says it is waiting to confirm the availability of the 2DS in South Africa. We will update accordingly once more information is available.
