Nintendo DSi dated for Europe

By Tom Bramwell Published 19 February, 2009

Retailers set price at GBP 149.99.

Nintendo has revealed that the DSi will be released in Europe on 3rd April, two days ahead of its launch in the USA, announced yesterday.

There's no word in Nintendo's press release on how much European gamers will have to pay for the redesigned two-screen handheld, which is set to cost USD 169 across the water.

However, a report on The Times website claims it will cost "around GBP 149". We're double-checking with Nintendo.

While the US will be able to choose from blue and black versions of the machine, we'll be given the same option the Japanese had at launch late last year of black or white models.

The DSi is thinner and slightly longer than the ubiquitous DS Lite, and boasts slightly bigger and brighter screens, as well as an SD card slot, motion-detecting cameras and built-in flash memory.

Software-wise, it includes a dashboard-style touch interface that features a sound recorder, a photo-fiddling application and a direct-download DSi Shop for accessing new games and applications, in addition to existing packages like PictoChat.

However, it's also the first DS handheld not to play Game Boy games through a second slot, and Nintendo has said that DSi-specific titles will be region-locked due to embedded communication functionality.

We've had a DSi since the Japanese launch (we have no patience), and you can see what we've made of it in our extensive Nintendo DSi hands-on preview elsewhere on the site.

UPDATE: Nintendo has said that retailers will set the price for the DSi directly. Eurogamer has confirmed that it will cost GBP 149.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • MORZTAN #1 3 years ago

    Hmm.

    Just bougt meself a Light... Better skip this one. Not too expensive though...

  • rock27gr #2 3 years ago

    BP 149 is GBP 50 too much.

    I guess the strong yen to is blame; many electronis are expected to get more expensive this year. :(

    That said, I am sure Nintendo is making a killing at that price.

  • Daikon #3 3 years ago

    149 Pounds = 212 US Dollars

    And the US is getting the DSi for 170 US Dollars (119 Pounds).

    It's the usual rip-off.

  • spookyzombie #4 3 years ago

    I worked $170 to be £119 also. Good to see we're still being fleeced while in the middle of a recession.

  • Tabernackle #5 3 years ago

    You have to take the VAT off at our end if you want a US/UK comparison though, so it's £129.57 to the US's £119 so it's not *that* bad

  • DonnieDarko333 #6 3 years ago

    Great black or white woopy! :(

  • Agent_Llama #7 3 years ago

    Gah, I want blue!

  • CB.Gamestation #8 3 years ago

    "BP 149 is GBP 50 too much.

    I guess the strong yen to is blame; many electronis are expected to get more expensive this year. :(

    That said, I am sure Nintendo is making a killing at that price."


    They aren't replacing the DS Lite, only launching a different console. DS Lites will still be available after April, this is why they couldn't sell the DSi for GBP 99.99 (Lite RRP)

  • Malek86 #9 3 years ago

    I bet this will translate to 179€ over here. Higher price, shorter batter life, no GBA slot... better stick to the Lite.

  • mowgli #10 3 years ago

    I think they look shite tbh. And I regard the DS Lite as the best designed handhelds ever.

  • Beano #11 3 years ago

    No thanks. My DS is collecting dust and don't need another one.

  • aliki #12 3 years ago

    Fuck you Nintendo (if the rumour is true).

  • rock27gr #13 3 years ago

    @ CB.Gamestation

    True, though the Lite should also be getting a price-cut, don't you think?

    DS Lite @ £85 and DSi @ £95-105 should be fine IMO. As it is the DSi will be more expensive than the PSP!

  • stampax #14 3 years ago

    erm.... no one going to praise nintndo for releasing it, you know, not 6 months later than anywhere else.....

  • DFawkes #15 3 years ago

    Indeed, I'll have a go. Thnaks very much Nintendo for not royally shafting us with both price and release date, and putting us before America. That means I can have one for my birthday on the 4th, and still be playing Pokemon with slightly larger, brighter screen before the US :)

  • carrotcake #16 3 years ago

    no colours? nooooo I don't want black or white. where is blue

  • penhalion #17 3 years ago

    However, a report on The Times website claims it will cost "around GBP 149".

    Strange! I thought reports suggested that Nintendo could go f*&k themselves with this region locked DSi functionality nonsense.

  • Les #18 3 years ago

    "No thanks. My DS is collecting dust and don't need another one."

    Mine used to collect dust for quite some time but then I got Mario & Luigi, Professor Layton and Pokemon and now I play it very regularly. But maybe in a couple of months time it will go back to dust-collect mode...

  • cawley1 #19 3 years ago

    Hmm, I have to be honest here and say this sounds like the most pointless revision of hardware ever - Nintendo only did it because Lite sales were stagnating in Japan.

    I think it is shocking that for the first time in the history of handheld gaming (bar the PC Engine GT, but that was a different story) they have region locked the games - I would suggest if you are planning on getting one of these, import the US one, then you won't get screwed by Nintendo never releasing titles, and those they do 6-9 months later!

    What the hell is the point of a 0.3MP camera in 2009, all that cheap technology nonesense does not wash, how much can a 2MP camera cost when they are entry level in every mobile phone in the world?

    Lastly, How are they going to get developers to shun the 99% of DS owners who currently own a regular DS, many of whom will never upgrade to the DSi, and release specific software for the system? - It's not going to happen outside of gimmicks, is it?!

    After the monstrosity that was the original DS, I think they got it spot on with the Lite and it needed no update (outside of swelling Nintendo's coffers)...
    Edited by 1 at 19/02/09 @ 10:16

  • merkdot #20 3 years ago

    the point of the 0.3MP camera is that it's already way more than the screen on the DS can display. The camera is to be used for games and fun, not to replace a proper camera (this seems pretty obvious to me?).

  • merkdot #21 3 years ago

    I expect a 'virtual handheld' service announcement at E3.

  • Tomo #22 3 years ago

    Worst. Update. Ever.

  • Rash' #23 3 years ago

    wants for DSware games.

    /looks at bank balance. cries.

  • MyPointIs #24 3 years ago

    I have had almost every single Gameboy update, right from the first big white brick. And I think they peaked with the Advance SP and games like advance wars/zelda/pokemon/castlevania/metroid/other RPGs .. it was cuter, lighter, cheaper, and without the cheap-looking aliased 3D, or pen-holding cramps.

    Edit: I say this because now, instead of being excited about new Gameboy Hardware, I feel like a PC user being forced to update to Windows Vista.
    Edited by 1 at 19/02/09 @ 11:28

  • CallousB #25 3 years ago

    "the point of the 0.3MP camera is that it's already way more than the screen on the DS can display. The camera is to be used for games and fun, not to replace a proper camera (this seems pretty obvious to me?). "

    Indeed..and 0.3MP is the same resolution as the Wii....so you take them on the DS and display them on the Wii's photochannel if you wish.

  • IronCladChicken #26 3 years ago

    Game have the preorder price set at £159
    Edited by 2 at 19/02/09 @ 11:39

  • MyPointIs #27 3 years ago

    We should send an email to Nintendo, with a link to Currency Converter.

  • GamesConnoisseur #28 3 years ago

    REGION LOCKED

    DSI titles only?

    As the great thing re DS is that i often import titles that are released months later in Europe (or never), so what impact for us European gamers who have zero patience?

  • Toadie48 #29 3 years ago

    removal of the GBA slot

    region lock

    looks ugly

    fooking shit-ass camera (0.3 MP)

    And now a gay price

    = me not interested :/

  • wizbob #30 3 years ago

    This must be a candidate for least graphically able device released in 2009, most phones can do better than the DS. They better have an absolutely amazing DSi-only game ready for release if they intend to sell it at all. I can only presume that they will silently replace the DS with this and hope that parents don't notice.

  • Les #31 3 years ago

    Was planning on getting the US version as I pretty much import every game I get. But with the GBP so low, an EU version might be more attractive games-wise. Though I expect the dollar to get weaker in the long run and the pound to recover eventually. Damn, speculation has even infiltrated gaming these days...

  • Les #32 3 years ago

    "Hmm, I have to be honest here and say this sounds like the most pointless revision of hardware ever - Nintendo only did it because Lite sales were stagnating in Japan."

    Isn't that a perfectly reasonable action from the POV of Nintendo?

    Don't like the fact that it's region locked either though. Not region locking PS3 made sure I got one, otherwise would still be playing PS2 games. Don't really see why it's necessary for the online distribution as PS3 manages multiple regional stores without imposing region locks on software.

  • insincere_dave #33 3 years ago

    You're a bunch of moaning cunts.

  • sneetch #34 3 years ago

    @Toadie48
    And now a gay price

    = me not interested :/

    Wait, £149.99 is gay? Do his parents (£139.99 and £129.99) know?

    Oh well, whatever £149.99 gets up to on the weekend is his own business.

  • ryohazuki1983 #35 3 years ago

    lol sneetch

  • jonsaan #36 3 years ago

    Dear Nintendo.

    Fuck off you rip off bastards.

    /orders dsi

    /cries

  • Chim_chimma_nee! #37 3 years ago

    Get bent Nintendo.
    p.s I love you.

  • TheNinkyNonk #38 3 years ago

    Good old Ninty. Peddling dated hardware in a shiny new case for an inflated price.

    And STILL finding millions of suckers in the process!!

  • aidey6 #39 3 years ago

    About £24.99 too much tbh, but then Nintendo dont like selling their consoles at a loss do they?!

  • Ludd #40 3 years ago

    Play.com have it listed for £149.99 with a free accessory pack

    Gotta say i'm really looking forward to this, the motion-sensing cameras have some potential... as always down to developers to make something of it!

  • clockworkzombie #41 3 years ago

    The Australian site has this info.

    An upgrade to the Nintendo DS® hand held console – will hit shelves in Australia and New Zealand, and you can get your hands on one on 2 April 2009.

    No price yet though.

    The picture of the woman in the following link would be enough to scare your chooks.

    [link url=http://gamesite s.nintendo.com.au/DSi/
    ]http://gamesite s.nintendo.com.au/DSi/
    [/link]

  • EmiliasHorse #42 3 years ago

    Just bought a macho light blue DS to play Chrono Trigger. I knew the DSi was on it's way but didn't care....still don't.

    The list of features do not make the DSi worth £50 more than the bog standard jobby.

  • quantumsheep #43 3 years ago

    To get one of these would be a bit of a luxury. I was hoping the DS Lite would come down in price and this be more reasonable. Ah well...

  • Les #44 3 years ago

    "The list of features do not make the DSi worth £50 more than the bog standard jobby."

    Still have the fat one, so for me it actually adds a thing or two. Though it's a shame it also takes something in the form of region-freeness.

  • LazyDan #45 3 years ago

    No. It. Does. Not.


    You can't use the US/Jap DSi shopping channel from it, only the UK one. Actual Jap/US DS games will still work.

    Why is this such a fucking hard concept for people to grasp.

  • Les #46 3 years ago

    "Why is this such a fucking hard concept for people to grasp."

    Well, contradicting news reports might have something to do with it… As a concept itself it is no doubt very straightforward. Would be nice if Nintendo cleared up all the confusion with an unambiguous statement.

    If you have a source that claims that the region lock only has impact on which store you’ll be able to visit but no effect whatsoever on any DSi specific software you buy on a cartridge, I’d love to know about it.

  • DrMGinius #47 3 years ago

    Me DS (well my cousins DS) has broken in two like 7 monts ago I dont cared. Nintendo always do the same. Release the good
    games an the starting and once you played the marios better sell it.

  • andy599 #48 3 years ago

    Its come down a lot in price: Nintendo DSi prices