Reggie: DSi release not until 'well into 2009'

by James Ransom-Wiley { Oct 2nd 2008 at 12:50PM }

Speaking at Nintendo's media summit in San Francisco today, Nintendo of America chief Reggie Fils-Aimé announced that DSi would not be released in North America until "well into calendar year 2009." Reggie cited strong US sales of the current hardware model, DS Lite, as the reason for the delay. In other words, while Japan gets to tinker with the new toy in just a month, we'll be buying up all the old stock for months to come. Now that's grounds for importation!

Gallery: Nintendo DSi

Tags: breakingnews, dsi

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

&rew @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:52PM

Fucking Nintendo, way to get me excited and break my hopes.

CesarSalad @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:58PM

i have two words for nintendo "FUCK YOU" why do we always have to wait so freaking much for everything here in the states? now I'm pissed

Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:54PM

Just gonna have my cousin ship this to me for christmas, lol.

Danny F. @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:57PM

Woooow..... thats all I have to say..

They couldn't just say that they wish to produce enough to cover the high volume of expected sales.. noooo.. they just want to sell off its current stock for oooh... like 6 months.... especially with the holiday season coming up with everyone buying it up only to have a new one come out like 3 months later. Nice job big N.. I was hoping to grab one for christmas coming up but you had to be jerks and stiff us for the sole reason that you want even more money. )':

D_Average @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:59PM

Great time for new consumers to pick up a DS, but I just don't see the logic in a current DS owner to pick one up, even for the most rabid fanboy.

joeybeast @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:38PM

Too bad most people buying a DS this holiday will have no idea what DSi is.

343 Guilty Fart @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:53PM

Yeah, it's time for me to upgrade my DS phat, I think I'll just get a lite.

D_Average @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:59PM

Just goes to show you Joystiq.com trumps CNN.com

D_Average @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:59PM

Just goes to show you Joystiq.com trumps CNN.com

Dirty @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:01PM

While it is pretty clear that Nintendo's strategy is very profitable and successful, I just don't like it.

Releasing slightly upgraded hardware with more bells and whistles just pisses me off. Apple and Nintendo can kiss my ass.

I want evolutionary leaps forward not baby steps.

RoboFrog @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:23PM

In Nintendo's defense, the DS has only been out for 4 years. Nintendo seems to like upgrading models then going for a whole new iteration after a good amount of time. 4 years is a lot less than most hardware cycles, I'd expect a completely new handheld around the same time as a new console. Hardware revisions aren't uncommon-look at the PSP, PS2, GBA... Hell, even the original Game Boy to the Pocket wasn't anymore than the Phat DS to the Lite.

Erwos @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:03PM

If it's region free... well, you might be able to import one.

KeegdnaB @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:05PM

I'm actually relieved...now I don't have try and decide bewteen this and a new ipod for christmas

glucoseboy @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:11PM

I read "well into 2009" as Q2 or later. Announcing a new version of your product well before it will be available in the market is a sure way to kill sales of your existing hardware. Sounds like it's a production issue, they can't make enough product to satisfy both markets (not to mention the EU)

What is it with Nintendo and poor manufacturing capacity? They're leaving money on the table.

b33kewl @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:10PM

I don't get it is this a next gen portable or is it just a DS remodel? Is DSi games compatible with the DS? Does it have improved graphics?

Envoy @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:12PM

WOW I was this close to forgiving you Nintendo for the E3 incident but F*CK YOU!

Mike @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:22PM

Time to release your bankai!

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:12PM

Makes sense. They are in no rush to release this thing since DSlite sales are still doing very well. Though I wouldn't be surprise if sales start to slow because of the official announcement of the DSi.

takamaru @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:13PM

Mos def worth an import.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:29PM

Hmm really? Mos Def? I mean I do like his music,so I must agree that he is in fact worth an import.

Farseer (GDI) @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:38PM

Why import a Mos Def album? Wouldn't is be much easier to just download it?

takamaru @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:42PM

Alright wise guys....

It is most definitely worth the trouble one would have to put themselves through in order to import said system into these great United States of America. Better?

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:47PM

He's also a charming character actor.

Farseer (GDI) @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:35PM

Regarding the loss of sales due to the announcement of the DSi, I think that you're all blowing it out of proportion.

Though we may be have forgotten Nintendo's primary audience, Nintendo sure hasn't. As hardcore gamers, we are in the vast minority of current Nintendo customers. You think that the casual market, the market that has recently made Nintendo rich, pays any attention to these media summits?
Parents will still buy thousands of DS Lites for their kids this holiday season, blissfully unaware that an upgraded version is on the way next year. Hell, even if they do know, does that stop their kid from asking for a DS Lite for Christmas this year?

Christian @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:43PM

We should boycott Nintendo DS and show them that we are all interested in getting this new DS. Ever since I remember early this year that they're making a bigger screen, I waited patiently for it to be in production. Now that they did release it and even added more stuff than I expected, I have to wait longer for it to come? not fair! Please bring it here in the US ASAP!

Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:56PM

One month of sales in japan is more than any number we could get to. Boycotts only work when everyone is trying (aka spore).

DangerMouse @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:45PM

The gameboy is the only system that i can think of that has survived a 10 year plan while still going strong. I see this upgrade as something like the gameboy color. It's not necessarily going to over shadow the DS, but it's a decent device to hold everyone over before the successor to the DS comes out.

Besides, no point in releasing information when the DS is doing a hell of a job as it is. As long as the new DS can download the same games as virtual console can, then i'll be more interested. I just wish they would release a DS Card so i can do it now.

Falcom @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:46PM

I really wish they had made the touch screen capacitive instead of pressure sensitive.

Josh @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:00PM

Must find out about region locking on DS Ware...Does it exist or not...

Snowblind @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:53PM

I'm in the UK. My Lite if from Japan and most of the game, save for a few are from the US.

For those that really want one, it would be very easy to just import one, the only problem would be from stock, I expect these things will sell out very quick.

Jamie @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:45PM

I think he's talking about region protection on the downloadable games for the DS, Snowblind.

Josh @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:20PM

Yes I am, Jamie.

Vidikron @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:11PM

Assholes. I was hoping we would see it right after the new year. My wife needs a new one since she has worn out the touch screen on hers and we've been holding off buying one due to all the rumors about this hardware revision. Now they reveal it and then say we won't get until well into next year? Fuck them. Seriously, I hate Nintendo more every day.

farfisa @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:33PM

So, their only reason is: "Because you're still buying the old one"? Nice!
How hard is it to organize a boycott? Like, really hard?

Mr Khan @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:13PM

That's a dick move. Lucky for me i have no interest in getting one. Still rolling with my November 04 Phat.

FSK405K @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:16PM

The DSi, like the DS, will be region-free, yes?

Heh (Mr. ESC, living in the hearts of us all) @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:23PM

Nintendo handhelds have been region-free for a long time.

Pedobear @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:19PM

Most likely as the games were region free. Still though, it would probably cost an arm an a leg to import this thing. Especially when they are selling out when they launch.

rudez90 @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:44PM

that is the DUMBEST "business" decision i've ever heard. obviously sales are gonna to slow down now that people know a new one is coming out. i bet they are gonna end up moving up the release date when they realize no one is going to buy the old DS.

HateSleezyBuiz @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:44PM

There's a simple solution to the problem. If you work at a retail store, start posting signs , taking pre-orders for the new unit, thus damaging their holiday sales with the "casual gamer" which will force them to release the DSi Quicker...

They're preying on the ignorance of buyers not to know that a new unit is coming...

EBH @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:23PM

Oh how wonderful it would be to live in Japan and get products a MONTH after they're announced

Pango @ Oct 2nd 2008 8:02PM

As a business move its good and logical, the big relevant market wont know and wont care about this.

But because of who I am, I do care.Fuck you nintendo, nice way to treat those on america,europe or just everyone not niponese.

Sophie @ Oct 3rd 2008 7:20AM

Found a pre-order here : www. dfj-store.com

Deathmore @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:48PM

DSi will be released in Europe during Spring 2009

Source: www.nintendo.co.uk

Ben @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:32PM

That thing is ugly and I don't want one.

Teshula @ Oct 4th 2008 8:53AM

GOD the wait!! I have a DS Lite and it's a bit screwed up... basically the touch screen won't calibrate. When I touch anywhere horizontally it is off by about a half an inch. Now I'm playing Etrian Odyssey II which means I can deal with it because it's not so action oriented where you need precise touches like Under the Knife... umm.. but when I call Big N to get this thing fixed, they said I'd have to ship it to them and it will take weeks and like $80 to fix??? WTF? I could just buy another DS Lite!

I heard this news and thought YAY, I'll just get the new system... but 6 freakin' months??? Ugh.. guess I just play Advance Wars to death where I just use the buttons. Or if anyone elsed here knows how to crack open this thing and fix the calibration issue LOL! :)

ASAD @ Oct 6th 2008 5:27AM

i want it to be released on 1 november in the whole world cuz i'm sick of my DS lite even though it has no problems at all......

ShadowPhoenix82 @ Oct 16th 2008 12:52PM

Hm, I had to come back here after reading comments a couple years ago on this, to see what people had to say now that much more information has been released. I personally am not looking forward to the release of the DSi only because I would miss my GBA slot. Of course, I don't need the SD slot as I already use a MicroSD card on my DS Lite, and the camera...I can live without. I admit the new textured skin is attractive, as I actually bought a similar cover for my DS Lite. Still, I was SO excited about this until I found out that they removed the GBA slot, and bakwards compatability is pretty important to me, which is part of why I'd never buy the PS3 and lose back-comp with the awesome PS1 games, and I refuse to have to home consoles, lol.

Granted, I do own a GBA SP that works great and is used sparingly so I suppose I don't NEED my DS Lite's GBA slot, but...for the loss of it, I don't need to buy a new system either. Maybe in another 2 years they'll make changes to the DS worth upgrading for. However, for phat owners whom don't have a very expansive GBA library, I think this is probably a good time to get a new version. most good GBA games may be offered on the VC anyway, so...go for it! Or not, but just don't miss out thinking you MUST NOT by this, or waste money thinking you HAVE to.