Nintendo is expected to launch a new touchscreen version of its popular Nintendo DS handheld games console.
It is thought the new-look Nintendo DS will feature a built-in camera and even a music player, as well as improved wireless internet capabilities, in what is widely considered to be a pre-emptive strike against Apple's iPhone, which is emerging as a popular mobile gaming platform.
More than 81 million Nintendo DS consoles have been sold since it was launched in 2004, according to sales-tracking website VG Chartz.
The DS has been credited with bringing a whole new audience of women and young girls to gaming, thanks to its family-friendly titles, such as brain-training and puzzle games, and ease of use.
Nintendo's chief executive, Satoru Iwata, is expected to unveil the new DS at a press conference in Japan at 5am UK time on Thursday, according to Pelham Smithers, an analyst at Pali International.
Rumours have been circulating online for some time about a new version of the handheld console, and the timing of the announcement would tie in with the start of the Tokyo Games Show, which kicks off on October 9.
It is likely the touchscreen DS would be available in shops in the next few weeks, to take advantage of the lucrative Christmas shopping season.
There is no indication of how much the new device will cost, or whether it will be available in the UK - where the current version of the DS continues to sell strongly - or sold initially in Japan, where sales of the handheld console have been in decline.
