Nintendo 3DS

v • t • e
Nintendo 3DS
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Type	Handheld
Generation	Eighth generation
Release date	26 February 2011; 25 March 2011; 27 March 2011; 31 March 2011; 28 April 2011; 28 September 2012
Online service	Nintendo Network (discontinued)
Units sold	75.94 million
Internal codename	Citra or CTR
Predecessor	Nintendo DS
Successor	Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo 3DS is a handheld video game console released by Nintendo in 2011. It consists of two screens with the buttons at the side of the bottom screen, which is tactile and has support for NFC. The top screen, although it is not tactile, it can adapt a 3D mode adjustable by the user. Since the 3DS is a console made to take it wherever the user want, it can be folded to maximize the portability. The console features two cameras (front and back), one microphone, gyroscope and a stylus. On 9 December 2013, the 3DS systems recieved a major system update that added compatibility with Miiverse, a social media created by Nintendo.

There are different variants of models, such as the Nintendo 2DS, the New Nintendo 2DS XL, the New Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo 3DS XL and the New Nintendo 3DS XL. The main difference between the 3DS and 2DS is the addition of a 3D mode for the top screen. The original Nintendo 2DS cannot be folded.

The Nintendo 3DS presented virtual coins called Play Coins in order to incentivate going for walks: every 100 steps, users will recieve 1 Play Coin. Users can gain a maximum of 10 Play Coins per day and have a total maximum of 300. Play Coins can be used to purchase themes for the HOME menu or rewards in games, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D uses this function.

The Nintendo 3DS also presents StreetPass, a networking feature that works with nearby consoles. When the system is closed in Sleep Mode, StreetPass will activate automatically and will detect other 3DS with active StreetPass in a radius of 30 metres. This will exchange some information about the players, such as the Miis, who will reunite on the StreetPass Mii Plaza. Each 3DS has a cooldown of "Streetpassing" the same place or other 3DS of 8 hours. When the system has detected a 3DS, its LED turn green. Note that StreetPass can be disabled with Parental Controls. Xenoblade Chronicles 3D uses this function.

Xeno- series[edit]

Xenosaga I & II (via Nintendo DS backwards compatibility)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D (New Nintendo 3DS only)

Games with Xeno- content[edit]

Main article: List of Xeno series crossovers

The following list displays 3DS games in chronological order that somehow reference the Xeno- series.

Customization[edit]

The Nintendo 3DS allowed users to customize the HOME menu using themes. The game Xenoblade Chronicles has two themes.

The first one, Xenoblade Chronicles: Monado, presents the main party overlooking Mechonis on the top screen and the Monado on the bottom screen. When scrolling between pages, the Monado will switch between the symbols for Monado Buster (斬), Shield (盾), and Enchant (機). A truncated version of Gaur Plain plays. Several sound effects are replaced with ones from Xenoblade Chronicles: opening a folder is opening the menu, closing a folder is going back in a menu, moving the cursor is scrolling up or down on the Battle Palette, and launching a game is the Landmark Discovered fanfare.

The other theme, Xenoblade Chronicles: Mechonis, is based the game's boxart. The top screen shows the Mechonis looming in the distance, while the bottom screen shows the Monado embedded in a field. A truncated version of the Main Theme plays, fading out some time after the violin begins. Several sound effects are replaced with ones from Xenoblade Chronicles: opening a folder is menu selection, closing a folder is going back in a menu, moving the cursor is moving the menu selection, and launching a game is the sound for selecting an option from the main menu.

Additionally, the New Nintendo 3DS allowed users to change the faceplate. Xenoblade has one showcasing the Monado with a red background.