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Game Capsule
Launch

Console encyclopedia

Nintendo · 2004

Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS Emulator Online

HandheldGeneration 7

A dual-screen handheld whose lower touch screen, microphone and wireless features opened up new forms of interaction.[1]

Game CapsulePlanned
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Nintendo DS hardware artwork
Nintendo DS · Nintendo
First launch
2004
Manufacturer
Nintendo
Category
Handheld
Generation
7
Hardware sales
154.02M[6]

Worldwide Nintendo DS family hardware.[6]

01

The console story

Nintendo DS launched first in North America in November 2004, followed by Japan in December. It introduced a second screen rather than simply increasing the power of the Game Boy Advance.[1]

The original DS and DS Lite included a GBA slot. DSi revisions removed that slot and introduced cameras and downloadable DSi software.[1]

02

A history in milestones

  1. 2004
    Japan

    [1]

  2. 2004
    North America

    [1]

  3. 2005
    Europe

    [1]

  4. 2006
    DS Lite

    Smaller design with brighter screens.[1]

  5. 2008
    DSi

    Cameras and DSi software; no GBA slot.[1]

03

Technical profile

Processor
ARM9 + ARM7[2]
Memory
4 MB main RAM (original DS)[2]
Display & graphics
Two 256 × 192 LCDs · lower touch screen[2]
Media
DS game cards + GBA slot (DS / Lite)[2]
Audio
16-channel sound hardware[2]
Power
Rechargeable battery[1]
Input & connectivity
Touch screen, buttons, microphone; local wireless and Wi-Fi[2]
05

Why it mattered

New ways to play

Touch-based games and titles such as Nintendogs broadened the handheld’s audience. The family’s revisions differed in both screen size and software features.[1]

154.02M

Worldwide Nintendo DS family hardware.[6]

06

Defining games

Years refer to the earliest release of the named version. Games are historical references; GameCapsule does not distribute them.

01

Nintendogs

A virtual-pet game using touch and microphone input.[3]

02

Mario Kart DS

Portable kart racing with wireless multiplayer.[4]

03

New Super Mario Bros.

A new side-scrolling Mario game.[5]

07

Hardware variants

Nintendo DS

Original dual-screen design.[1]

DS Lite

Smaller design with brighter screens.[1]

DSi

Cameras and DSi software; no GBA slot.[1]

08

Accessories & ecosystem

Stylus
Touch-screen input.[1]
Rumble Pak
Slot-2 accessory for compatible DS software.[1]
09

System family

Related systems in the collection. These links do not imply technical compatibility.

Game Boy Advance hardware artwork

2001 · Related platform

Game Boy Advance

PlannedGame Boy Color hardware artwork

1998 · Related platform

Game Boy Color

Up Next
10

Hardware gallery

Nintendo DS hardware artwork

Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS

Evan-Amos, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain (PD-self)

Console artwork from the Game Capsule collection. No gameplay screenshot is shown.

11

GameCapsule support

Planned

This system is represented in the catalog. Its emulator, file import and gameplay are not available today. There is no announced release date.

Expand beyond Game Boy while preserving a coherent collection. Other consoles remain catalog-only.

Bring your own compatible game files. Game Capsule does not include commercial games.

Explore the roadmap

Sources & further reading

  1. Historical overview and model chronology ↗

    Historical narrative, regional release precision, model chronology, commercial context and accessories

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  2. Rodrigo Copetti · hardware architecture research ↗

    Processor, memory, graphics, audio and hardware interfaces

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  3. Nintendogs · release history ↗

    Named game/version release year; descriptive context

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  4. Mario Kart DS · release history ↗

    Named game/version release year; descriptive context

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  5. New Super Mario Bros. · release history ↗

    Named game/version release year; descriptive context

    Reviewed 2026-09-30
  6. Nintendo investor relations · lifetime hardware sales ↗

    Worldwide consolidated lifetime hardware units; report as of June 30, 2026

    Reviewed 2026-09-30