Bandai unveils upgraded WonderSwan handheld

On Wednesday, Bandai announced that it will release an upgraded version of its WonderSwan handheld called the Swan Crystal. The handheld unit will incorporate a 2.8-inch reflective TFT LCD screen (a 2.5-inch FSTN LCD was used in the WonderSwan Color), and it will be equipped with a four-channel stereo sound (the WonderSwan Color had monaural sound). Only one AA battery is required, and it should power the handheld for approximately 15 hours.

The Swan Crystal will also be backward-compatible with the WonderSwan Color and WonderSwan titles. The company expects to ship 500,000 units by the end of March 2002 in Japan. The company has also announced its upcoming software lineup:

Mobile Suit Gundam Vol. 3: A Baoaqu - May 25
Gransta Chronicle - June 13
X Card of Fate - June 27
Riviera: The Promised Land - July 12
Arc the Lad: Kijin Fukkatsu - July
From TV Animation One Piece: Grand Battle Swan Coliseum - July
Inuyasha: Fu-un E-maki - July
Front Mission - July
Digimon Ver. WonderSwan Color - August
Crash Gear Turbo - August
SD Gundam Generation - September

The Swan Crystal is scheduled to hit store shelves in Japan on July 12 with a price point of 7,800 yen (approximately $61). The handheld unit is scheduled to be on display at the Tokyo Toy Show 2002, which will held at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center starting tomorrow. We'll have first impressions from the show floor, so stay tuned.