The 3DS XL isn't due out in North America for over six weeks, but with the Japanese and European release dates less than a month away, several outlets have been able to get their hands on the large-sized 3DS. Early reports have suggested that the system's 3D effect has been improved, as well as the sweet spot for viewing the effect. With that in mind, questions started being raised about whether Nintendo has made any deliberate alterations to the system, or whether some of this is purely a side effect of making the system bigger.

We asked Nintendo.First and foremost, the 3D effect and the 3DS XL's screens. Aside from physical size, Nintendo has made no changes to the 3DS XL's displays - they are made of the same materials as the original 3DS. Nintendo attributes the perception of better 3D to the actual dimensions of the screen, noting that the larger format can lend to a better impression of depth with some games.Furthermore, Nintendo hasn't adjusted the 3DS XL to accommodate the 90% display increase. Early impressions of the XL have noted that 3DS games fare well in the expanded format, even going so far as to wonder if there are filters or aliasing effects being applied to assist. Nintendo denies this is the case, telling IGN that the XL features no such implementation.A variety of cosmetic changes have accompanied the XL design, including what appears to be slight adjustments to the speaker design, which features a slightly different array of holes. Nintendo confirmed to us that those changes are simply cosmetic - "the speaker function of the XL is the same quality level as the 3DS's," a spokeperson told us.Lastly, one interesting adjustment has been made to the XL. While the system's single circle pad remains the same as its original 3DS counterpart, Nintendo has adjusted all of the other inputs, including the D-Pad, shoulder and face buttons. They are all, according to the publisher, "slightly bigger than the 3DS buttons."Small changes, but as any DS owner knows, some of the smallest differences can actually be big - even the subtle feel of the directional pad. Stay tuned to IGN for more on the 3DS XL - expect our full impressions in the very near future.

Rich is an Executive Editor of IGN.com, and the leader of the network's Nintendo team. He also covers all things Assassin's Creed, Resident Evil, WWE and more. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN , if you dare.