Nintendo 3DS now in the red

New colour announced for 3D handheld

10 August 2011 17:01 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

Nintendo has ended up in the red thanks to the 3DS.

Nope, we're not talking bank balance slides due to poor sales, but rather a fetching new shade for the 3D handheld console - Flame Red.

We use capitals for that colour description because that is the official description - to side along with the two current models; Cosmo Black and Aqua Blue. (Who thinks up these colour names? What's wrong with a simple black, red and blue?)

Nintendo will, no doubt, be hoping that the new design can help kick-start the stuttering fortunes of the 3DS. After a strong launch period (113,000 machines sold in its opening weekend, making it the company's most successfully ever UK console launch), the interest seems to have waned, leading to Nintendo announcing a dramatic price cut earlier this month.

The good news for Nintendo is that Sony seems to have delayed the global launch of the PlayStation Vita until 2012, giving it a clear shot at the Christmas period and a big opportunity to get some new handheld gamers onboard.

The red Nintendo 3DS is set for a 9 September launch, a month or so after the price-reductions kick in. Nintendo has also said that it will launch Star Fox 64 3D at the same time as the Flame Red console.

Full tags

Gaming, Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS, 3DS, Handhelds, 3DTV, 3D