Multiple sources close to Nintendo have told IGN that the company's anticipated DS successor will have an early Q2 launch in North America. More specifically, the company told its distributors to expect the new product to ship out on April 4th.

Nintendo's new DSi will carry a manufacturer suggested retail price of $179.99, making the console approximately $50 more than the current DS Lite price point. Just two months ago, the DSi was released in Japan and currently retails there for ¥18,900 yen ($211 USD). At its launch, the console sold just over 170,000 units and carried on to sell more than one million units through the end of December.

Meanwhile, Nintendo's portable console audience has been concerned with the company's choice to launch the product in the second quarter of this year. In response, Nintendo of America said last October that it did not feel it necessary to release DSi in 2008 due to the phenomenal selling rate of its predecessor. Additionally, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has been quoted to promise that DSi would not debut in America until sometime after the first quarter.

Nevertheless, an official representative from Nintendo has told IGN that the company does not comment on rumors or speculation. Although IGN verified the DSi pricing and release date with three independent sources, we still must wait for Nintendo to make an official public announcement.