Nintendo will tell European gamers when it can get their hands on its new DS console in January, the company's UK general manager said yesterday.

They'll also learn how much they can expect to pay for it, Nintendo's UK chief, David Yanton, added, according to a GamesIndustry.biz report.

The Nintendo DS launched in the US and Canada this week, and will go on sale in Japan next week - just ahead of Sony's PlayStation Portable debut on 12 December.

So far the console company has not commented on when the two-screen handheld will appear in Europe. Early reports suggested it had chosen the week commencing 18 March 2005 for the launch - said to be the date on which the PSP will ship over here too.

Current speculation centres on the DS' price, said to be £130 - rather more than the price of the machine in North America, $150 (£80). ®

Related stories

Nintendo unveils DS launch titles
Nintendo aims high with low-cost console
Nintendo redesigns DS handheld console
Sony, Nintendo pick March '05 for Euro console launch
Nintendo DS: more communicator than console?
Sony to ship PlayStation Portable for under $200
Nintendo plots next-gen console 'Revolution'