Nintendo DS: Ready for a successor?

Deathsythe | August 04, 2008 | News | DS Company Misc

Many analysts seem to think that the the DS is ready to step down and DS 2 (of some sort) should step into the limelight as soon as this year.

The DS certainly has enjoyed some good time on the market, but it is not nearly finished.

However, Nintendo could take a page out of Sony's book (read: PS2 and PS3), and launch a new system while still keeping the older one on the market and still with products in development.

"DS sales are solid worldwide, but are weak in Japan, leading us to expect an introduction of a new device in Japan before the end of the calendar year."

He said that Japanese DS demand will likely continue to decline. He adds, "We think that Nintendo has a new handheld device ready for launch in [Japan] before the end of the calendar year."

It's not the first time that analysts have said Nintendo has a DS follow-up ready to go. Months ago, Colin Sebastian with Lazard Capital Markets said the same.

News Story attached to:

Nintendo DS Hardware [DS]

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Comments

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Storm | August 04, 2008

Bah, only got my DS this year. I would like for Nintendo to continue supporting it even after a new handheld is released. I'd rather wait for the 'second version' of these handhelds, too, the better ones heh.

But wouldn't Nintendo wait to unveil something like this at say...E3 or something? Don't see this happening very soon in that case.
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Livewire_19 | August 04, 2008

I give the DS till November 09 or 10. But they probably will start releasing information sometime in the 1st or 2nd quarter of next year. And Nintendo is not going to stop riding the DS because look at the GBA there are still some new games coming out for it granted they suck bunches but that's the way Nintendo does things.
- 0 thumbs!
  Avalith | September 05, 2008
  
  Uh... New GBA games stopped being made in late 2006 to early 2007, though that is definitely a considerable lifespan for a handheld, even with the next generation being backwards compatible.
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kik36 | August 04, 2008

Ummmm isn't DS Lite the "DS 2". Personally I think Nintendo should just ride the wave for a little while longer.
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  MusiKon | August 04, 2008
  
  DS 2 would mean using a whole type of media and changing the hardware inside. DS Lite is more like the GBA SP and the Game Boy Pocket. Same mechanics, slight ergonomic upgrades.
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Akira_EX | August 04, 2008

It's too early for a new portable handheld. The DS is still going strong.
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  Big A2 | September 05, 2008
  
  I agree, it's been around for about 3 years. Way too early.
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Magimaster | August 04, 2008

Big hitters like Dragon Quest IX and Chrono Trigger haven't even arrived yet. I'd give it some time before they manage to milk the DS dry.

Also, it makes you wonder just what exactly they're going to do with the successor. Will they follow up with an improved touch-screen handheld or opt for something completely new? Either way, it's an extremely pivotal decision. They're stuck with the same issue about the Wii's successor.
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  kik36 | August 04, 2008
  
  I completely agree. They closed the gap too much, and are now being faced with trying to jump a much larger gap to impress the market. Personally I think they should stick with what works for the time being and let newer technologies present themselves.
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Zerpent | August 04, 2008

It's not so strange that the sales in Japan are going down. I mean, at the rate it has been selling for ages now, I wouldn't be surprised if just about everyone in Japan has got one by now.

I very much like my DS and I don't think it has reached its full potential yet, so I don't really see why another handheld should be released just yet.
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Ben1 | August 13, 2008

I'm really glad that the DSL takes the GBA games as I already have a few of them, it would really piss people off to have to spend tons of money on a new media format.
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Deathsythe | August 17, 2008

I wonder if they would make the new DS backwards compatible with regular DS cartridges. One can only hope.