Nintendo has confirmed that a Circle Pad Pro built to fit the recently announced 3DS XL handheld will be released later this year.

So far, the accessory has only been confirmed for Japan (via the latest issue of Famitsu), but it is expected to make its way west too. No other specifics for the device were divulged.

The current Circle Pad Pro adds a second Circle Pad and additional shouler buttons, and works by fitting onto the entire 3DS system, so would not be compatible with the significantly larger 3DS XL, which features 90% larger screens.

No 3DS game as of yet requires the use of the Circle Pad Pro, but titles that are compatible include Kid Icarus: Uprising, Monster Hunter 3 G and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D.