Without the upgrade, Xenoblade would not be possible on a handheld. Now it is, and that's awesome!

I still hold to my belief that this is seen as a dangerous predecent, just like, say, the Mario Kart 8 X Mercedes DLC.

I expect a DSi-style situation to take root, like exclusive features on certain games locked to the New 3DS, but it already begins to seem unlikely considering the bombshell of an exclusive Nintendo has put out.

I recognize that it will not be possible on the 3DS, but what I (and a lot more) am worried for are more games like this.

Again, I expect a DSi-style situation, but Xenoblade happened.

Wait, why is that DLC a dangerous precedent? Its just a marketing ploy by Mercedes from which we get free cars.

Of course the DSi/Color/GBA-style situation will take root... it has been this way for 20 years. From the Gameboy to the Color to the Advanced. From the DS to the DSi to the 3DS to the n3DS. They been doing this for years. The time gap between the 3DS to the n3DS is larger than the gap from the Color to the GBA, and just think about how much that changed.

Two things I want to emphasize in bold. (I also want to make it clear that I love the Mercedes DLC because of the Silver Arrow.)

Look at the complaints about how ill-fitting the Mercedes vehicles look in-game. I believe that Kotaku jumped on this here. Alright, now look at this Nintendo Life editorial. Do note that while the former is just...hate, I suppose, the latter mirrors my thoughts.

Now, I also a DSi-style situation to take root, but Xenoblade and the fact that a lot of games will end up taking advantage of the additional hardware buttons make me doubt that the DSi situation will repeat.

I really don't see the issue as per the editorial, they aren't mirror perfect matchers but neither are the motorcross bikes... where and when did motorcross bikes become a "mario universe thing". :P Frankly, for me, they could throw in kirby riding a star with wheels or master chief in a warhog and I'd still be happy (and mightily amused by the absurdity of the latter). I mean, we've already had Snake of all characters in Smash. I get the idea that it could drain the soul of the game if it turns into a giant commercial but I also hate slippery slope arguments because they can be applied to anything, even the most innocuous well intentioned action, and turn arguments on their head. Its easy to cry "snowball" its much harder to actually make a claim that it won't happen because the only evidence in such a case can only come after the fact.

I meant more that, if you look back historically, hardware itterations have come in many forms. The DSi was innocuous but the Color was a substantial jump with many exclusives, and was then outright replaced two years later. The OG 3DS has itself lasted longer than the Color, and it, unlike the Color, isn't being completely phased out by the arrival of the N3DS. Titles will slowly move from the slower to the stronger console, no doubt, but no one will jump ship anytime soon or at all before the actual next generation releases. The Color lasted a little over two and a half years and brought about 50+ Color exclusives, then was outright replaced in format and all by the GBA. The GBA itself only lasted a little over three years before it and the gameboy line came to an end with the arrival of the DS.

This is sorta an odd way to go about this. Nintendo should have just had the second stick to start. Now, Nintendo is making us buy yet another system... sigh.

idk about anyone else but I'm super pumped for this. Even if it is a bit more than the XL, I was planning on upgrading soon anyway, so now that this is close might as well wait.

Sorry if you mentioned this in the OP or if people have said it a million times, but it's because Nintendo has essentially alienated the almost 45 million people who have already bought a 3DS by making a model that has the same price and hardware, but still somehow gets exclusive games. If there were exclusive features for it, that's be one thing, but exclusive games is basically them saying "Hey we know you purchased one already to play all 3DS games, but f*ck you, buy another".

I know this is the same business model that Smartphones have been using for years, but they've been seeing success because they're dedicated to many different fuctionalities, versus the 3DS which is dedicated strictly to gaming.

Game Boy Color

DSi