Only a few days after the Nintendo 3DS was announced people were wondering whether there would be an XL version and lthough the announcement of the 3DS did steal the thunder from the DSi XL, it sold well and captured its segment of the market, so will Nintendo repeat the [embiggening](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Embiggen) process?

Technologically there is nothing stopping Nintendo from creating a XL version. The 3DS uses what is known as parallax barrier technology to achieve its 3D effect and this type of display is being used in televisions over 50″ wide, so that’s not a problem. But this technology is expensive.

Nintendo are estimated to be paying $15-$25 for the 3D screen at the moment, and simply adding a little bit of extra size could add $10 or so to the retail price. That doesn’t sound like much, but then there’s all the extra material required to create the new hardware casing, the R&D costs, and a bigger or more efficient battery (the display would be quite the power hog I’d imagine).

It’s no secret that the 3DS could already be quite expensive in its regular size, seeing as it’s so cutting-edge – I’m not sure if Nintendo would be able to ask for *more* money. You could argue that the costs of the displays (and the other materials) will drop significantly over the next couple of years as more devices become 3D-enabled. That’s a fair point if cost was the only issue, but of course: it isn’t.

Do you know why the Nintendo DSi XL exists? Of course Nintendo wanted to continue to milk their cash cow, but beyond that it serves two main purposes:

* Bringing handheld gaming to older generations and those who may not great eye sight.
* Creating a social experience around a single handhed.

But you may have noticed a problem: an XL version of the 3DS could satisfy neither of these purposes, making it defunct before it even exists.

Aside from the fact that I don’t believe too many people in older generations will latch onto 3D content like the youth will, people with eye sight problems are simply not going to be able to enjoy the experience as much. Of course, you could instruct them to turn down the intensity of the 3D effects to nil, but then you lose the main selling point of the handheld. They may as well stick with the DSi XL from their standpoint.

In terms of social experiences, this is what Reggie Fils-Aime (the President of Nintendo of America) had to say:

> In our mind, the big advance with the DSi XL… is actually the wider view angle. We think making portable gaming more social is a big opportunity and I say this from experience. ([Source](http://www.thetanooki.com/2010/03/27/reggie-once-you-use-the-dsi-xl-you-wont-go-back/))

Once again, with the 3DS, this is impossible. There is no wider view angle on the 3DS and a larger display would not accommodate for that because of the need to look at 3D content from the “sweet spot.” It’ll be no fun for your friends to stand around your 3DS and for them to only see a blurry image while your mind is being blown.

Could this problem be solved though? Yes. There are ways parallax barrier technology can be harnessed to allow for multiple viewing angles (aka, “sweet spots”) but it’s still in very early stages. We’re still a good two or three years away from seeing that technology in consumer devices I’d imagine.

So, should we expect a 3DS XL? I’ve been bursting your bubble this entire article, but I would never say “never” because there could always be something I’m missing.

Costs will go down and technology hurdles will be leaped, but the biggest thing I’m thinking about is what purpose would the 3DS XL serve? Could it survive solely on being a “more social experience” if it could be modified to allow multiple sweet spots? Or is there some other reason Nintendo would decide to beef up the 3DS?