Widescreen dual-touchscreen Nintendo DS refresh rumored

According to the latest rumors, Nintendo is preparing a refresh of its DS portable games console which is scheduled to hit shelves in April or May 2009.  IGN is reporting that the handheld will gain dual touchscreens, one or both of which would be widescreen aspect.

There is some controversy over whether this would be a refresh to the existing DS line, or considered the DS2 – i.e. a whole new model.  While the hardware changes involved seem significant (the image above is a fan-made mockup and not an official concept design), IGN suggest that Nintendo would be unlikely to announce it at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show in October as this could undermine holiday sales.

Analysts have previously suggested that a sooner refresh for the DS line would be likely before the end of the year, to combat declining sales in Japan.  Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter even theorized that “lower than expected DS hardware sales could trigger an earlier launch for the new device.”