Disney filed a patent for its version of 3DS back in 2011

Disney may have decided to focus on mobile and social games instead of console and PC release, but that hasn't stopped the firm from filing a patent for a handheld gaming device.

According to a patent application dug up by VentureBeat, Disney filed its idea for a gaming device back in June 2011. At the time the firm had a more vested interest in console gaming, so it's possible the firm was looking into the possibility of releasing a Disney-centric device.

The application schematics show a device capable of playing 3D AR games with the use of specialized glasses, and transform objects around the user into animated characters: think Mrs. Potts and Chip from Beauty and the Beast and you have the idea.

Here's the full description pulled from the USPTO:

"Techniques for displaying content using an augmented reality device are described. Embodiments provide a visual scene for display, the visual scene captured using one or more camera devices of the augmented reality device. Embodiments adjust physical display geometry characteristics of the visual scene to correct for optimal projection. Additionally, illumination characteristics of the visual scene are modified based on environmental illumination data to improve realism of the visual scene when it is displayed. Embodiments further adjust display characteristics of the visual scene to improve tone mapping output. The adjusted visual scene is then output for display on the augmented reality device.”

If you head through the links, you can have a look at the handheld console, which looks quite a lot like a Nintendo 3DS.