Nintendo DS Successor Outputs in 3D

After months of speculation Nintendo has confirmed a new addition to the DS family - a portable that lets you play 3D games with the naked eye.

Upgraded graphics, sound and the like are expected, and the addition of 3D without the need for glasses seems to be the icing on the Nintendo cake. According to VG247 Satoru Iwata confirmed the new hardware in an investor report, revealing that it will continue the DS branding, tentatively named "3DS".

The 3DS is said to be backward compatible with the original DS games, and Nintendo are aiming to have it out in the Japanese wilderness by March 2011.

More details and the official reveal will come at this year's E3 Expo in June.

Update 1: A few new details from Nikkei have suggested that the console will have force feedback, bright and crisp screens, improved battery life and wireless connectivity. It might even include the rumoured accelerometer for a healthy dose of tilt-action.

What's even more interesting is that reports have claimed a "3D control stick" for those wanting a bit more precision.

Update 2: Cheif Spokesman Ken Toyoda has confirmed that 3DS will be playable at E3 (so expect the grand unveiling too). He also explained why 3DS was given an announcement before this years E3 "We wanted to give the gaming industry a head's up about what to expect from Nintendo at E3. We'll invite people to play with the new device then".

What do you think of having 3D games at your fingertips without the need for glasses - can it work, or will this be Virtual Boy mark 2?