Super Rare Nintendo DS Pops Up at Auction

gamerant.com:

An incredibly rare Nintendo DS is being auctioned off, and it could sell for over £15,000. The Nintendo DS was first released in 2004 as the successor to the Nintendo Game Boy Advance and evolved the Big N's classic handheld formula by including a second touchscreen that players could use for hit titles like The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and Pokemon Black and White. While it was eventually phased out in favor of the upgraded Nintendo 3DS in 2011, the original Nintendo DS remains one of gaming’s most well-remembered portable systems, with several of its past exclusives being released on current hardware to this day.

The Nintendo DS came in several different models and colors during its run, with some becoming rarer and more valuable in the years since it was discontinued. One especially noteworthy example would be a diamond-encrusted, pink-and-white DS variant made to commemorate Nintendogs, a series of puppy-raising sims first started in 2005. This specially crafted DS model was crafted by NYC Peach, and only five units were produced. One currently remains on display at the New York Nintendo store in Rockefeller Plaza.

Now someone will get the chance to own one of these extremely rare Nintendogs-themed Nintendo DS handhelds, as it is set to be held at auction at the Wessex Auction Rooms on Thursday, May 2. As reported by the EasyLive Auction website (via Swindon Advertiser), this unit comes in the Japan-exclusive Candy Pink color, with two styluses and a power unit included. The system is said to be in very good condition, with only “some light scratches” on the screen. Bidding is expected to reach heights of about £15,000.

This is just the latest in a series of extremely rare Nintendo hardware being sold at auction for incredibly high prices over the past few years. The many stories include a prototype Nintendo PlayStation system that was ultimately never produced, a rare Donkey Kong Game and Watch unit from the 80s, and even a golden Nintendo Wii console