Nintendo Announces Pikachu Themed 2DS XL

Pikachu is charging back to the mainstream at full blast. A special Pikachu Nintendo 2DS XL will be launching on January 26 for a suggested price of $159.99, according to a Nintendo Press release yesterday.



This version of the 2DS XL, a larger, non-3D version of the Nintendo 3DS, will be primarily yellow and feature Pikachu's familiar face on the front. The buttons inside are colored in the same brown accent as the electric mouse itself.



Doug Bowser, Nintendo of Americas Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing had this to say about the bright and happy device.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL Pikachu Edition is a charming addition to the Nintendo 3DS line-up that is sure to delight Pokémon fans of all ages. With a massive library of games, the Nintendo 3DS family of systems continues to deliver one-of-a-kind experiences for every type of gamer.

This is the perfect (and likely intentional) time to release a new special edition handheld. We recently reported on Detective Pikachu coming to the West on March 23. The $39.99 title stars a young boy who teams up with the great Detective Pikachu to solve the mysteries of Ryme City. Alongside the game's launch is a Detective Pikachu Amiibo that's nearly twice as large as your standard.



There's a good 2-month gap between the Pikachu 2DS XL and Detective Pikachu, unfortunately. To keep yourself filled up on that Pocket Monster fix, a 3DS eShop will be launching Pokemon Crystal as a digital port for $9.99. This 2D Game Boy Color was the expanded version of 2nd generation's Gold and Silver. You can pre-purchase the game as early as today if you want to lock that in immediately.