Nintendo to unveil new 3DS at E3 briefing - Report

Nintendo will show off a new model of its 3DS handheld console at its E3 conference tomorrow, according to a Nikkei report, as translated by Andriasang.

The model will be one and a half times bigger than the current design, with a 4.3-inch display. Launch could be as soon as this summer in North America, Japan, and Europe, says Andriasang.

The release of a larger 3DS around 18 months after the 3D handheld's initial release in Japan resembles the launch of the Nintendo DSi XL, introduced a year after the camera-adding DSi handheld.

Look for the unveiling of the 3DS XL alongside all the Wii U news at the Nintendo conference tomorrow morning.

[UPDATE]: Nintendo responded to the report by posting a counter on its Japanese-language investor relations site. As translated by Andriasang, the 3DS maker says the Nikkei report was based on conjecture and full of errors. Expect to find out more (one way or the other) at the Nintendo conference Tuesday morning.