New Nintendo 3DS debuts stateside in Animal Crossing Bundle; Zelda receives 3DS XL Hyrule Edition

Amid months of post-launch confusion as to why North America only received the New 3DS XL model, fans have been clamoring for access to the more compact New 3DS that European and Asian territories saw released simultaneously in their respective time. Nintendo initially said they were hoping to avoid market confusion, but eventually changed their tune with Reggie suggesting players keep an eye out for some special editions.

Well here they are; Nintendo announced this afternoon that two New 3DS bundles will be arriving this fall — one of which is exactly what people like yours truly have been secretly holding out for: the fabled regular New 3DS with all its removable plates in all their glory.

Just take a minute to absorb this artwork… this will literally be in our hands soon. I gotta go faint, one sec–

Huh? Oh wow, look at that! Ahem, back to business.

The New 3DS will releasing September 25th in an Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer bundle at $219.99, a solid choice considering the feverish popularity of Animal Crossing. It is not known what the availability of the bundle will be, nor where else it will be sold other than Gamestop, but considering that the announcement was made at the GameStop Manager Conference, availability beyond being able to pre-order at their website is questionable.

October 30th will see another Zelda-themed standalone New 3DS XL released as an official Gamestop exclusive: the Hyrule Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL. Retail will be $199.99, and just a week after the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes. Pre-order available here.

Full details in press release below:

Aug. 31, 2015 21:18 UTC
Nintendo Announces Two New Nintendo 3DS Systems Coming This Fall

Other GameStop Manager Conference Announcements Include amiibo Cards and Wii Remote Plus Controllers

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– At the GameStop Managers Conference in Las Vegas, Nintendo announced that the New Nintendo 3DS system will launch in the U.S. as part of a special bundle on Sept. 25. The bundle includes the new hand-held system, the upcoming Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer game, two cover plates and one amiibo card at a suggested retail price of $219.99. The more compact New Nintendo 3DS system joins New Nintendo 3DS XL, which has been available since Feb. 13.

On Sept. 25 the New Nintendo 3DS system will launch in the U.S. as part of a special bundle, which includes the new hand-held system, the upcoming Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer game, two cover plates and one amiibo card (Photo: Business Wire)

In addition, a Hyrule Edition New Nintendo 3DS XL system will launch exclusively in GameStop stores on Oct. 30 at a suggested retail price of $199.99, just in time for the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (sold separately) on Oct. 23. The system is gold-colored and features an intricate Hylian Crest on the front.

Other news revealed at the GameStop Conference included the debut of three new Wii Remote Plus controllers inspired by classic Mushroom Kingdom characters Bowser, Toad and Yoshi.

?More than 15 million systems in the Nintendo 3DS family have been sold in the U.S. alone,? said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America?s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. ?These new models offer additional fun ways to experience some of the great upcoming Nintendo 3DS games launching in the next few months.?

New Nintendo 3DS incorporates all the same enhanced features as the New Nintendo 3DS XL system, including a wider range of controls, face-tracking 3D and built-in NFC functionality that allows for communication with amiibo figures. The compact system also features interchangeable cover plates that can be easily swapped out to change the look of the device*. Two cover plates inspired by Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer are included in the bundle.

Various amiibo cards launch with the Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer game on Sept. 25. Tapping compatible amiibo cards while playing Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer is a way to meet favorite Animal Crossing characters with their separate personalities and design requests in the game. People who own the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL or Nintendo 2DS systems can still use the cards to enjoy Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer by purchasing the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The wireless accessory also launches on Sept. 25 and allows players to enjoy amiibo figures and cards on all other systems in the Nintendo 3DS family.

Joining previously released Wii Remote Plus controllers themed after Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach, three new controllers inspired by Bowser, Toad and Yoshi will launch exclusively at GameStop at a suggested retail price of $39.99 each. The Bowser and Toad controllers will launch alongside the Super Mario Maker game for the Wii U console on the 11th of September, while the Yoshi version will hop on the back of the Yoshi?s Woolly World launch on Oct. 16. Wii Remote Plus includes Wii MotionPlus technology, and works with all Wii and Wii U games that are compatible with Wii Remote controllers.

Bowser, the newest member of the Photos with Mario series of Nintendo eShop Cards, is coming this fall ? exclusively at GameStop. Customers can add $10 to their Nintendo eShop accounts and get the new Bowser AR card at no additional cost. With the Bowser AR card, players can use their Nintendo 3DS systems to play and pose with Bowser and other Mushroom Kingdom characters in the free Photos with Mario app.

For more information about New Nintendo 3DS, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/new-nintendo-3ds/.

Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.