Third parties dominate 3DS launch line-up

Nintendo has confirmed its European launch line-up for the impending 3DS handheld.

On the console's launch date, March 25, 13 games will be available. Four of these are first party (and three of these are different versions of the latest Nintendogs title), with the rest constituting a range of familiar licenses from third-party publishers.

Release dates for major Nintendo franchises such Zelda, Mario and Animal Crossing are not yet available. However, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Tecmo Koei, Sega, Capcom and EA are all due to also release titles in the weeks following the handheld's release.

The full launch line-up is as follows:

• Pilotwings Resort - Nintendo
• Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends - Nintendo
• Nintendogs + Cats: French Bulldog & New Friends - Nintendo
• Nintendogs + Cats: Toy Poodle & New Friends - Nintendo
• Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition - Capcom
• The Sims 3 - EA
• PES 2011 3D – Pro Evolution Soccer - Konami
• LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars - LucasArts
• Ridge Racer 3D - Namco Bandai
• Super Monkey Ball 3D - Sega
• Samurai Warriors: Chronicles - Tecmo Koei
• Asphalt 3D - Ubisoft
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars - Ubisoft
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 3D - Ubisoft
• Rayman 3D - Ubisoft