Nintendo denies new DS, paper insists true

Nintendo today tried to talk down a seeming revelation of a new DS handheld by its own chief executive Satoru Iwata. After the company leader reportedly talked to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about an upcoming model having "highly detailed graphics" and a sensor to "read the movements" of players, the Japanese game company's senior director of communications in the US, Charlie Scibetta, flatly denied the claims. Iwata's answer was "misinterpreted," the senior spokesperson said.

A representative from Asahi, however, told Kotaku that the statements were recorded "accurately" and implied that Nintendo was attempting to minimize confirmation that a new DS was already in development.

Early rumors have supported much of Iwata's observations. It's believed the new DS will use the Tegra 2 to provide much higher visual detail than the now six year old hardware of the DS and DSi lines. It could also lead to HD video playback or an effectively cheaper design as a single Tegra 2 could power two handheld-sized screens without a significant performance hit.

The sensor is unknown but could refer either to a visual motion sensor at the front or an accelerometer to measure the movement of the handheld itself.

By Electronista Staff