Nintendo DS to Add Music and Camera?

A report in Japanese media has Nintendo prepping a refresh of its popular Nintendo DS handheld...adding music playback and a camera.

Nintendo’s DS handheld gaming system has proven wildly popular, consistently outselling competition like the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) and reaching out new markets with titles that appeal to kids as well as adult casual gamers and even seniors. And while the system is projected to sell as many as 28 million units this year, that would still be a decline from the 30 million units Nintendo sold during its previous fiscal year. And the basic system has been on the market almost four years, although Nintendo has been doling out new variants and colors.

With those factors in mind, Japanese news site Nikkei Net has reported (subscription required) that Nintendo is planning a refresh of the Nintendo DS, with new units due to be introduced in Japan before the end of 2008. The new DS systems will feature improved wireless capabilities, but, perhaps more telling, will reportedly also roll in a camera and music playback capabilities.

Earlier speculation on DS refreshes has focused on increasing the size of the unit’s two integrated LCD displays, or reducing the overall size of the system.

Nikkei Net reports that it expects revamped Nintendo DS systems to sell for about ¥20,000 (roughly $190), which would be higher than the current Nintendo DS Lite price of ¥16,800 (or about $160).

Nintendo of America declined to comment on the report.