3D Nintendo DS 'coming soon'

(AFP PHOTO / Toru YAMANAKA)

Nintendo Co Ltd plans to launch a new model of its DS handheld game gear that allows users to play three-dimensional (3D) games without using special glasses.

The Japanese firm said the new portable player will be able to play titles created for previous DS models and will be launched in the financial year starting in April.

Nintendo, which competes with Sony Corp and Microsoft Corp in video games, declined to give details such as price and launch dates, but said more information will be announced at the E3 video game trade show in Los Angeles in June.

Sony plans to release 3D titles for its PlayStation 3 game console in time for the planned release of its 3D TVs in June. That game console can be upgraded to become 3D-capable using a software update.

Ahead of the announcement, shares in Nintendo closed up 0.3 per cent at 27,970 yen, outperforming the Nikkei average, which slid 0.5 per cent.