If Nintendo's new hand-held model, the DSi, sells well then we can expect to see the gradual phasing out of the DS Lite, which has been in circulation for almost three years.

Speaking to MCV, Nintendo’s UK general manager David Yarnton confirmed that it will be the market that dictates whether the company will take this measure, but Nintendo hope that the extra features of the DSi will convince consumers to pick up the upgraded hand-held.

“We’ll let the market decide. We expect some people will upgrade, but we also anticipate that we’ll win over people who were still undecided on DS – the extra features will help convince them,” he said in response to a question asking whether the DS Lite would be phased out following the launch of the DSi in April.

Yarnton continues: “With the DSi we see multiple consumer types for it. As with everything now, we look at our target market being five to 85, offering different things for different people. The functions of the device really open the platform up to more consumers – it gives the DS format unlimited potential.”

The release date of the new model, which will include include two cameras, a bigger screen, a DS-specific download service, an SD card slot, and music playback functions, is expected to be April 5th in Europe.