But just hours after the console went on saleon Saturday hackers had already found a way to stretch the capabilities of the machine.
A YouTube video posted by the R4i group showed hackers who have managed to get the 3DS to run older, pirated DS games using a third-party flash memory cartridge.
Satisfied: Toyohisa Ishihara was the first person to purchase Nintendo's revolutionary new hand-held console
Hackers claimed that they have been able to modify the 3DS's built-in 'white list' to allow the machine to use the R4 memory cart.
Users will only be able to do this by directly hacking the device itself, they said.
The release of the 3DS has been a big success for Japanese video games giant Nintendo. Of 400,000 consoles made available to retailers for the launch, 371,326 units were sold on the first two days of release, according to to the Wall Street Journal.
The 3DS not due to be launched in Europe until March 25, but comments posted on the video suggest that the hack could push back that back as Nintendo try to fix the security breach.
Hackers R4i say that they expect Nintendo to release an update blocking third-party memory carts.
The Nintendo 3DS represents a major breakthrough as unlike the latest 3D televisions and cinema screens, it offers 3D images of both games and films without the need for special glasses.
But the launch of the long-awaited 3D version of Nintendo's best-selling DS games console was slightly overshadowed by a health warning.
The Japanese computer giant has said children under the age of six should not use the device in 3D mode as it may harm their eyesight.
The 3DS is vital for the future of Nintendo, which disappointed many children around the world after it was unable to launch the product in time for Christmas.
The failure to go on sale in the crucial trading period wiped tens of millions of pounds off the company's stock market value.
