Nintendo and IGN Entertainment are to join forces to bring online DS players together all around the world.

Nintendo have partnered up with IGN Entertainment to allow gamers to play against each other on their DS no matter where they are. Thanks to IGN's GameSpy Technology players will be able to compete against each other as if they were in the same room.

"With minimum setup procedures, Nintendo DS owners will be able to enjoy Wi-Fi gaming just as easily as if they were playing with their friends in the same room," explains Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing. "To realize this simple and seamless transition to Wi-Fi gaming, we're partnering with one of the leaders in the multiplayer gaming world. Accessing the service will require no added Nintendo subscription charges, whether users hook up using a home broadband Wi-Fi connection or access a Wi-Fi hotspot at a coffee shop, library or elsewhere. It doesn't get any easier than that."

While few titles have been announced so far, with the most famous one being Animal Crossing DS more are expected "in the upcoming weeks" according to the press release, meaning E3 more than likely.

"We're excited to bring the technology that powers more than 300 PC and console video games to Nintendo's innovative wireless platform. Now developers can easily and confidently add advanced matchmaking, community and other multiplayer services to their Nintendo DS games," says Mark Stieglitz, general manager of IGN Entertainment's GameSpy Technology Group. "We're honored that Nintendo is choosing IGN's GameSpy as their middleware partner, and look forward to a very long relationship."