US to get DSi after Europe?

Excuse us while we have a little chuckle at news reported by indignant US sites today that their readers might be getting Nintendo's new DSi console after the rest of the world.

We already know Japanese gamers will be first – as usual – to get their mitts on the DSi as Nintendo has confirmed a November 1st release date.

And Nintendo has also said the DSi will be released in spring 2009 across Europe.

But Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime subsequently informed Americans they would have to wait until "well into 2009" for the console.

It's not as bad news as it sounds for the US market though as Fil-Aime has since said in an interview (with G4) that he meant it will launch in the 2009 fiscal financial year.

"Really, for us, it's going to be in our next fiscal: so that's after April. That's a long time to wait for a consumer who will be bypassing great titles like Chrono Trigger and the new Pokémon title," Fil-Aime says. "We think, actually, that most consumers are going to opt to jump into DS now, enjoy all of the great games, and then at some future point upgrade to the DSi."

The reason Nintendo is dragging its feet over the US release date could be that the DS Lite is still selling phenomenally well in the US. In August, the DS broke all previous hardware sales records by selling over half a million consoles throughout the month. If the market isn't beginning to slow there (as it is in Japan) then Nintendo won't be in a hurry to bring in new hardware.

If the DSi is released in Europe before the US it will surely be an unusual step, as they historically hit Japan, then the US, then Europe.

Which means, instead of us lining the pockets of US importers, they can perhaps line ours. Hark, is that the sound of eBay calling us to make a quick buck we hear? Not that we would, obviously.

Anyway, whether you're European or North American, the DSi is in no-one's hands currently. But you can read our handy DSi vs DS guide to see whether you should be pre-ordering.