Standard New 3DS skipping US in order to "expand the user base"

Nintendo has said before it didn't plan on releasing the standard New 3DS system in North America, and now we know why.

Speaking with Nintendo Life during IndieCade East this weekend, NoA's senior marketing and licensing manager, Damon Baker, said the reason for the snub, was making easy for the North American audience by offerings a differentiation between the systems.

"Look, the face plates [available for the standard version] are super cool, but we're a different market," he said. "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. Now, there's 2DS, 3DS, and New 3DS XL, all of which have their own functionality and features.

"The different price points give it a clear message for consumers. "We weren't going to win the core audience on that decision. But 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."

When Nintendo announced the release date for New 3DS XL in North America, it said at the time it wouldn't release the smaller version in the region because the former made “the most sense” for the market.

It was revealed earlier today that its first two days at retail in North America and Europe, New 3DS systems sold 150,500 and 150,000 units, respectively.