TOKYO — The newest version of Nintendo’s popular handhold game console, with its large screen that’s easier on the eyes and bigger stylus similar to an ordinary pen, has led some to assume it is intended to lure older gamers.

But the company’s president said Friday the new Nintendo DS is designed to let small groups gather around a single device, watching and participating in game play. This would be a dramatic change — gaming on portable consoles, a popular category that also includes the rival PlayStation Portable from Sony, has until now been a private affair.