Nintendo 3DS XL Announced, Coming to North America in August

Remember that Nintendo 3DS XL that we thought wasn’t happening? Well, it is happening.

On Friday, Nintendo announced that an updated version of its handheld, the 3DS XL, will be making its way to North America on August 19. In Europe the Nintendo 3DS XL will be released on July 28, and Japan gets it on the same day, but under a different name: the Nintendo 3DS LL.

As you’d no doubt be able to divine from the name, what sets the Nintendo 3DS XL apart from the original is that it’s, well, bigger. The updated handheld sports a 4.88 inch top screen–up quite a bit from the 3.5-inch screen on the original–and a 4.18 inch bottom screen.

That’s not the only thing new with the Nintendo 3DS XL, of course. Nintendo says that the bigger handheld will come with a 4GB memory card, and the battery life is said to be improved. Speaking of battery life, Nintendo has opted not to include a power adapter in Japan and Europe, but the North American version will come with one. This, according to Nintendo, is in order to “save money.”

So how much does the Nintendo 3DS XL cost, you ask? Well, the company says that it will run you $199, and will be available in black, black x blue, and black x red.

What do you think of the Nintendo 3DS XL?