There’s a rumor that originated over at 01Net, which cites a source claiming that the 3DS will re-launch in 2012, complete with a new body (3DS Lite) and a second circle pad.

But what about those of us who already have a 3DS? Are we going to have to buy a new model to keep up with the games that support the second circle pad? Apparently not. Current 3DS owners will be getting a detachable circle pad that will retail for around $10. I grabbed my 3DS off of its cradle to see how such a thing would work and I honestly came up with nothing. There’s possibly space under the buttons on the right side, but I can’t figure out a way to securely attach something as action-heavy as a circle pad.

And that’s not all. It’s also rumored that Nintendo is moving away from the 3D aspect of the 3DS and plan to start marketing it without an emphasis on 3D at all, even changing the name of the handheld to something else.

Until proven otherwise, I’m calling this rumor bullshit. Nintendo has already lost a massive amount of money on the 3DS and gone on the record saying that no “lite” version is in the works. Oh, and keep in mind the same website had a source that claimed the Playstation Vita had its RAM cut in half, which turned out was completely false.