Nintendo Explains Why North America was Snubbed in New 3DS Release

Nintendo explained that the reason why its latest handheld console, the New 3DS, didn't arrive in North America was because of the market's perception.

Unlike other countries that received both models, the North American market only got the console's larger version or the New 3DS XL.

The New Nintendo 3DS debuted in various regions in late 2014 and early 2015. Both versions appeared in Japan, Australia and Europe while the XL model is the only available version for North American gamers.

According to Damon Baker, the senior manager for Nintendo's marketing and licensing, the Japan-based company decided to withhold the release of the New 3DS in North America since the XL models are more appropriate for gamers in that area.

Baker explained the company's decision during the recent Indiecade East gaming event held in New York, according to Nintendo Life.

"Look, the face plates are super cool, but we're a different market," the executive told the attendees of the convention. "And now we have clear differentiation between those three systems. Before, there was a very limited difference between the 3DS and 3DS XL other than size."

"It was the same resolution, same functionality," he continued. "Now, there's the 2DS, 3DS and New 3DS XL, all of which have their own functionality and features."

Baker noted that Nintendo believes excluding North America from the release of the New 3DS will allow the company to reach a wider audience. By only debuting the New 3DS XL version, will be able to eliminate redundancy in its products and offer gamers variety in terms of its consoles.

"The different price points give it a clear message for consumers," Baker explained. "We had to think about expanding the user base, we had to be able to market it and make it easy to pick up for consumers."

In a different interview with IGN, a spokesperson for the U.S. division of Nintendo said that the decision to only release the New 3DS XL in North America was made by the company executives from that region. The decision was the result of the division's own studies regarding the console's marketability in the U.S.