News Article

Japan to Receive Widescreen DSi

Posted Mon, 26 Oct 2009 by James Newton

A (very cheap) artist's impression.

A (very cheap) artist's impression.

Another variant of the console heading to Japan soon

Just as we were reporting on the possible development of an nVidia-powered DSi successor, Japanese website Nikkei has published a news story claiming Nintendo are ready to launch another variant of the console's current iteration, the DSi.

According to the report, the console will boast screens twice the size of its current version, rivalling the PSP-3000's widescreen format, allowing the display of higher resolution graphics and suchlike. Whether or not the machine will receive a boost in the quality of its cameras or size of storage space isn't mentioned, so we'd advise not holding your breath as you'd likely turn blue and die.

If Nikkei speak the truth, the machine will launch before the year's out and cost the same price as the bogstandard DSi, which would certainly be a welcome surprise. At the moment it's not certain whether the console will be released outside of Japan - or even inside it, as this is a story in Nikkei rather than an official announcement. However, they were one of the first news agencies to break the news of the DSi in the first place, so are usually pretty reliable when it comes to Nintendo news.

Thanks to everyone in our forums who picked up on this story.

Source: uk.ds.ign.com.

Tags: DS, Nikkei, DSi, Rumour.

User Comments

Devil_Hunter_Dante

1. Devil_Hunter_Dante United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:08 GMT

El neato

Starkiller

2. Starkiller Canada 26 Oct 2009, 21:09 GMT

I just hope it doesn't look anything like the picture!

SoulSilver IV

3. SoulSilver IV United Kingdom 26 Oct 2009, 21:09 GMT

A fourth DS? Come on Nintendo, you've beaten my wallet into submission as it is... :(

Prosody

4. Prosody United Kingdom 26 Oct 2009, 21:10 GMT

@Starkiller - you've hurt my feelings now :(

Terranigma

5. Terranigma United Kingdom 26 Oct 2009, 21:10 GMT

If bigger screens is all they're offering, then I have no interest in this

Chrono Cross

6. Chrono Cross United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:12 GMT

Cool.
Now if its like oh I don't know CHEAP!, maybe I'll get it.

Turkey Brutus

7. Turkey Brutus United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:12 GMT

Someone mentioned on the forums (WariosWoods maybe?) that a DSi VC was unlikely because the size of the current screens weren't conducive to a smooth ratio of enlargement.

Just something maybe to keep in mind...

That Guy from Faxanadu

8. That Guy from Faxanadu Sweden 26 Oct 2009, 21:13 GMT

Strange. Why would Nintendo want to introduce a screensize that´s not compatible with their current games? This DSi would cannibalize on their own DS market. Sure you could have black borders on the sides when playing regular games (os gasp stretch it) but that would look pretty bad. The bigger problem would be newly developed games that wouldn´t be compatible with the DSi console people bought this very year. I´m sceptical.

wanderlustwarrior

9. wanderlustwarrior United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:14 GMT

oh for the love of christ! get it right the first second or third time! I'm getting so tired of the upgrades, whether or not they're worth it

Prosody

10. Prosody United Kingdom 26 Oct 2009, 21:14 GMT

@chicken brutus - I spoke with a dev the other day who gave other (more complicated!) reasons why a DSi VC was unlikely. Something to do with the lower amount of memory on DSi vs. GBA games, which combined system RAM with the memory on the cartridges themselves. Something like that anyway. Wish I'd remembered as it would have been a great story.

Starkiller

11. Starkiller Canada 26 Oct 2009, 21:14 GMT

Oh, sorry Prosody :( I just want it to actually have buttons, I mean, how would I play that!?!?

Objection_Blaster

12. Objection_Blaster United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:17 GMT

I dont think this will work as just a new iteration. Its too drastic a change and who knows if existing games will be able to adapt to the ratio change. This is likely closer to what the DS's true sequel will be like,

Turkey Brutus

13. Turkey Brutus United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:19 GMT

"I spoke with a dev the other day who gave other (more complicated!) reasons why a DSi VC was unlikely."

James, why must you be the screen door on my submarine?

Odnetnin

14. Odnetnin United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:22 GMT

Day one buy if it looks anything like Pro's picture.

KoKoO_Psy

15. KoKoO_Psy Sweden 26 Oct 2009, 21:22 GMT

The 70s called, told me market saturation was a bad thing.

JakobG

16. JakobG Austria 26 Oct 2009, 21:26 GMT

My brother will get a DSi this Christmas, and since he broke my old one, he'll owe me one.
Which means super-widescreen handheld fun!

ReZon

17. ReZon United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:26 GMT

Yawn. I would be really surprised to see this released outside of Japan.

Seems kind of ridiculous to be honest.

warioswoods

18. warioswoods United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:28 GMT

@Chicken Brutus

I was indeed the one who brought up the resolution issue, particularly with regards to GB games, which would be oh-so-tiny on the DSi screen and wouldn't have any good ratio available for neat scaling. The separate issue mentioned by Prosody is an additional reason to doubt a GBA VC, but I never considered that a real possibility to begin with, to be honest, just GB / GBC.

I'm glad someone noted my objection, which has yet to be answered adequately in all subsequent posts regarding the DSi VC possibility. I simply don't see a way for the games to look decent on the DSi screens without being 1:1 on the pixel ratio, and therefore laughably tiny.

Turkey Brutus

19. Turkey Brutus United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:37 GMT

@warioswoods:
I've missed you in karaoke. I want to help you sing Hurt Feelings.

Nnooo

20. Nnooo Australia 26 Oct 2009, 21:38 GMT

I'd find it strange if they did this without making it the DSi 2. Changing the resolution is a pretty big step particularly 4:3 to 16:9. While GBA games may look fine on it current DS and DSi games would be bordered....

Stuffgamer1

21. Stuffgamer1 United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:38 GMT

I'd say this would need to be the next system outright, with PSP-quality graphics and whatnot. But I don't see how it could be with the low price they're predicting. GameSpot also has this to say, having been talking about the potential issue with DSiWare games not being transferrable:

"One reason for the restricted rights is Nintendo's ongoing battle against DS piracy. According to Nikkei, the new DSi will have improved anti-piracy features which will be beefed up in hack-prone territories such as China and South Korea."

Who wants to hope against hope the new measures will involve gasp an online USER PROFILE? It'd be nice, wouldn't it?

I'd be fine with ridiculously tiny Gameboy game displays on my DSi, though I understand that most people would not. I didn't know that simply doubling the picture wouldn't fit into the DSi screens, though. Aren't they big enough to do that?

V8 Ninja

22. V8 Ninja United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:40 GMT

This is nice, Nintendo, but where is the new console? I mean, but wouldn't it be better for you to wait until you've got your new console ready to add wide-screen? I guess I just don't get you, Nintendo, I guess I just don't...

MarkyVigoroth

23. MarkyVigoroth Puerto Rico 26 Oct 2009, 21:40 GMT

get a nosebleed like Aerith (http://allymcbeal18.deviantart.com/art/AERITH-third-death-15884791)
Mamma mia... not again...

Prosody

24. Prosody United Kingdom 26 Oct 2009, 21:41 GMT

@Chicken Brutus - "I spoke with a dev the other day who gave other (more complicated!) reasons why a DSi VC was unlikely."
James, why must you be the screen door on my submarine?

Phil, I have no idea what that means but I think the right response is - "you're welcome."

Tony

25. Tony United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:42 GMT

This just really seems like they are flooding the market. Enough is enough

Nnooo

26. Nnooo Australia 26 Oct 2009, 21:43 GMT

Also GBA games are 240 x 160 where as DS games are 256 x 192 so it would not be that bad to have them running at 1:1. The DS does that anyway when you play GBA games via the cart slot. If you upscaled GB games by 1.3 you would scale them from 160x144 to 208 x 187 (personally I think Nintendo would just output them at 1:1 and leave them bordered).

Stuffgamer1

27. Stuffgamer1 United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:46 GMT

@Prosody: Rain on his parade, be the party pooper...that kind of stuff. Just think about what would happen if a submarine had a screen door...it would SINK, and not in the good way.:P

Does everyone realize that they CAN'T just go around fiddling with the screen size without planning to make games especially for it? A quarter inch is one thing, but if they add another inch or more, it could really screw up playability with the touch screen. So yes, regular DS games would HAVE to be bordered on this unit, which means it would HAVE to be designed to be the next system entirely.

zemulii

28. zemulii New Zealand 26 Oct 2009, 21:49 GMT

Made a little size comparison:

http://i33.tinypic.com/34fimiq.jpg

Personally I don't think that looks too small. It is a handheld after all.

Just add a simple border or something to tidy it up.

cheetahman91

29. cheetahman91 United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:49 GMT

Nintendo is turning into Apple with all these DS upgrades happening so quick.

warioswoods

30. warioswoods United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:50 GMT

@Chicken

No one said a word about my casserole. :(

I'll be there next time, if Hurt Feelings is / are involved.

Koto

31. Koto United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:55 GMT

i have a feeling that it may end up as big and bulky as the PSP

warioswoods

32. warioswoods United States 26 Oct 2009, 21:55 GMT

@zemulii

I've played GB games on an emulator on a DS Lite before, and that was certainly bearable, but I wonder how marketable it is to an average consumer, when they download a game that uses just over half of one of the DSi screens, producing a picture considerably smaller than on the original GB due to the higher pixel density. And, unfortunately, the average consumer drives sales, so they won't implement a service if it would disappoint the less retro-obsessed masses.

b_willers

33. b_willers United Kingdom 26 Oct 2009, 21:56 GMT

The DS has a low enough resolution as it is, start stretching the current images any more and it will look a mess.

Chibi Link

34. Chibi Link Australia 26 Oct 2009, 21:59 GMT

I can say one thing for certain - I will not be buying this thing. Nintendo would be stupid to expect people to buy another new DSi only a few months after the DSi was released. Plus, they don't let you transfer DSiWare...

zemulii

35. zemulii New Zealand 26 Oct 2009, 22:01 GMT

Heh well I guess that's a point, people are spoilt these days!

"Back in my day son, we played on screens THIS small!"

I suppose not everyone will be as tolerant as us.

Oh, and as for the actual article... don't like it if it's true. Sounds like it would be huge :S, and I just can't imagine who they're aiming it at. What's the point if supposedly in the next couple of years they're going to be coming out with a true successor?

Egg miester

36. Egg miester United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:14 GMT

this is pointless it have oh most no effect

Dicesukeinuzuka

37. Dicesukeinuzuka United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:18 GMT

on Kotaku it said the screens will be 4 inch and it was meant for older people who like all of there things bigger and stuff.

SanderEvers

38. SanderEvers Netherlands 26 Oct 2009, 22:18 GMT

Yeah.. not published by Nintendo then it's not true.

Stuffgamer1

39. Stuffgamer1 United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:26 GMT

@SanderEvers: Does not follow. If you said "not published by Nintendo, it's not GUARANTEED true," I'd agree. Remember, the article says that the same guys who leaked this info were the first to let loose about the DSi. It COULD be true. We'll just have to wait and see.

SanderEvers

40. SanderEvers Netherlands 26 Oct 2009, 22:33 GMT

Nah it's not.

I refuse to believe anything until Nintendo publishes / leaks or releases it. Also, it wouldn't make any sense hence the DSi was released THIS year. Why would they go through the trouble of making another one in less than a year. In these economic times. No, not gonna happen. (This year meaning in less than 365 days)

jangonov

41. jangonov United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:35 GMT

And thus I start saving now. Even if it isnt true- at least Ill have game money right?

BB Thrilla

42. BB Thrilla United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:37 GMT

stupid! i bought a DSi and now this is coming! ah well ill skip this like i did with the light!

Stuffgamer1

43. Stuffgamer1 United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:39 GMT

Technically, the year is almost up in Japan, where the DSi launched in November 2008.:P

Anyway, I'm not saying you have to outright BELIEVE it...I don't, really. I just tend to advise against completely discounting this kind of rumor, especially if it's from a source with a positive track record.

SanderEvers

44. SanderEvers Netherlands 26 Oct 2009, 22:42 GMT

"especially if it's from a source with a positive track record."

It's from IGN... need I say more?

Sylverstone

45. Sylverstone United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:46 GMT

lol at the pic

Some cheap artist right there :)

But why Nintendo? Work on the next big thing!

Stuffgamer1

46. Stuffgamer1 United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:48 GMT

Ahem..."Japanese website Nikkei has published a news story..." THAT'S the source I was referring to, not IGN. Why they have a track record: "However, they were one of the first news agencies to break the news of the DSi in the first place, so are usually pretty reliable when it comes to Nintendo news." Both quotes taken from this very article.

Radixxs

47. Radixxs United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:49 GMT

@Dicesukeinuzuka Because it is targeted towards the visually impaired, it is highly unlikely for Nintendo to upgrade the resolution. I really see nothing to worry about, its just a version of the DSi with larger screens which will probably boast stretched and somewhat large/pixelated graphics for the older folk.

briunj04

48. briunj04 United States 26 Oct 2009, 22:50 GMT

yeah! im glad i left out on the dsi. i dont know if i can get this, but maybe with some extra bday cash...

SanderEvers

49. SanderEvers Netherlands 26 Oct 2009, 22:52 GMT

Source: uk.ds.ign.com.

protozone.quadrant

50. protozone.quadrant United States 26 Oct 2009, 23:05 GMT

I compared gba sp and dsi screen differences, and they were about the same. screen sizes won't be too much of a problem.

harusame

51. harusame Finland 26 Oct 2009, 23:06 GMT

The IGN article doesn't say anything about a 16:9 screen, only that the screen will be larger than in the current DSi (the resolution probably won't change). It's still a weird move by Nintendo but not quite as stupid as a widescreen DSi would be.

lockd

52. lockd Canada 26 Oct 2009, 23:19 GMT

ummmm.....wow....

Xkhaoz

53. Xkhaoz United States 26 Oct 2009, 23:27 GMT

Oh, come on! Don't release it, just make it a pheriphial. They could out with a new app. It sends a communtication at the screens could clip onto the DSi.

Corbie

54. Corbie United States 26 Oct 2009, 23:35 GMT

And people said the PSPgo was a stupid idea. Sheesh.

Stuffgamer1

55. Stuffgamer1 United States 26 Oct 2009, 23:38 GMT

@SanderEvers: Yeah, but they didn't originate the news, Nikkei did. NLife just listed them as the source because it was easier than retranslating the original source ourselves (assuming we have anybody who COULD do that). The IGN article cites Nikkei as its source, therefore they are the original source of the news.

Turkey Brutus

56. Turkey Brutus United States 26 Oct 2009, 23:38 GMT

@Corbie:
Quiet, you. :P

colmtheperson

57. colmtheperson Ireland 26 Oct 2009, 23:59 GMT

If Bigger screens = Bigger console, and Price = High then Me = Not interested

Supermarioman

58. Supermarioman United States 26 Oct 2009, 23:59 GMT

High Five Corbie! But I think that this is too much!

Kid_A

59. Kid_A United States 27 Oct 2009, 00:16 GMT

What a pointless load of crap this is. I'm actually with Corbie on this one.(even if I think the PSPGo just as pointless ;) )

iphys

60. iphys Canada 27 Oct 2009, 00:33 GMT

I don't believe this for a second. Nintendo hasn't milked the current design for all it's worth yet.

MetalMario

61. MetalMario United States 27 Oct 2009, 00:41 GMT

Deja vu...

Ren

62. Ren United States 27 Oct 2009, 01:28 GMT

I don't buy it at all.
I can maybe see it just being a new handheld all togther, which is great news anyway.

pixelman

63. pixelman United States 27 Oct 2009, 01:42 GMT

I'll welcome the upgrade if it makes the buttons clicky again and fix the GD shoulder buttons. Gah, I'm so sick of this soft squishy crap.

fatlittlenick

64. fatlittlenick Australia 27 Oct 2009, 01:44 GMT

I doubt this is going to happen. I mean, isn't nintendo meant to be announcing a brand-new handheld system at the next E3? (please call it the Super DS) The original DS will be turning 5 on the 21st November this year (for america, at least), so a completely new handheld released next year would make enough sense, i guess. But not this 'widescreen' BS.

J-Man

65. J-Man United States 27 Oct 2009, 01:47 GMT

@ Corbie.....Sorry for pounding on the PSP Go. I know now that there could be worse handhelds.

ATRUEZELDAFAN

66. ATRUEZELDAFAN United States 27 Oct 2009, 02:09 GMT

I like my DS Lite. I would still have my DS Phat if my sister didnt break it. GBA>DsiWare

roro44

67. roro44 United States 27 Oct 2009, 02:18 GMT

"Twice the size." That does not mean widescreen. That sounds like they're doubling the same square to be "twice the size." Weird.

suburban_sensei

68. suburban_sensei United States 27 Oct 2009, 02:20 GMT

I am perfectly content with my normal DSi, thank you very much. :)

postmanX3

69. postmanX3 United States 27 Oct 2009, 02:30 GMT

O come on, I just bought a DSi.

I need to stop buying Nintendo consoles. I should have learned by now that they make more consoles than they do games. Ugh.

Cheezy

70. Cheezy United States 27 Oct 2009, 02:44 GMT

I hope it doesn't happen anytime soon...pathetic...

y2josh

71. y2josh United States 27 Oct 2009, 03:05 GMT

All the different physical makeovers they do to their handhelds and they haven't done anything to the Wii, except change its color.

Burn

72. Burn United States 27 Oct 2009, 03:46 GMT

Remember the magnifying-lense peripherals that came out in the 90's for the GameBoys? There's your solution.

WolfRamHeart

73. WolfRamHeart United States 27 Oct 2009, 03:46 GMT

I really hope that this story doesn't turn out to be true because I just bought my DSi. I will be pretty pissed at Nintendo if they plan on releasing another version of the DSi this soon.

Hardy83

74. Hardy83 Canada 27 Oct 2009, 03:53 GMT

This is rediculous.
If this is true, Nintendo is being really dumb.
Not only would this eat the first DSi's sales, but the first DSi was quite a letdown to begin with that most people would pass on this.
Considering there's no way to convert your DSiWare games over, what's the point really?
Unless it plays movies REAL music files, a wicked browser, better online shop, skyp and is basically the Iphone but not, then maybe it'll be good, but knowing Nintendo it'll be meh.

If this is true.

ballistikboy

75. ballistikboy United States 27 Oct 2009, 04:32 GMT

Nintendo... stop planning stuff and put more $$$$ into providing quality games, services and downloadable content for your already available and successful systems!!

y2josh

76. y2josh United States 27 Oct 2009, 04:48 GMT

Nintendo DSi sold worldwide: 6.68 million (as of June 30, 2009)

I think the big N's plans are to get all the money you can from a system then move on to a different version of that system as soon as you think it's possible.

StarDust

77. StarDust United States 27 Oct 2009, 04:59 GMT

"so we'd advise not holding your breath as you'd likely turn blue and die."

-Huurrrruuuummmmmmmmppfff

[stardust sucks in a deep breath...]

[waiting...]

[...]

[statrdust's face turns blue]

[...]

[stardust collapses onto the keyboard :P]

Raylax

78. Raylax United Kingdom 27 Oct 2009, 07:17 GMT

I have some serious doubts this is real, unless it's a completely new console rather than DS Version 4. A widescreen console with nothing that supports 16:9 other than the system menu and maybe a small number of launch titles isn't going to be an easy sell, even to the gadget-happy Japanese market.

invmat

79. invmat Netherlands 27 Oct 2009, 07:55 GMT

Well, I hate the original DSi. But this one needs a serious consideration.
If there's no news of a real DS successor by the time this is released in Europe, I'm going to buy this. Besides, my DSLite is a little bit broken, I can still play games.

JimLad

80. JimLad United Kingdom 27 Oct 2009, 10:11 GMT

Though this flooding of the market is pretty disgusting...
I can't help but want one :|
(bigger screens is the one thing I'd change on the DS, and I'm still on the Lite)

JustYourAverageBleh

81. JustYourAverageBleh Philippines 27 Oct 2009, 11:04 GMT

gosh, we need buttons.

Mama Luigi

82. Mama Luigi Norway 27 Oct 2009, 13:15 GMT

I thinks it's fake, i'm gonna get surprised if this isn't fake.

Angelic Lapras King

83. Angelic Lapras King United Kingdom 27 Oct 2009, 14:45 GMT

Really, is that necessary at this point Nintendo? Get back to work on the true successor. :P

motang

84. motang United States 27 Oct 2009, 15:38 GMT

Honestly don't see the point of this.

Mainstreamguy

85. Mainstreamguy Austria 27 Oct 2009, 17:14 GMT

i don't really believe this story

Crunc

86. Crunc United States 27 Oct 2009, 17:42 GMT

I want to know how we'd transfer our DSiWare to a new DSi. If we can't transfer I guess I won't be buying any enhanced DSi. They never should have released the DSi if they were going to release a significant update so soon after, and especially not if there is no way to transfer your points and games to a new one.

Sprace Bot

87. Sprace Bot Canada 27 Oct 2009, 18:21 GMT

Cool but lame. where are the controlls? but its probably fake so what ever.

ryanknight717

88. ryanknight717 United States 27 Oct 2009, 20:26 GMT

who cares about widescreen?

jaguarman

89. jaguarman Greece 28 Oct 2009, 10:28 GMT

we want ninty the DS2 and not another version of dsi :(

mjc0961

90. mjc0961 United States 28 Oct 2009, 12:27 GMT

"Yeah, but they didn't originate the news, Nikkei did. NLife just listed them as the source because it was easier than retranslating the original source ourselves (assuming we have anybody who COULD do that). The IGN article cites Nikkei as its source, therefore they are the original source of the news."

But considering how crap IGN is, it's quite possible they translated it incorrectly, or just plain made stuff up. Don't trust anything coming from IGN for a second unless you can back it up with a credible source, but since you need to do that anyway, might as well skip over IGN altogether.

SmaMan

91. SmaMan United States 28 Oct 2009, 18:22 GMT

Amen, mjc0961

So if they put this thing together like it is in the picture, they could pretty much just solder 2 iPhones together. That way they could take care of the two touch screen enhancement now as well!
And buttons? Psssh! Casual gamers don't care about buttons. Look how successful the iPhone is! (Please, please Nintendo, keep buttons on your handhelds!)

Mama Luigi

92. Mama Luigi Norway 29 Oct 2009, 14:00 GMT

Wow, it's actually true. :O
I'm surprised!

Leave A Comment

Please login to post a comment.