Let’s get on the rumour train for this one as word out of GDC is that the DS2 (or whatever it is going to be called) is going to be out this year. According to sources at the event, the new DS will not be a simple iteration update but a whole new machine. Features that are said to be included are even larger screens and a smaller gap between the two screens for ’one big picture’.

Still in the development kit stage, this new DS is said to be about as powerful as the GameCube was, and that anyone who has worked on either the GameCube or Wii will be able to start developing on the system right away. An accelerometer is said to be part of the handheld, too, with this now being the second time that that particular rumour has cropped up.

A release date was also spoken of but not for the actual hardware. Games for the new handheld are on track to be completed before the year is out.

All of the above information is, of course, strictly rumoured for now but it’ll be interesting to see what is true and false when Nintendo do decide to make the next DS.

Source: RPad