On April 27, Nintendo announced its newest installment into the 3ds family by revealing the brand new Nintendo 2DS XL. The Nintendo 2DS XL is an upgraded version the original Nintendo 2DS that was released back in October 2013, and there are a lot of noticeable differences.

Since Nintendo included XL into the name, Nintendo Fans were expecting the new device to have a much larger screen than the Original 2DS. However, the most Noticeable Difference carried by the New 2DS XL design is the fact that the new 2DS XL will have a Fold Down design similar to the Nintendo DS Lite. This is a huge difference as the Original 2DS had a non-folding design, which made it resemble a tablet. Another major difference is the fact that the new 2DS XL will feature a C-stick which will serve as a second analog stick. In terms of hardware, the 2DS XL will feature hardware that is identical to the hardware powering the New 3DS XL.

Nintendo’s new 2DS XL redesign also addressed multiple complaints consumers had with the Original 2DS system. The main problem people had with the Original 2ds was the fact that it featured a single speaker that made the system quiet. The New 2DS XL will feature two speakers which will significantly improve the sound quality. Another major problem that the New 2DS XL design addresses are the way the System connects with Nintendo’s popular Amiibos. In order to connect an Amiibo to an Original 2DS system, you needed to purchase a separate Amiibo reader. The new 2DS XL design will allow Nintendo fans to connect their favorite Amiibos by simply pressing it against the system's touch screen.

While you would expect the gaming community to be excited about the announcement, gamers are generally confused as to why Nintendo is releasing another installment into the 3DS family.

A lot of this confusion is being generated based on the fact that Nintendo just released the Nintendo Switch, which is already facing hardship because of its weak game library at this point. Once the Nintendo Switch was released in March there has been a suggestion shared amongst the community of Nintendo fans that Nintendo should prioritize a sizeable amount of the attention on the 3DS family towards the Nintendo Switch. The gaming industry is questioning the purpose of the new 2DS XL is because a lot of Nintendo fans expected Nintendo’s next handheld to be a true upgrade to the 3DS with its own library of games.

So when it comes to the question “Will the 2DS XL be worth IT?” the answer is primarily situational. If you are new to the 3DS family and wish to overlook the 3d gimmick of the 3DS, then the new 2DS XL may be for you. However, if you already own any device in the current 3DS family, particularly the 3DS XL, then there really isn’t anything that makes the 2DS XL a must buy unless you are one of those people who love having the latest technology. At this point it is difficult to say whether the 2DS XL will be a success or a Failure for Nintendo, however, with a July 28, 2017, release date we will know soon enough.