Nintendo has today announced global street dates for its much anticipated glasses-free 3D handheld, the 3DS.

The 3DS will be released in Japan on the 26th of February and available in the US and Europe in March 2011. We’ve contacted Nintendo to finalise a date for Australia and New Zealand.

The 3DS will cost JPY ¥25,000. Using current exchange rates this come to almost exactly USD $299.00 but Nintendo has not announced US or European pricing.

The new handheld will include a Game Boy Virtual Console, encompassing Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games.

The 3DS is wi-fi capable and while in sleep mode can download data such as rankings and software updates. The handheld will exchange data with any other 3DS’ in the vicinity – a light at the top right of the screen will indicate when this is happening. A “tag mode” allows for data storage for multiple games at once meaning that data exchange is not only limited to the game you’re currently playing.

Finally, the 3DS will come with a 2GB SD card.