Recently, Edge magazine (#116) has reported that Nintendo may be working on a GBA 2 already. In fact, it could arrive in Japan by the end of this year. Would Nintendo really release a follow-up so soon? More details inside.

According to their sources, the biggest change is a back-lit screen. This would be a tremendous addition with so many complaing about GBA's hard to see screen. Nintendo may of seen the Afterburner kit that will add a light to your GBA and saw they were missing out on making even more money on their Game Boy line. But there is much more to it then being a GBA Light.

Reports say it will also look very different. In fact it will have a screen that 'flips down' somewhat like the old "Game & Watch" series games. The rumored additions include:

  • A slightly larger and back-lit screen.
  • Redesigned look with a flip down screen.
  • Uses a slimline battery (like a cell phone) that provides 10 hours of power.
  • 4 face buttons (instead of 2).
  • Faster processor and more RAM.

The rumored 4 face buttons in addition to the 2 triggers might stem from the fact old SNES ports on GBA are selling so well (the SNES controller had 4 face buttons). It of course would still be backward compatible with all old Game Boy games. A back-lit screen would be nice, but it seems surprising that Nintendo would release such a major upgrade so soon. GBA has only been out in the US about 1.5 years, and it took them over 9 years to significatly upgrade the original GB. These seem like very nice (and needed) changes, but it could alienate the millions of current GBA owners and that doesn't seem like Nintendo (more like Sega...). And why nothing from Nintendo at all? This isn't the "big announcement" is it? Maybe Edge just has bad sources. We shall see.

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