President Satoru Iwata cites concerns for consumer confusion and mass production efficiency as reasons it has "no plans" to pursue more portable models in addition to 3DS XL; Circle Pad Pro for 3DS XL confirmed.

The possibility of Nintendo manufacturing a new 3DS model outside of the 3DS XL is slim. During a recent shareholder meeting (attended and translated by Andriasang), Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said the Mario factory currently has "no plans" in the near future for new models of the portable. This decision, he said, was based in part on an estimation that consumers would be "confused" if there were too many choices.

Don't expect Nintendo to iterate further on the 3DS.

Iwata also cited mass production efficiency concerns as a reason Nintendo is not likely to release a new 3DS iteration. Speaking about the Tokyo game giant's recently announced supersized 3DS XL, Iwata said this system was the result of a "great need" for a large screen. The 3DS XL is due out in North America on August 19 for $200 and in Europe three weeks earlier on July 28.

The original DS was iterated on three times with the DS Lite, DSi, and DSi XL. Earlier this month (and prior to the announcement of the 3DS XL), Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto said a new 3DS model was "unlikely". He explained that more can be done with current 3DS hardware, as well as the 3D gaming sector in general.

Elsewhere, the latest issue of Japanese game magazine Famitsu (translated by Kotaku), confirms that the 3DS XL will receive its own Circle Pad Pro accessory. This peripheral will be called the Circle Pad Pro XL and will go on sale this year in Japan. Information regarding a Western release was not mentioned.

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