Who is The Nintendo 2DS XL For Exactly?

Nintendo fans everywhere rejoiced over the release of the Switch earlier this year. It brought Breath of the Wild and the ability to enjoy some great games on the go. It's main bragging point was the fact that it was a handheld as well as a console you could plug into your tv. We have a whole write up on the switch experience you could check out here. Since it's release however, Nintendo has been unable to meet production demand of the switch, leaving most gamers still searching for a console that has been out for several months now. This has many people scratching their heads as to who the 2DS XL is actually for. The 2DS and the 3DS and 3DS XL have been out for years and Nintendo has said they plan on supporting their cheaper handhelds, in spite of the introduction of the Switch to the line up. So apart from the lower price point, what can you expect from the 2DS XL? The focus here is more on 2DS XL vs Switch as opposed to 3DS XL because the Switch does not have a 3D screen.

Gamers of all ages can play in style with the New Nintendo 2DS XL system. It gives you the power of the New Nintendo 3DS XL system in a streamlined, affordable package—and plays a huge library of games in 2D. - Nintendo

Here are some of the benefits as listed on the Nintendo website:

- Go ahead and share games! Nintendo 3DS games will work on multiple systems, including New Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 2DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS.

- You can also play games from older systems like Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi, so it’s easy to upgrade to a new system without losing your game library.

- The screen is 82% bigger than 2DS models

- It is Amiibo compatible 

- New Folding Design

- It comes preloaded with the usual Nintendo Mii and Nintendo store software

- It comes with a stylus, a 4 GB microSDHC card, a pre-installed battery, and six AR cards.

- Widescreen LCD display, capable of displaying approximately 16.77 million colors at 400x240 pixel resolution

- A vast game library including all your favorites from previous DS handhelds and many more to come. 

Take a look at Nintendo's DS comparison here:

So essentially there are three main differences. The 2DS XL folds up so it's more portable where as you need a case to protect your switch screen. The Switch costs $300 and the 2DS XL only costs $150. The Switch is struggling to build a game library and the 2DS XL has the entire past DS lineup plus future releases to come. So the 2DS XL seems to be a good fit for people who don't want a 3DS XL for only $40 more or a Switch for double the cost, but with a better screen, HDMI output and the chance to play Skyrim. This release doesn't really get me excited but I'm sure it will sell. Maybe if Nintendo put less effort into developing an underpowered 2D handheld and spent those resources on the Switch they could really improve their next gen offering. Now they just need to figure out how to get the parts Apple has been buying up that are necessary to manufacture the Switch.