Nintendo has confirmed the unexpected news that the New 3DS system will be released in Australia and New Zealand this year, despite western territories missing out on a 2014 launch.

Before now, only Japan had been expected to receive the new handheld before Christmas, with an October 11th launch date. But now it has been announced that Australia - a region often below even Europe on the release date pecking order - will see the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL launch on November 21st. They'll carry a price tag of $219.95 AUD and $249.95 AUD respectively.

Both Europe and North America are still anticipating 2015 launch.

That said, with Australia and New Zealand subscribing to the PAL format, Europeans can import their system and still expect all future and current 3DS games to work in spite of region locking.

The New 3DS boasts improved technical specifications, as well as additional input methods such as a second circle pad and extra shoulder buttons. It will open to the door to exclusive New 3DS software which will not be playable on regular 3DS and 3DS XL systems - the first of which will be a port of the epic Wii RPG Xenoblade Chronicles. You can read the full details about the New 3DS here.