Nintendo plans to offer free Wi-Fi global gaming network for DS

Nintendo has plans to boost the Nintendo DS into a realm of total wireless gaming. In an press conference today, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata outlined that they will soon offer a free Wi-Fi connection service to Nintendo DS owners, the service expected to be available sometime this year will allow gamers to play head-to-head with other players worldwide.

“This is Nintendo’s plan: make our existing game world better,” Iwata said. “For us, this is a passion. This is a mission of adventure.”

A DS owner could walk into any wireless hotspot to gain access to the gaming network, from that point on its fair game for any takers. Nintendo developers are currently preparing their first global wireless game, Animal Crossing, this should be ready in time for the free Wi-Fi service.

Iwata also revealed details about the new Nintendo gaming console, code named “Revolution”. The Revolution will feature integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, a chip by IBM code-named “Broadway” and a GPU by ATI.