Rumor: DSi to launch in April?

[Nekusagi]

http://kotaku.com/5130779/report-nintendo-dsi-gets-priced-dated-for-us-launch

The next Nintendo DS, dubbed the DSi, is rumored to be launched in the United States in April of this year, according to a report from IGN which cites "multiple sources close to Nintendo."

According to the report, the follow up to the tremendously successful Nintendo DS Lite will land on U.S. shores on April 4 and for a premium price of $179.99. That's $50 more than the cost of the current model.

With the Nintendo DS Lite still selling at an impressive rate in the United States — it moved over 1.5 million units in November — Nintendo may want to keep the price higher in an attempt to prevent cannibalization of its still popular handheld, as it doesn't consider the new model a replacement for the old.

The DSi, which was announced in October 2008 and launched a month later in Japan, features larger display screens, dual 0.3 megapixel digital cameras, SD card support and internal storage.

IGN's independent sources don't appear to have revealed any details on the U.S. launch of the DSi Ware service, which kicked off in Japan at the end of 2008.

Can't say I saw THIS coming.

 

[The Outrage]

I can always look at it this way: It's only thirty dollars more than I payed for my DS, and I can finally get on wifi!

 

[Jeff]

I'm not surprised. April is certainly "well into 2009". Also, the DSi has already been confirmed for "spring 2009" for Europe, and considering the US gets everything before Europe, this makes sense. Europe will probably get it in May.

 

[Nekusagi]

"Well into" usually means after the fourth month.

I expected Q3 or 4 (fall/winter), possibly for a Christmas release, not APRIL.

 

[Board]

I'm not surprised. April is certainly "well into 2009". Also, the DSi has already been confirmed for "spring 2009" for Europe, and considering the US gets everything before Europe, this makes sense. Europe will probably get it in May.

North America doesn't get 'everything' before Europe, you guys got Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon before us (you got it on December 21st, we have to wait until mid February).

Just saying.

Judging from what I heard, April sounds plausible.

 

[Jeff]

Christmas would have been way too late. If Nintendo intended to release in late 2009, they would have said "late 2009".

"Well into" could mean anything. I think NOA intentionally used the ambiguous release window to not cannibalize DS Lite sales over Christmas. People continued to buy a Lite because they had no clue when the DSi would come out.

Edit: When I said "everything" I meant in general. I know we don't really get everything before Europe, just most of the time, particularly for hardware releases.

 

[AJW12777]

Hmmm....I don't know if I want to get one, though......