Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima Feels The 3DS Can "Continue In Its Own Form"

What's Japanese for 'cannibalize'? I find it hard to believe he used that terminology.

Sounds good to me. Hopefully this means they're going to announce some more big first party 3DS games at some point.

When a new successor console is mentioned or is about to release, the same thing is usually said about its predecessor and it never ever turns out to be the case.
However this has a grain of truth to it, I think. The 3DS likely still has a pretty bright future. Maybe that's more towards the kid's games end of the market but I'll continue playing long after the release of Switch - I've got a massive backlog of RPGs for a start!

@gcunit Tomogui

Not too sure what to make of the comments but my guess is mainly wiiu and wii ports ahead for the 3ds.

@BensonUii i want to start the rumor that the switch has auto-stereo 3d to shame them into adapting it.

I'm not sure this is a good idea for the company. Wasn't the point of merging handheld and home console business into one to focus their limited resources? And if the 3DS continues, wouldn't a lot of third parties just continue to produce their 'handheld orientated' games for it and not bother with the Switch? And wouldn't a lot of customers (particularly parents of young children) just buy the 3DS instead of the Switch if their primary need is a handheld?

I get the passion for the 3DS to continue, but I feel it's at the end of its life and if the Switch is to succeed Nintendo can't be distracted by supporting another ecosystem.

This could simply be corporate talk, a bit like the Game Boy/DS statement last decade. They're probably just covering their bases during the transition period.

@GravyThief
But they are "covering" the collapse of the console pillar, not the handheld. Between the two, the 3DS is much better off than the Wii U. If the "Third pillar" concept was to collapse a pillar, Nintendo (and not to mention many fans, me included) would prefer it to be the console and not handheld pillar.

It also seems like the Switch will mostly be console gaming on the go, not traditional handheld gaming. If that is the case, it would be easy to decide which platform any particular game should be on.

Dual screen concept for handheld is awesome! DS line just have to be continued.
I just wish it have both top and bottom screens have same size and resolution, it gives better experience and variation in gameplay.

No doubt this is their plan now, but all depends from sales.
I know I'm not the first one saying this, but if/once the Switch will gain a huge momentum then they'll likely stop to support the 3DS ^_^;

But right now they have the Wii U that they gave up on, the Switch which is an unknow factor and the 3DS. In their place I would too keep at least a foot on the incredibly stability of the latter XD

Well, at the moment I don't really want a Wii U successor - so it looks like I'll be waiting for a bit to buy one if I do.

I'd buy a 3DS successor day one though. I don't think I could ever be without the newest iteration of a Nintendo handheld anymore That's pretty much all the gaming I need at the moment.

I was kind of hoping that the Switch would be an opportunity to upgrade. The 3DS has life left in it true - but with the focus on Switch now - it might be quite some time before they make a true successor (maybe some variation on the Switch as some have suggested).

PR speak. There's no way they'd continue with the 3DS, it would defeat the entire purpose. Maybe it'll continue to get some scraps for the next year, but it'll fade away after that.

That header looks like 3 kids who never touched a 3DS before the shoot, and one kid waiting for it to be over so he can facepalm harder then he's ever facepalmed before.

So much for all the dual screen gaming obituaries in the fandom.

This is complete and utter PR nonsense and, quite frankly, should be ignored. They've said it countless times before, and we all know from experience that Nintendo has enough trouble supporting its current systems.

@GravyThief
It was, but it looks like they have realised that Switch will not attract the 3ds buyers. Switch is more a replacement for Wii u than 3ds. It's going to get messy.

@BensonUii
I can't see Nintendo killing a cash cow.

This is pretty standard for their handheld consoles. For the most part, Nintendo drop support and focus on the next thing, however the previous gen handheld usually has a bit more life to it and there's usually a bit of overlap between the two handhelds.

...and usually the last big hit for the handheld, a Pokemon game, appears after the release of the new device (Pokemon Crystal for GBC/GBA, Emerald for GBA/DS, Black 2 / White 2 for DS/3DS).

@Bolt_Strike

Depends on if you think the switch is primarily a handheld. The 3ds has many advantages price, size, battery life, better game library, dual screen, etc. I think the customers in that market are less likely to buy the switch or at least less likely to buy 4 switches (one for each kid). The rumor is a more dedicated handheld switch will be released at a later time. If that happens it'll kill the 3ds. But I don't think a $300-400 tablet made for tvs will kill it. The 3ds didn't sell at $250.

One of the best things about the Switch is the idea that they'll stop supporting the Wii U and the 3DS and concentrate on making games for one console.
Why would I want to play on my 3DS when I have the Switch, it's looking to be a much better replacement, assuming the battery life isn't atrocious .

All of this won't matter if of the switch takes off and sells out completely during its launch window and for all of next fiscal year.

I think this is mostly PR talk - like what was said about the Gameboy brand continuing after the DS first came out. With the Switch aiming to cover both the home and handheld markets, I can't see Nintendo using resources to keep the 3DS alive (unless the switch fails, but I doubt that it will with all the buzz it's generating). At most, they might keep the 2DS on as a console aimed at young children, since not many parents would spend £250 or more on a hybrid console for a 5-year-old.

I like the full interview. Kimishima talks business and seems to be a educated and intelligent person. A good Nintendo President, even though no one can fully replace Iwata.

I think they'll keep the 3DS around until they have concrete results on the Switch. If it does well, the 3DS will be phased out just like the Gameboy was, and if it doesn't, they'll release a succesor to the 3DS and keep dominating the handheld market.

I think next year they'll push the 3DS as the "budget" alternative to the Switch, and the option for children.

@AyanamiReign

Was it that awful to have to buy awesome 3ds games and awesome wii u games?

Why would I play 3ds now? Probably the same reason I play Snes and other older systems now. Because it's a great system with great games.

@MegaWatts Wow. It's my opinion of course, but I really think that you couldn't be more wrong. The Switch is a home console. Period. Nintendo have made that clear. The experience is completely different. No one likes.to draw parallels to the Wii U, but it's off screen play with a gamepad that can go anywhere - without dual screen. The 3DS is a dedicated handheld gaming experience with dual screen gameplay, a greater kid friendly approach, and games that launch at a significantly lower price point. It's a whole different market and experience. The Switch in ita current form and execution is far too unwieldy and will more than likely be close to twice the price. Not an attractive proposition for parents and nowhere even close to being as convenient, easy to carry and use. The 3DS: Take it out of your pocket, flip it open and it's go time. Close it back up and put it in your pocket (screens protected) and your done. All in a couple of seconds. For the Japanese market, I can't see the Switch being played on crowded trains and the like. With the 3DS you also get Street Pass/Spot Pass. While the Switch could have something similar, it won't ever be as convenient as slipping your 3DS in a pocket and walking through a crowd racking up the hits. I have no doubt in my mind that there is some plan in the works for a new handheld; it's Nintendo. It's just that the Switch isn't meant to be that replacement and doesn't have the build and form factor. I'm thinking that if it IS wildly successful, the next Nintendo console will be the one that finally does merge the two. The Switch is only evolutionary, not revolutionary. And it's a home system you can take with you, not a handheld with a charging dock.

@NewAdvent

Spot on. He's just covering. The Switch is another attempt to carve a new gaming niche just like the Wii. If it turns out like the Wii U, they'll have the 3ds to fall back on.

This sounds great. My biggest fear with NS was that Nintendo would consider both their console and portable, and that the DS line would soon be replaced by it. The switch seems like a portable home console, not a portable and a home console, and it sounds like Nintendo realizes this. I'd really miss having a dual screen portable that easily fits in my pocket.

"New 3DS 2" confirmed?

I think they will leverage the Switch platform to its fullest extent. The successor to the 3DS will likely be a portable that is based on the Switch platform and plays the same games. No docking. Maybe has a 4.5 inch screen so it fits in your pocket. The cartridge format and the use of Tegra gives them this flexibility. I bet that is coming in 2018 for $200. They could maybe even have some kind of DS/3DS backward compatibility with it. Switch Pocket?

I hear what he is saying, but I dont see it happening. I think the 3DS Hans around another year. By 2018, they will have developed a gamepad that has a better battery life.

I think they release it on its own as a successor to 3DS that is compatible with the Switch.

What third party developers were doing with 3DS is going to go away fast? Nintendo will be left as the only developer for 3DS, and I don't think that fits with the merger of the two sides of the business.

A successful showing by Super Mario Run would just add to the fact that if they are seriously going to develop for two systems, Switch and mobile will be the two systems.

3DS is 5 years now. Perhaps can survive until 5-6years later.
New 3DS is too pity to be discontinued.

Wise business decision. The wii u is dead, the switch has not launched yet and should take some time to become a succes. Be it as it may the 3ds is currently nintendos best source of income. Wonder how the support will be when the switch becomes a succes.

@chiptoon pretty much this.

Third pillar talk. I'm pretty sure that if the Switch takes off then the 3ds will get one last year of support and then all of a sudden Nintendo will be too busy to make games for it. Not knocking that actually, I've been calling for a 3ds replacement for about two years now.

this is good news for me as im mostly a 3ds player and have no plans to switch to a ....switch...

Of course Nintendo will say they'll continue 3ds support. They still need to have a strong holiday season in terms of sales. If they said they were moving on to the Switch 100%, they would get slaughtered come December.

Viva la 3DS!

This sounds more like, "3DS still has momentum, we are releasing games on it still and it has a strong third party lineup, we don't need to kill it, it will die on its own once all companies have SWITCHED over". A more natural death, than the one the Wii U received, but it will still be laid out to pasture, but my guess is not until sometime in 2018 (at the earliest).

Much of Nintendo's focus will be on the Switch of course but I can still see 'em supporting the 3ds for a fair while yet, at least through to the end of 2017 with the likes of: DQ VIII, Ever Oasis, Yoshi's Woolly World, Pikmin, Mario Sports, new Layton entry, Yokai Watch, MH Stories etc & other possible future WiiU ports.

The ds still got some excellent games very late into its cycle even with the 3ds starting to hit form with Kirby Mass Attack, Pokemon White/Black 1 & 2 etc so I think it's nothing to worry about for the time being. Wait til the Switch launches & sales numbers come in after its first several months & go from there.

@Janus1986 He's definitely a reassuring figure to have in that position. Nobody could possibly replace Iwata, but some day I'd love to see Aonuma or Sakurai (or both) elevated to a position similar to this (or at least similar to Miyamoto).

They said the same thing about the GBA when the first DS was released. Anyone else remember the "third pillar" philosophy?

They have to say that in order to make profit and sell the 3DS and Pokemon over the holidays then on 12th January they officially say it's a console and handheld successor.

C'mon Nintendo time to make the HDS (the next successor in the DS line of handheld but instead of in 3D, it's in HD).

This is PR speak for "We'll support the 3DS until the Switch is profitable/flying off the shelves. Then we'll have a swansong year before discontinuing the 3DS". I don't believe this statement for a second, judging by Nintendo's prior behaviour.

Having said that, the Switch is what i hoped it would be. No region locking and good battery life and the deal will be sealed for me.

“[It] will enable fun and movement not seen before. I expect it to become a third pillar, next to GameCube and Game Boy.”

-Satoru Iwata, Gamasutra (January 07, 2004) about the DS not replacing the Gameboy

You guys are so naive. That's cute.

There goes the whole idea of Nintendo focussing everything on the Switch. Though I understand it a bit: The 3DS is still going strong, and maybe is used as a escape for if the Switch fails. Besides it could be a cheaper (and maybe more casual/kid-friendly) alternative to the Switch. And the 3D can still be a selling-point.

However, I don't expect many great things on the 3DS anymore. We will see more and more ports of Wii u/Switch games.

On the other hand: If the Switch succeeds and sells to all kinds of people (gamers, kids, casuals), then maybe the 3DS gets discontinued after all.

I also wonder what this all means for Zelda: Will we get a new top-down Zelda on 3DS or Switch? Hopefully on Switch, that could be sooooo good!

By the way: Maybe Kimishima only says this because he still wants to sell a bunch of 3DS devices this December!

@retro_player_22
H3DS . HD and 3D Nintendo. XD

@owendershot

I suspect Nintendo's development teams will once again be stretched. Switch is aiming for 1080p gaming whereas wii u was more 720p and 3ds was 240p. That means more cost/development time.

I also suspect that when the price is revealed you'll see you are paying for 2 machines.

It could be Nintendo takes fewer development risks because development is more costly. 3ds got an easy greenlight for a fire emblem sequel but wii u did not because they didnt think it would sell enough to recover the cost. Yes, there is no doubt they expect the switch to sell better. But there is also no doubt that the low development costs led the 3ds to be the place that nintendo tried riskier things.

@gcunit cannibarize

Translation: There are still games that haven't been released yet and 3rd parties are still supporting it, so we have no reason to kill it off yet. It'll die a natural death after the 3rd parties switch over.

I don't expect the 3DS to die until Spring 2018 at the earliest.

Well this is some refreshingly good news since I'm not the least bit interested in the "switch" but still happily attached to extensive gaming on my 3ds.

the switch is a home console. it's because it's being toted as portable doesn't mean it's replacing the 3DS......and the 3DS still continues to sell very well so why would they replace it? the switch isn't out yet and Nintendo still has plenty of games in the pipeline for the 3DS. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't last another two or three years. And personally I am not buying a Switch, it's not backwards compatible with either the 3DS or the Wii U, which successors always have been in the handheld era.

@Pokefanmum82 I won't buy Switch, either, but only b/c I usually take a few years to adopt a new system. I think backwards compatibility will be managed differently than having native hardware/software emulators in the system. I see them porting a few of the Wii U titles to it, not to mention all previous Virtual Console releases. I think it will be interesting to follow Switch news all next year as I continue to purchase 3DS and PS Vita titles. I am also surprised no one has mentioned the fact that Switch is essentially PS Vita + PSTV rolled into one.

Good. The 3DS is easily the best handheld ever conceived, so it's nice to see we're getting more stuff. A few oddballs thrown in the mix (Super Mario 3D Land 2, anyone?) and the console might go out with a bang.

@cleveland124 Not really, the entire point is to completely merge the handheld and home console markets so that they can reduce game droughts, keeping the 3DS around would perpetuate that issue.

the 3ds and now the Switch will have touch screens, they use cartriges, and they are both portable. I don't see the 3ds striving based on the Switch merging into the 3ds lane. It's still hard to see how they will make both consoles work together.

The Switch is not a really portable gaming device as 3DS because it's too large to fit in your pocket or put in some bags. It's comparable to small tablet, not large phone (3DS), and in fact small tablet market is dying while large phone market is still growing. That's why Switch can't replace 3DS, and can't sell as much as 3DS could (could be better than Wii U, of course, but Wii U sell number is much worse than 3DS).
I think after 1~2 years, when Nintendo realizes that Switch can't cover most of 3DS market, they may release a true successor of 3DS; or they think they can't fight against smart phone anymore and totally give up that market.

While I know that eventually all good things must come to an end, I'm glad that the end hasn't quite come for the 3DS line yet.

@Bolt_Strike

But that ignores the fact that it's much easier and less time consuming to make 3ds games than home console games. I've always heard it's 4x more difficult to make a wii u game than a 3ds game. So for every 4 3ds games you cut, you'd get 1 switch game.

@cleveland124 So adding portable functionality to their console games is supposed to make things better? While they still insist on making 3DS games?

@cleveland124 How is Switch games related to Wii U games?

@Bolt_Strike

Adding portability is a hardware feature that is supposed to get mass market appeal and doesn't have to do with game development.

Nintendo should look at droughts like other providers. 1. Secure third party support 2. Expand internal resources as necessary. Developing games is profitable, and Nintendo shouldn't be afraid to expand.

I mean, look at it this way. Nintendo teams are working on mobile. Nintendo teams may or may not be working on the QoL product that everyone thought was dead and was recently mentioned by Nintendo. Nintendo may or may not be working arcade machine opportunities like Mario Kart GP2 or interactive displays like they are with their amusement park thing. The Switch shouldn't force Nintendo to contract and not focus on new gaming opportunities. This isn't a 3ds vs. Switch thing. This is a Switch vs. everything else thing. I mean do you rail Nintendo every time a Mario Run article comes up? Because that takes Nintendo resources.

@canucksfan989

Assuming Switch is more powerful than Wii U, Switch games should take resource/development time. But we don't really know where the Switch falls from a power perspective yet. It'll be interesting to see the BOW comparisons that are likely coming after launch to see if and how much more powerful the Switch is.

@cleveland124 Of course it has to do with game development. They've been working on merging their console and handheld teams for the last several years in hopes of optimizing development and getting out more games. Think about what this means if they have a consolidated lineup, it means the Switch will get what the 3DS and Wii U combined got, which would be a lot more reasonable an output. Plus it means they can cut down on duplicates, there's no need to make both NSMB2/NSMBU, 3D Land/3D World, Mario Kart 7/8, etc., allowing them to focus resources on other games. Best of all, they can do all of this at minimal cost and lower risk than if they expanded their resources and had to accommodate more developers. Beyond expanding their third party lineup, this is the best possible way to improve their game output.

@Bolt_Strike

60 million 3ds owners will not buy the switch year 1. Nintendo can absolutely not dump them the way they dumped wii u owners. They will have a plan to phase out the 3ds but dumping them is not it.

By the way, none of those games you listed are duplicates.

@cleveland124 Not immediately no, but the 3DS will slowly die out as the Switch takes off. By 2018/2019, it'll be all but forgotten.

And yes, they are duplicates. It's the same IP appearing in multiple games because they're supporting two different systems. Do you really think they'd have NSMBU if NSMB2 is on both 3DS and Wii U? It'd be pretty redundant. They don't have to make those extra games if they have a combined lineup, they can sell the same game to both audiences and get more sales for less money.

@Bolt_Strike

By 18/19 and you are worried about them supporting it now?

No, they aren't remotely duplicate. Were Galaxy 1 and Galaxy 2 duplicate? Is Mario Run duplicate? Was Skyward Sword and Windwaker duplicate? Was Pikmin 3 duplicate? They are sequels. Sequels have new content and try to bring new things to the table. Mario Maker Wii U and 3DS is duplicate. The 3DS is an awesome system and it would suck if games like NSMB2 and Mario Kart 7 didn't exist.

The other problem is you think they are the same audiences. The Wii U sold 13 million and the 3DS sold 60 million. The 3DS reached a much wider audience. It reached people that aren't going to automatically buy the Switch. You still have to cater to this market. And most of all the 3DS is really profitable. So if you have to hire more developers to work on the 3DS it makes sense because they will earn it back and then more. You don't screw a market that isn't loyal to you and can make you money. It's literally the same argument for Mario Run. You can make money and try to drive people to your platforms. Remember 100 million people bought a Wii and not a Wii U. You can't assume once a customer always a customer.

Plus I'm not convinced they won't come out with a dedicated handheld. Nintendo is selling the switch as consile gaming on the go. But it's no doubt way less portable than a 3ds.

@cleveland124 I'm worried about the long term, not just this year.

New things to the table? You mean like new levels, because that's basically all those games have going for them, for the most part they don't really do anything new or interesting with successive games (Mario Kart 8 being the only exception). We could've lived without two of those games.

And "way less portable than 3DS"? Seriously? The Switch is fully capable of being taken on the go just as much as the 3DS, you're not required to hook it up to the dock. There's no reason why the same people that bought the 3DS shouldn't be interested in the Switch, it can do a lot of the same things the 3DS did. The only thing it doesn't have is two screens, which isn't that big a deal. The console audience has more of a reason to be concerned, and Nintendo's console market isn't that big to begin with anyway.

@Bolt_Strike

Nintendo's best year they made like $20 billion dollars on the Wii and the DS. They don't need to limit hardware. Ideally a Switch handheld would use the same O/S and games but we'll see?

You're not a handheld gamer are you? To some people size matters and the switch is 3-4 times the size of the 3DS. I mean imagine Apple saying no more ipods because the Ipad plays games. And then expecting runners to strap ipads to their arms to listen to music.

To some people battery is important. If you fly alot and the 3 hour battery is accurate, the Switch isn't going to work.

Then there is games. The 3ds has a great lineup and the switch won't match it for a while. So I don't expect people to switch for 1-2 games.

I don't really understand you ragging on sequels. I'm not going to go game by game but NSMB2 is the most different Mario game I've ever played. The focus is almost entirely on coins and speed. It's not at all like any of the other Marios except for graphics. Some people didn't like that but I was surprised I really enjoyed it. If Nintendo only supported one console I'd expect a healthy dose of sequels. Nintendo fans want Mario/Zelda/Metroid. I'd expect more of those sequels. Some games are better than others when it comes to sequels, but I don't think that discounts the value of them. I mean it sounds like you're basically saying we've already gotten Mario 64, what's the point of another 3d Mario? They are just new levels.

@cleveland124 The Wii and DS were anomalies for Nintendo, they reached an audience that hadn't existed before and were promptly stolen by mobile since, so that kind of success is unattainable now. In this day and age, a hybrid console is Nintendo's best chance of success, they want to spend as little money as possible, pool together as large an audience as possible, and provide as much variety as possible. Wooing blue ocean markets with gimmicks isn't going to work for them anymore.

Isn't that about as long as the 3DS' battery life? It sure doesn't last too long. And if lineup was a concern, then we'd never have new generations ever.

You must not play a lot of Mario games if you're impressed by NSMB2. Because that game was about as barebones as it gets, it was basically the same as every other game plus coins. If you want to see a real sequel that changes things up, look at the collectathons. Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy all follow the same formula but do entirely different things with gameplay mechanics, setting, and even level design. Other examples include the Prime trilogy and Kirby Planet Robobot. Let's see more games like those and less like the NSMB games, 3D Land/3D World, and Tropical Freeze. Those kinds of games aren't fun twice.

@Bolt_Strike

No point in flaming me. Two people can enjoy games and disagree on how fun they are in a civilized. I own every Mario game and have beaten them all. NSMB2 wasn't tough and the platforming wasn't necessarily great. But I played it 25 hours, by far more than only other NSMB game. The arcade like increase your score and multiple paths kept me coming back. It was actually my most played 3DS game until recently when Steamworld Heist took over that spot.

I don't actually enjoy the 3D platformer games nearly as much as you. I enjoy spot on controls which none of the 3D games have. And I don't get the same enjoyment out of spending hours trying to find some obscure item as I do trying to get through things quickly. I usually never 100% a collectathon as I just tire of shaking every single tree and looking behind every rock to see if something is there.

According to google, my 3ds xl has a 5.25 hour average life. Seems about right, as I don't really seem to need to charge it that much.

If mobile has stolen Nintendo's market I don't see how Nintendo can get that back. It's still way more convenient to whip out a phone and cheaper to play free games including Nintendo games shortly.

The comment on games wasn't that we'd never have new generations. It's just the reality that most people wait until at least a price drop to join the next generation. And some people wait many price drops. There is a tremendous library on the 3DS so there is simply no reason to bury it. I mean wasn't there still PS2 games being released a good 3-4 years after the PS3 was out? I don't see how supporting existing customers is any way a bad thing.

In the end for me, hardware doesn't impress me. I'm an adult male. If I'm going somewhere I'm unlikely to have any time to game on the road. If I'm hooking up with friends to play games, we are either going to my house or there house where we are going to play on a big screen tv and not need a gimmicky 6" screen setup. I could see kids being impressed with it, but we'll have to see what games come for it and what price is setup.

To me it's all about the games. I think a launch lineup of 6 games is terrible. Nintendo like games will appeal to Nintendo fans but with be unlikely to increase the appeal to the masses. So we'll see what 3rd parties are on board and when there can get there. Good third party support could make the switch successful, but we'll have to know more.

In my honest opinion I see the Switch as the home console replacement and the dedicated handheld base will continue with the 3DS and whatever succeeds it. (Maybe a 3DS HD?) The 3DS still has the more desirable price tag and large user base while the Switch will likely carry the torch of the Wii U and it's audience in a different way. I do believe the Switch will sell well but if not, they must be careful not to throw away both markets which would be chaotic.

@ottospooky You and me both, brother.

@GravyThief
Sadly this is probably correct, which is a shame as I'd like an actual carry with me anywhere handheld. The switch is more a block party/campus kind of social machine rather than a true handheld, and it makes me sad that people like me(who have no time for consoles) will fall through the cracks this gen if the 3DS doesn't get a successor unit.

@cleveland124
I'm inclined to agree.
The worst part is that I rarely have time for a home console when not with friends,and losing a true handheld will kind of screw me over this gen.
It's kind of sad if the 3DS doesn't get a successor.

@Bolt_Strike
It just makes me sad that Nintendo is cannibalizing their strong handheld market(yes the 3DS was competitive even with mobile) to take the basic handheld things and make them into a gimmick for their home console.
I want something I can carry with me long distances, and the Switch just wont fill this role for me. For the first time since the NES I'm probably going to go a while without a current gen Nintendo product in my house.