Could it be? Is this fabled 3DS bundle coming to North American shores?

Earlier this week, rumors had been circling on forums on sites like NeoGAF and Cheap Ass Gamer, saying that an ad for a Fire Emblem Awakening 3DS Bundle had been spotted. The sleuths of the internet got to work with trying to blow the image up to glean whether or not the game came pre-installed, if the handheld contained inside was an XL or an OG 3DS (original 3DS), and any other details they could find.

Well, the theory-crafting can stop, at least momentarily, because Nintendo of America made the announcement on Twitter that a Fire Emblem Awakening hardware bundle will be making it to North America.

And if the image of the bundle is any indicator, the game will come pre-installed on the machine. This makes sense since Nintendo will be releasing the game in both a physical form for retailers and digital form for the eShop. The handheld looks to be the same one released for Japan last year, so those who were hoping for an XL will be getting an OG instead.

The game is said to be more accessible to newcomers and players of all types, giving them an option to play a Casual Mode in which character deaths are not permanent. They'll also be able to save at any point in the game, giving them the ability to fix any tactical mistakes. The lack of these two options may have turned away less hardcore players from the games before, but Awakening should provide newbies with a good entry point for the series.

A demo for the game will be available on the eShop starting January 17th, 2013. Not long after that, the game proper will be released on February 4th, 2013, so tentative buyers will have a chance to play the next entry in the Fire Emblem series a few weeks in advance.

Let us know if you're excited for this bundle and whether or not you'd prefer an XL over an OG 3DS!

Fire Emblem Awakening
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