Nintendo 2DS facts for kids
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An Electric Blue Nintendo 2DS
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| Developer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Product family | Nintendo 3DS family |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Eighth |
| Release date |
October 12, 2013
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| Retail availability | 2013–2020 |
| Introductory price | US$129.99/AU$149.95 |
| Discontinued |
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| Units shipped | 9.68 million (as of 30 September 2018[update]) |
| Media | |
| Operating system | Nintendo 3DS system software |
| Power |
1300 mAh lithium-ion battery
3DS games: 3.5 to 5.5 hours
DS games: 5 to 9 hours Sleep Mode: ≈ 3 days |
| CPU | Dual-Core ARM11 MPCore, single-core ARM9 |
| Memory | 128 MB FCRAM, 6 MB VRAM |
| Storage | Included 4 GB SD card 1 GB internal flash memory Cartridge save |
| Display | Upper: 3.53" LCD @ 400×240 px (WQVGA) Lower: 3.02" resistive touchscreen LCD @ 320×240 (QVGA) |
| Graphics | DMP PICA200 GPU |
| Sound | Mono speaker, microphone |
| Camera | One user-facing and two forward-facing VGA cameras. |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Infrared |
| Online services |
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| Dimensions | Width: 14.4 cm (5.7 in) Height: 12.7 cm (5.0 in) Depth: 2.03 cm (0.80 in) |
| Weight | 260 grams (9.2 oz) |
| Backward compatibility |
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| Successor | New Nintendo 2DS XL |
| Related articles | Nintendo 3DS |
The Nintendo 2DS is a handheld game console made by Nintendo. It was first announced in August 2013. This console was released in North America, Europe, and Australia on October 12, 2013. The Nintendo 2DS is a simpler, more affordable version of the Nintendo 3DS.
It can play almost all the same games as the 3DS. This includes games made for the older Nintendo DS system too. The main difference is its flat, "slate" shape. The 3DS could fold like a clam, but the 2DS does not. Also, the 2DS does not show games in 3D without special glasses. Nintendo made the 2DS to bring more people into gaming. They especially wanted to reach younger players. This was because Nintendo had advised kids under 7 not to use the 3D feature on the 3DS. The Nintendo 2DS was replaced by the New Nintendo 2DS XL in 2017.
People had mixed feelings about the Nintendo 2DS. Many liked its lower price and how Nintendo made it available. However, some critics missed features from the 3DS. These included its folding design and better sound. But others found the 2DS more comfortable and sturdy, especially for kids. The Nintendo 2DS was stopped being sold in Japan in 2019. It was then discontinued worldwide in 2020.
Contents
The Story of the Nintendo 2DS
Nintendo officially showed off the 2DS on August 28, 2013. They did this through a special announcement. Before the public announcement, some reporters got to try it out.
Why Nintendo Made the 2DS
Nintendo wanted to create a device that was "new, unique, and different." They also wanted to get more people interested in their games. A big reason for the 2DS was to reach younger players. Nintendo had suggested that kids under 7 should not use the 3D feature on the 3DS. This was due to possible eye health concerns. Some eye doctors, however, thought the 3DS might help find certain eye problems. They felt the warnings were more about legal reasons.
The 2DS was also cheaper than the 3DS. It cost about US$129.99 when it first came out. The standard 3DS was US$169.99. By May 2016, the price of the 2DS dropped even more to US$79.99.
When the 2DS Launched
The Nintendo 2DS came out in North America, Europe, and Australia on October 12, 2013. This was the same day as the popular games Pokémon X and Y. In North America, it came in black with blue or red edges. In Europe and Australia, it was white with red edges or black with blue edges. Each console came with a 4 GB SD card and a charger.
On December 7, 2013, the Nintendo 2DS launched in South Korea. These versions included a digital copy of Pokémon X or Y.
New colors were released later. A Sea Green version came out in North America on June 6, 2014. This was around the time Tomodachi Life was released. Crystal Red and Crystal Blue versions were released in November 2014. These had a clear front cover. They were released with Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. In North America, these clear models were also sold for a lower price.
In December 2015, Nintendo announced the 2DS would come to Japan. It launched on February 27, 2016. This was to celebrate the release of the original Game Boy Pokémon games on the Virtual Console. These Japanese versions came in clear red, green, blue, and yellow. They had matching colored buttons. Each one also came with the matching Pokémon game. Plus, it included a special Home Menu theme, a poster, and a code for the Pokémon Mew.
On May 11, 2016, Nintendo lowered the U.S. price to US$79.99. This change happened on May 20, 2016. Later, on September 15, 2016, the 2DS was released in Japan in new colors. These included blue, black, red, lavender, and pink. On October 5, 2016, Nintendo released updated Mario Kart 7 2DS bundles in the U.S. These had new color schemes.
How the Nintendo 2DS Works
The Nintendo 2DS has very similar parts to the Nintendo 3DS. It uses the same GPU, CPU, and memory. This means it can play games made for both the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS.
Screen and Sound
The Nintendo 3DS has two screens. The top screen shows 3D images without glasses. The bottom screen is a touchscreen. The Nintendo 2DS, however, uses one large screen. This screen is covered by a frame to make it look like two screens. It cannot show 3D images. Even though it doesn't show 3D, the 2DS still has two cameras. These cameras can take photos in a 3D format.
The Nintendo 2DS has only one internal speaker. This means it plays sound in mono. The 3DS has two speakers for stereo sound. But you can still get stereo sound from the 2DS by using headphones.
Design and Battery
The Nintendo 2DS looks very different from the DS and 3DS. It has a flat, "slate-like" shape. The older consoles could fold in half. The 2DS is about the same size as the 3DS. Its buttons are placed more in the middle of the device. The shoulder buttons are curved and thicker.
To put the 2DS into sleep mode, you use a switch. On the 3DS, you just close the console. The wireless switch was also changed to a setting you can turn on or off in the software.
The Nintendo 2DS uses the same 1300mAh battery as the regular Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo said the 2DS had a slightly longer battery life. It could play 3DS games for 3 to 5.5 hours. For DS games, it could last 5 to 9 hours on one charge.
Games and Online Features
The software on the Nintendo 2DS is almost the same as on the 3DS. There are only small changes to fit its different design. It can play all 3DS games (but only in 2D). It also plays most DS games.
The 2DS offers online features through Nintendo Network. This lets you play games with others online. You can also visit the Nintendo eShop to download and buy games. Other features like SpotPass and StreetPass are also available.
