3DS to launch by April 2011 - Reggie
That goes for "all major markets".
Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime has promised the 3DS will launch in all major territories by the end of the financial year.
He was speaking not during the company's recent press conference, but in an interview with Industry Gamers. Fils-Aime said, "The reason we haven’t announced a launch date or pricing is that, first, we wanted to get reaction here. Secondly, we’ll be making individual market decisions in terms of what’s happening in Japan, what’s happening in the Americas, what’s happening in Europe."
However, he added, "The one thing, for sure, is that we will launch in all of our major markets by March 31, 2011."
According to Fils-Aime, the final design of the handheld has not been decided - and it could be changed depending on the feedback received at E3.
"We have an army of Nintendo representatives out on our show floor talking to attendees, getting reactions to everything in the device: the depth slider, the buttons, the sliding pad that is, essentially, an analog-type stick," he said.
"These are things that we’re looking to get reaction to, including the overall button placement. When we get all that feedback, then we’ll finalise the design."
For more on 3DS, including our hands-on impressions, visit the Nintendo E3 page.