Nintendo Exec "Mistaken" About Nintendo 3DS Release Date

On Friday, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime appeared on talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He said that the upcoming 3D-glasses-free handheld the Nintendo 3DS will be released "next year". He, apparently, is "mistaken".

Says who? According to sources close to company's Japanese headquarters, the Nintendo of America exec made an error when he stated that the Nintendo 3DS would be out next year. Good thing he didn't do that on nation-wide television!

Oh wait.

Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Nintendo of Japan), however, would still not affirm to our sources that the Nintendo 3DS would be released in North America by this holiday season or not. What's more, the company reiterated that it intends to release the upcoming portable sometime during this financial year as mentioned in the initial press release this past March. This financial year ends in March 2011.

From what Nintendo Co., Ltd. is saying, it sounds like 3 months has been shaved off the release window for the Nintendo 3DS. When the product was originally revealed, Nintendo stated it would be out this fiscal year in Japan. As previously mentioned, that ends in March 2011. However, if Nintendo of America says that the Nintendo 3DS will be out "next year" (2011) in North America, and Nintendo says that what was stated is a "mistake", that could very well cut January, February, and March out of the picture.

Then again, Nintendo Co., Ltd. could be the one making a mistake. Perhaps, Fils-Aime discussing North America? In the past, Nintendo has given separate launch dates for hardware, so the company might do the same for this.

But if it is a worldwide launch, wouldn't it mean that the Nintendo 3DS could hit store shelves this holiday season?

While this sounds a lot like the right hand not talking to the left hand, Kotaku is following up.

Source kotaku.com

It would be epic if it came out this holiday season.

This holiday season in Japan, and maybe Europe. First quarter 2011 in NA, which is still current fiscal year, but next calendar year. Nothing complicated.

I wondered about that. Given that they originally said it would be *out* by the end of Q1 2011, and then he said early 2011, i wondered if it was merely a mistaken case.

This holiday for Japan. March for North America and i'm sorry to say probably after March for everyone where else. I hope to be wrong and Europe, Australia will be joining the North America launch, but i'm not going to hold my breath.

Reggie  likely means in NA not World Wide.

Good post that seems more then probable. Lets hope Reggie was mistaken after all. 

Also does anyone know if the 3DS will be region free? If it is I probably have to import one for myself. 

Jimmy asked him the question while Reg was looking and playing the DKCR game.  I saw that video and figured he wasn't paying close attention to the question.  Was waiting for websites to take it as fact and it happened so fast.  Common sense would dictate that he wasn't paying attention.

My wife knows better than to have a serious talk about ANYTHING while I'm playing a game. lol

Becareful with these unknown "sources"

wait so the mistaken is "it'll come sooner".... ok big deal, who's unhappy?

My wife knows that she wins a discussion or will do her ways if the conversation goes while I'm playing.