Everything you need to know about the New Nintendo 3DS XL

The New Nintendo 3DS is officially less than a month away from launch, which is exciting for those that are looking to upgrade to the more powerful model. The Nintendo Direct today announced not only the release date, but also the price, as well as a quick look at some of the features that make the New 3DS a step up from its predecessor.

When is it launching and how much will it cost?

The New Nintendo 3DS XL will be available on February 13th, and will retail for $199.99. It will not come with a Power Cord, which means you'll need an old 3DS adapter, or buy one extra.

What are my color options?

As of right now, the new system will only come in two colors; New Red and New Black

Wait, where are the regular versions of the New 3DS?

Oddly enough, the US will only get the XL version of the system, which means if you were hoping to go a cheaper route by getting the regular version, you're out of luck, at least for now.

What about the faceplates?

Since the US is only getting the XL version of the New 3DS, that also means that faceplates will not be available here in the US, since the XL version doesn't support them.

Will there be bundles, special editions?

There will be a Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate bundle which will retail for $229.99 and will come with a limited edition New 3DS as well as a copy of the game. Buying the bundle will be $10 cheaper than buying the New 3DS and the game separately. There will also be a limited edition Majora's Mask New Nintendo 3DS, which will retail for $199.99, however, that option will not come with the game or the AC adapter.

As of right now, it looks like the Majora's Mask edition is already sold out.

So how should new users charge their new system?

This is pretty crappy, I do admit. Luckily, 3DS chargers are actually really cheap, and you can snag one on Amazon for a relatively cheap asking price. In fact, it comes as cheap as just over $8.

What are the new features?

The New Nintendo 3DS will have a number of improved features. The system now sports some new buttons and inputs, such as the C-Stick  which allows better camera control and two extra shoulder buttons. A new head tracker will improve the 3D viewing angle, which means the sweet spot for 3D viewing will be much larger, encouraging more people to play with the 3D function on.

The battery life will also be enhanced, allowing anywhere between 3.5 to 6 hours of gameplay when using 3DS software. The lower screen will also feature a built in NFC reader, which means amiibo will now be available to be scanned into various titles like Super Smash Bros. or the upcoming Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.

What new games are coming? There are exclusives?

The launch of the new system will be complemented with some big heavy hitters, including The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., and ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON LEGACY+. The New Nintendo 3DS will also have an exclusive version of Xenoblade Chronicles that will only work on the new system, thanks to its increased processing power. However, that title won't be out until April 2015.

Faster processing speed? How does that benefit me outside of Xenoblade Chronicles?

The loading times for the main menu as well as in-game are greatly reduced. So even if you're not getting the benefit from increased processing power for Xenoblade Chronices because you're not interested in that title, you'll still benefit from faster loading times.

Ultimately, is it worth the upgrade?

This will be up to your personal preferences. If you care about having a C-stick for games like Resident Evil Revelations, Monster Hunter or Majora's Mask, and the increased processing power for the exclusive Xenoblade Chronicles, then the decision is relatively easy.

However, the fact remains that this isn't a new handheld. Outside of Xenoblade Chronicles, no other exclusives have been announced for the system, and I don't think many will be, since I don't think Nintendo wants to split up their userbase. That means you can still very much get by with your previous Nintendo 3DS