Rumor Mill: Nintendo Planning DSi with Larger Screen

The DSi is a true success for Nintendo, the company that has designed it and offers the biggest array of games on it, but it seems that there are more improvements that can be made to the handheld and that the hardware manufacturer is planning to release an updated device that will feature bigger screens, designed to offer a better gaming experience.

The rumor comes courtesy of the Japanese financial publication Nikkei, which says that, “Nintendo is planning to release a new product in its recently-debuted DSi line within the year” with the article implying that the main reason behind the move is to directly compete with both the PlayStation Portable from Sony and the iPhone from Apple. The two upgraded screens, one of which will remain tactile, are set to approach 4 inches, an increase from the current 3.8.

Nikkei is saying that the new handheld device from Nintendo is set to be priced at the same level as the current DSi, which is worth about 18,9000 Yen and that the two versions will be sold alongside each other with no plans to replace the older one very soon. The release could lead to the withdrawal of the DS Lite from the market and, for the moment, the new device will only be offered in Japan, with no date mentioned for Western markets.

The Nikkei financial publication also mentions that a modified DSi handheld is set to be released on the Chinese and on the South Korean markets, with more measures in place to prevent piracy, which is prevalent in the region. Nintendo has recently stepped up its efforts to eliminate those who are manufacturing and selling the mod chips, like the R4, which allow the DS handheld to be used with software that has not been purchased legally.