Nintendo has been updating its DS portable video game console relatively constantly since the introduction in 2004, however, the company considers its recently announced 3DS as its biggest handheld product launch since the launch of the original DS. Nintendo claims that 3DS is its next-generation mobile gaming platform.

“We have ideas of what we want to bring to the consumer that we cannot do with the current DS model. The Nintendo 3DS for us is our next handheld platform,” said Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said in an interview with BusinessWeek web-site.

This is the first time when a high-ranking executive at Nintendo confirms that the Nintendo 3DS will be able to do something more than just output existing video-games in stereo 3D mode. Apparently, it looks like Nintendo 3DS will feature more powerful hardware and will have a lineup of games that will exclusively work on the 3DS. It likely that Nintendo will have to install more powerful graphics core into the 3DS and also encourage game developers to create more visually attractive titles.

“Fundamentally, this business is about software, not hardware. Software is what drives engagement by the consumer. For us technology is not the end, it’s the means to an end, which is around a great consumer experience,” said Mr. Fils-Aime.

Nintendo 3DS will be released in the next twelve month and until its launch Nintendo will logically unveil much more details about the portable video game console.

Tags: Nintendo, DS, 3DS, Stereo 3D