Nintendo has revealed a brand new pair of 3DS models that look to refresh the platform with brand new technical hardware.

Company president Satoru Iwata returned from recent illness for today's Nintendo Direct to personally introduce New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL.

Launching in Japan on October 11th, and in the west next year, the new models feature a second, smaller analogue pad (similar to the Gamecube's C-stick), extra ZR and ZL shoulder buttons, and coloured face buttons inspired by the Super Famicon.

New Nintendo 3DS and XL also feature improved screens, with the 3D screen now better calibrated to each eye using the system's gyroscope. The result is the retention of the 3D effect even when you view the top screen from an angle.

The standard-sized New Nintendo 3DS will even have replaceable front and bottom plates, allowing you to customise your handheld's look with all kinds of designs.

More importantly, the system has changed under the hood. A new and improved CPU means that new software will be able to leverage the power of New 3DS in a way not seen on the current 3DS model. Nintendo has confirmed that software is currently in development that will be exclusively for the New 3DS range, and will not be playable on the old models. The first of these is a port of Wii JRPG classic Xenoblade Chronicles.

It in effect means that the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL could be to Nintendo 3DS what the Game Boy Colour was to the original Game Boy.

New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL go on sale in Japan on October 11th. Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that the new generation will be coming to our shores some time in 2015.