The Nintendo DS is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released worldwide between 2004 and 2005. The "DS" in the name is an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", reflecting the system’s most distinctive feature: two LCD screens working in tandem, with the lower screen functioning as a touchscreen. Both screens are housed in a clamshell design similar to that of the Game Boy Advance SP and some models of the Game & Watch series. The Nintendo DS supported wireless connectivity for local multiplayer over short distances, as well as online play through the now-defunct Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. During the seventh generation of video game consoles, its primary competitor was Sony's PlayStation Portable.
Prior to release, Nintendo marketed the DS as an experimental "third pillar" in its console lineup, intended to complement the Game Boy Advance family and the GameCube. However, backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance titles and strong sales led it to be widely regarded as the successor to the Game Boy line. On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a slimmer and lighter redesign featuring brighter screens and improved battery life. The system was later followed by the Nintendo DSi, released on November 1, 2008, which introduced additional enhancements such as dual digital cameras and digital distribution of games, while removing backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance titles.