Nintendo previously said it would release a new version of the Circle Pad Pro for the 3DS XL. Well, here it is!

There’s admittedly not much to see. The design looks slightly different compared to the original Circle Pad Pro, though the bottom line is that it still provides dual analog controls on the 3DS.

This updated version is still without a release date or price. But now that we’ve actually seen it, maybe it isn’t too far off from releasing.

Capcom has given Monster Hunter 4 a tentative March 2013 release timeframe. A more specific date will be pinned down closer to launch.

Of course, that vague “date” only applies to Japan. Monster Hunter 4 hasn’t been announced for North America or Europe, but now that Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will be heading to both territories and the future of the franchise seems bright overseas, it’s likely that the company will localize MH4 in due time.

A small 3DS firmware is now out worldwide. It’s a quick and easy update that improves the stability and performance of the system.

When you attempt to access the eShop, you’ll be prompted with a notice about the new firmware. You won’t be able to access the store until the upgrade has been applied.

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