[Update] Rumor: Nintendo to unveil larger 3DS model. Wii U price revealed as well?

3DS modelsJapanese business publication Nikkei is reporting that Nintendo will unveil a redesigned 3DS during their E3 press conference on Tuesday. The translated report states that the new 3DS model will have a larger screen measured at 4.3 inches. The new screen size of the rumored redesign would make it 1.5 times than the current 3DS. In addition, the Nikkei also reports that the new model could launch as early as this summer in North America, Europe, and Japan.

Also, the issue of the Wii U price is apparently revealed by the Nikkei report. 30,000 yen is the rumored price, which roughly translates to just under $390.

As much as non-3DS owners like myself have been clamoring for a redesign of the handheld, the idea of a bigger screen will grab the attention of some, but will a second circle pad or even better battery life (a deal breaker for me when the 3DS first launched) be included?

We’ll find out soon enough tomorrow at Nintendo’s E3 2012 press conference, which begins at 9:00 PST on Tuesday.

[Update] – Nintendo has responded to the Nikkei’s report by stating that it was based on speculation. The company also reiterated that people will get the information they need from their pre and post-E3 conferences.

Harrison Milfeld is a writer, editor, and freelance journalist from Missouri. Ever since he could walk, Harrison has been an avid fan of the world of Nintendo. For years, he has purchased every one of the company's subsequent products (yes, including the Virtual Boy and eReader). It wasn't until he was a young teen when he bought a PS2 that he began to embrace cross-console relations, a decision he doesn't regret. When he's not gaming, Harrison is looking to break into the magazine journalism industry and realize his dream of becoming a features reporter.