The 3DS XL is real, has July release date in UK

Nintendo has confirmed the news posted by MCV at the beginning of the month – the 3DS XL is real.

And furthermore, it will be out in the UK in a little over a month. It will be released in the UK and Europe on July 28th.

It boasts a 4.88 inch screen – that’s 90 per cent larger than the screen found on the current 3DS and is the largest screen ever featured on a Nintendo handheld.

Three colours will be available at launch: red, silver and blue.

Another key improvement is battery life. Fans will no doubt be pleased to hear that for 3DS games the play time is now between 3.5 and 6.5 hours, and for DS games between six and ten hours.

A 4GB SD card will be included as standard. What won’t be standard, though, is an AC adapter. The device is compatible with existing 3DS, DSi and DSi XL adapters, and Nintendo will be selling the accessory separately along with a charging cradle.

One feature that is missing, however, is a second circle pad. The release of the Circle Pad Pro for the original model had led many to presume that such an inclusion was a given for any redesign.