Nintendo confirms Circle Pad Pro XL add-on for the 3DS XL

Remember when the 3DS Circle Pad Pro was unveiled and we had a bit of a snigger at how bulky it looked? Well, things are about to get a whole lot bulkier.

For those not in the know, the Circle Pad Pro fits around your 3DS console and adds an extra analogue pad on the right of the console. You can use it in games like Resident Evil: Revelations and Metal Gear Solid to make the experience that little bit more enjoyable / comfortable.

The Circle Pad Pro obviously won't fit around the upcoming Nintendo 3DS XL, which left us wondering why exactly Nintendo didn't simply stick the second analogue stick on the beefed-up handheld itself.

Now, we know the reason: it's because there's an XL version of the Circle Pad Pro dock coming, too, Nintendo told Famitsu.

While the larger version of the device hasn't been properly revealed by The Big N yet, it will reportedly go on sale in Japan sometime later this year. No confirmation on a Western release date, mind.