Reggie on 3DS XL: White doesn’t sell in North America

The Nintendo 3DS XL sure is a sexy little machine. Just check out that screen and think about all the naughty things you could do with that extended battery life, and, well, let’s just say that picking up Nintendo’s new handheld is more tempting than ever.

That is unless you’ve had your eye on that alluring white Japanese system or the silver/black configuration that British gamers have managed to get their hands on. Unfortunately, those haven’t come stateside, but why is that exactly? Speaking with IGN, Nintendo of America boss and giant purple pikmin Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that those colors just don’t seem to sell very well here in North America. 

So instead of approaching this lighter-colored product as a mass [product], we’re going to look at the opportunity on a much more limited basis. You might see a limited-time offer with a white or silver 3DS XL, or we might colorize it slightly differently. But in terms of an ongoing SKU, the consumer has responded in our marketplace and said that, for a handheld gaming device from Nintendo, that kind of white or silver doesn’t sell nearly as well as blue or red or even pink.

Wait for Nintendo of America to look into it? Yeah, I think I’ve heard that one before. I’d like to say I’m surprised by this, considering how unappealing the standard aqua blue and fire red models look, but this seems like yet another light slap in the face for having those darned “niche Japanese tastes.” Sometimes I feel like I born on the wrong side of the Pacific. Sigh, one cosmo black unit please.