Videogames analyst oracle Michael Pachter has suggested that the “revolutionary” 3DS could launch alongside increased game prices for the handheld. Pachter also states that he would expect the console itself to ship at a price point of at least $250, due to the “unique experience” provided by the hardware. “From a software perspective, we believe Nintendo will be able to increase DS software prices, from a blended average of around $25 today to over $29 next year.”

While the thinking behind the prediction is reasonably sound, expect a torrent of gaming websites and blogs to run with scaremongering headlines of “NINTENDO TO DEMAND INTERNAL ORGANS FOR 3DS CARTS” in the next few days, like the similarly baseless Call of Duty subscription debacle last week. Of course it would be entirely justified for the price of 3DS titles to raise to meet increased production and development costs, but let’s just remember that “we believe Nintendo will” does not mean “Nintendo will”.