Nintendo States That Support for the 3DS Family of Systems Remains Strong

I wouldn't doubt it, the 3DS line of systems have done very well these past few years. Steady support for it until the bitter end would be a no brainer, even if the Switch is a Console/Handheld hybrid.

What if in a year the online is dropped like Wii and DS ?

I understand people saying 3DS must die, but LONG LIVE 3DS!!!!

Reggie "nothing to announce" Fils-Amie. But thanks for continuing support for 3DS. Some us can't afford a Switch (and even if we can you gotta admit the 3DS is still more mobile than the Switch it)

Nice move. People who own a 3DS usually love it, so the continued support is more than welcome!

I wont buy the N2DS because I already have a N3DS XL

Word. Kept looking for a N3DS but didn't get one. This is what I'll get now. Screens are huge. Nice chunky solid look too. Love it. Everyone's going nuts for the white one but, that black n blue is stylin as it gets. ✊

You know, the last Game Boy game (one that works on an original model) came out in 1999, ten years after the system's debut. The 3DS family is six years old. I don't know if they'll quite make it to ten, but I see the brand thriving for at least another year.

E3 really needs to focus on the Switch. I know the Switch started off strong but we need to know some of Nintendo's long term plans for the system. We only know up to Mario Odyssey in November/December. I'm not saying ignore the 3DS entirely, but it shouldn't be their main focus at all.

I don't know. I don't really have a problem with the New 2DS being announced, I just feel like the timing was really weird, being right in the middle of the Switch's honeymoon period.

I just wish that retail 3DS games would also be ported to the Switch going forward (unless the nature of the game prohibits it to a significant degree, and that is quite rare), or just the Nintendo developed/published titles at the very least.

Heck, I might even be tempted to double dip on a lot of games. 3DS for the sweet 3D visuals, and the Switch for those sweet HD visuals.

It makes sense since the 3DS keeps selling cause you know you never should retreat a product that flies out of shelves, right Nintendo? Right.....

I like the look of the new systems alot actually and on the subject of the 3DS lifespan I say long live the KING .., it is amazing that Nintendo is still supporting 3DS makes me even that much more glad I own a new 3DS XL its great to know there are still games in the pipeline and still a ton of interest in the system after all it is the little system that could and has and there is room for 3DS and Switch to coexist and both be successful there is alot of differences between the two and in this day and age I don't know anyone that only owns one gaming unit everyone I know owns multiple systems .

This will damage switch sales

E3 will show a few games coming to it, but I'll be wondering if it'll be more e-shop titles than retail. I honestly, see them forgetting about it after the holiday season, maybe one more game after, but that'll be it, as the Switch will be their big selling point then. With the fact that the 3DS hasn't gotten much on the e-shop side, it just seems like it's starting to be forgotten by many developers, and most of those developers have moved onto the consoles (Switch and PS4). It's nice that nintendo is continuing to support the system, but they have actually said this before during the Wii U's cycle, and we know how that turned out this past year...plus, they also stated this during the Gamecube's final year, and only a few games came out. In other words, if nintendo had to press upon the comments from others about the life cycle of the 3DS...they're beginning to move away, it's just the fact that they have completed a few titles for it and want to get them out before it happens.

@MarinoKadame Those used Gamespy for online gaming, when that shut down so did the services not just for Wii and DS but some PS360 games were effected too (Some games' online multiplayer were shut for good, others were switched to a new server). The Wii Shop Channel's still up and running in it's 10th year as that's a Nintendo server and even some of the Wii Call of Duty games still offer online multiplayer as far as I'm aware.

Wii U and 3DS's servers will be up for a good while to come. They would not be offering DLC for Fire Emblem Echos or Breath of the Wild Wii U if they were going to shut off the servers the next year and tell gamers "Tough luck" if they missed it. Not to mention Fire Emblem Warriors is likely to be DLC heavy for many months if Hyrule Warriors is anything to go by....

I'm disappointed that there still isn't news on a US release of the SEGA 3D Classics Collection with Alien Syndrome and Thunder Force III. I was hoping it would be in the Nintendo Direct, but it wasn't. I hope that is one of the games that will be announced soon.

People are confused. Its not the same market for 3DS and Switch. Including development costs, they are very different.

If 3DS games keep coming, I see myself playing mostly my 3DS and my future switch, instead of PS..

VC on 3DS needs to continue. Bring on the GB, GBC, NES, and SNES games Nintendo. My 3DS needs more retro love. I mean the Wii U still gets VC games off and on

Long live 3ds and all of it's family

That's good, I still play the 3DS a lot. I know the Switch is the next big thing for Nintendo but I'm glad 3DS will still get support. The Wii U can go away peacefully though.

@MarinoKadame they didn't drop the online. They used a server service called game spy that went bankrupt. Not only did all the Nintendo made wii games and Nintendo made ds games loose service but so did hundreds of others across different platforms.

I understand supporting the 3DS through the year as a measure of goodwill, but seriously, it's time to pour all your development resources into the Switch to make it succeed. Putting to much time and effort into developing games for such an ancient piece of hardware only serves to cannibalize the Switch's potential market share as Nintendo's new "go-anywhere" device.

There's no business sense in artificially cutting the 3DS lifespan short. It's not so much about selling hardware (although it'll continue to trod out 5 mil a year, give or take), it's about the beastly software sales they get with relatively little investment ($40 for Fire Emblem Echoes, or Miitopia, versus $60 for Zelda or Arms or Splatoon 2).

It would not be wise to back off the "affordable handheld market" anyways. Cause soon as they do, Sony would jump on that opportunity to seize a piece of the marketshare. Nintendo has to keep their cheap handhelds going.

I know people wanted 3DS to die off so Switch could see all their games funneled into one system, and so did I for a while until I thought about it. They can keep 3DS alive with relative ease. I mean, all they have for it this year is a Fire Emblem remake, Miitopia aka Streetpass Games Deluxe Edition, and some Kirby F2P and little anniversary title. That's paltry compared to the massive resources being used for Zelda, 12 Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Arms, Splatoon 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Fire Emblem Warriors, Mario Odyssey, and whatever else they surprise us with.

So Switch still gets 85% of their resources, and 3DS still gets to live on. They have a $150 option and a $300 option. It's a good plan. Besides, Switch doesn't need 3DS out of the way to succeed, it just needs to be a good system, appealing, and offer great games and experiences that can't be found anywhere else (like setting up tabletop mode anywhere with anyone and getting in some Mario Kart 8 battle mode, or Shovel Knight co-op, or Puyo Puyo battles or some Fast RMX races)

Why talk to the guy. He talks like a suit. Long winded answers with nothing to say. Kinda how I got through all my essays in high school. If they want to support the 3ds let them...but my 3ds has been collecting dust since switch came into my life. I've moved on.

@chiefeagle02 Actually the last Game Boy game (which is a GBC title) that was release and still works on the original Game Boy was Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Cobi's Quest and Tara's Adventure in 2001. This makes the original Game Boy support up to 12 years worth of gaming.

Hey if the 3ds/2ds family of systems keep selling why not keep the train going. Nintendo doesn't have to do much to keep supporting the systems and I believe 3rd/2nd parties keep developing for it.

Console gaming is still pretty expensive, largely due to game price. While I'm glad for budget system options, I hope the 3DS line, and games in general, get a price reduction so that the hobby overall can be more budget friendly and reach a larger audience.

Sure, games go on sale, eventually, but outside the Nintendo Selects, the Nintendo line of games tend to be pricey (compared to the competition in sales prices, or gradual reduction of prices over time).

@retro_player_22 Ah, I didn't know that! Thank you.

This is the wrong decision. Nintendo needs to devote their development resources to the Switch.

I worked with some guy back in early 2012 who hated Nintendo passionately. He always ripped on the (then new) 3DS and claimed Sony Vita would be the death of it, and in turn, Nintendo.

Wherever that guy wound up, I hope he heard about this announcement 😉... and is still enjoying that Vita.

Let's file this under 'duh' and get over all of this 'Switch is the new portable' bullcrap, shall we? The 3DS family is not - nor was it ever - going away any time soon...

@JaxonH Miitopia aka Streetpass Games Deluxe Edition

That's how I viewed it when it was first announced, but it looks more like a full game now.

I think you're spot on about the Switch vs 3DS support split. Nintendo can continue making Happy Home Designer on a yearly basis, and port a few more Wii U Games like Super Paper Mario. But will it get another Mario Kart, 2D or 3D Mario, or Super Smash Bros, or 2D Zelda? I do think i twill still get some good games, Pokemon Stars in 2018 after Diamond and Pearl Remastered this year, maybe MH 5 or XXX. But I'm expecting anything AAA from Nintendo to be on Switch. Wii, not Wii U, got Just Dance last year, so 3DS can have a few more games for a few more years yet. But I'd be surprised to see another Mario or Zelda mainline type game.

The Switch and 3DS can co-exist. The Switch is exciting and all, but the Switch is NOT an adequate replacement for the practical/affordable portable gaming 3DS offers, nor does it have a large diverse library at this time. In the future maybe, but not right now. Nintendo would be cutting themselves off from a large part of the market. (And probably losing it to iOS and Android).

I like it how people say "forget new 3DS/2DS, buy a switch" when most of the Nintendo Switches have been bought by scalpers and are on eBay for god knows how much above RRP.

Anyway, if I have the money, really considering upgrading from my aqua blue original 3DS for this new 2DS XL. I have so many games I love and still need to buy and play for my 3/2DS 😁

Best system ever made. Period.

The day RPG Maker Fes comes out is the day my 3DS returns to life with a vengeance.

Yes more VC! I'm hoping StarTropics, Castlevania Legends, gba VC, tg16 and SNES VC!

What's the point of articles like this? He said absolutely nothing. So why write an article about nothing?

@rjejr Nah, just Pokemon Stars. It's far too soon for DP remakes, and this is the last year for Gen 7 as they're out of event Pokemon to reveal.

2018 will be either a break year or Gen 8.

This doesn't really mean much. Localizing 3rd party games counts as support, and those will easily continue throughout next year, so yeah.

As far as Nintendo goes, all of their stuff lately has been low effort, low budget projects that re-use assets and made by external devs. It's clear they aren't focusing on 3DS anymore.

Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga DX was just leaked as a 3DS release later this year.

Nintendo continues to fill much of the 2017 3DS software lineup with late Japanese localizations, ports, and low-budget spin-offs.

Supporting the 3DS in 2017 with games is fine. But releasing a brand new version of the console in 2017, mere months after releasing their new hybrid home/handheld console? Seriously Nintendo? Are you purposefully giving consumers a reason not to buy the Switch and buy a 3DS/2DS instead? They should have released a smaller, cheaper, handheld only 'lite' version of the Switch instead. They can be really stupid at times. Ok, a lot of the time.

The last 3DS VC game released was Castlevania: Dracula X way back on December 29 (for NA) and the last NES game was in January '15. If they haven't secretly killed the VC and are just being idiots about not releasing anything, I will be genuinely shocked.

I don't get the criticism. The 3DS is thriving still, and this can only help to boost sales even further. It's also nice to give choice to those with limited income.
Some people just can't afford a Switch with a bunch of accessories, and for those people, this machine seems ideal.
I think these two systems (3DS and Switch) can co-exist this and next year before finally moving on, and man has the 3DS had a great run so far after such a weak start.

Here's hoping Star Fox 64 3D and Zero become new additions to the Nintendo Selects line. Star Fox 64 3D costs four times as much as the original on Wii U, and Zero... Well, like it or hate it, a $20 price tag would make it at least a little more enjoyable.

3DS is the best selling console this generation, Nintendo won't let it go that easily. PS4 has been out for a few years but still selling more than Switch, 3DS is the only pride and joy of Nintendo. A prodigious son that Nintendo will spoilt with more games in the future.

@Kayfios

I'd like to see Majora's Mask 3D hit the Selects line. Been out a couple of years now and still is $39.99 everywhere.

But I suppose A Link Between Worlds is the next logical addition from the Zelda franchise (Which sucks for me, since I own and have 100% finished that one already, but don't own MM3D).

@MarinoKadame
Those were dropped after about nine-ten years.

3DS is only six years old, so they're likely to keep the online going for a while yet.

@GoneFishin
The thing about the Selects line, compared to the Player's Choice lines of yore, is that Nintendo mostly add games that they wager people won't pay full price for anymore, but might still want. It's not based on sales at all. A game that can still shift at $39:99 is unlike to join the selection at all.

It's Nintendo that selects after all! Not the players.

Reminds me of how they added Ubisoft's Wii version of Avatar: The Game to Nintendo Selects in Europe because they were bunk buddies at the time, and the game supported the Balance Board or something.

@MarinoKadame It won't be. Simple as.

Umm. That's not a 3DS it's a 2DS. It looks sweet and I'm glad to see there is more software coming. But, does this single the end of 3D software? You guys keep referring to it as 3ds line but it seems they are shutting down the 3D. Don't get me wrong the New system is very sexy. But I love the 3D effects. This seems to be a huge decision to move away from that

@Kanbei The 3DS must not Die! LONG LIVE THE 3DS! I Want my 3d effects!

More n64 remakes for 3ds !!! - like F-zeroX or 1080.. - cheap, the "design" of the game is ready, 100ks of copies sold... Man can dream...

@Kayfios
sf643d is in EU !!!

@GravyThief
wait 1year for Switch lite or Switch jr....

I would like to see the major 3DS franchises, such as Pokemon, Monster Hunter, and Level 5 and Atlus games, start to transition to the Switch. While the 3DS lives on, I'd expect it to be less likely for the Switch to get these games.

This console reveal has made me more likely to hold off on purchasing a Switch for now.

As their lowest selling handheld I can understand them trying to squeeze every last sale they can out of it. But, after 6 years, I'm ready to move on. Switch (and Switch Mini in the future) should have it all covered.

I don't get all the 3DS must die stuff. I hope it keeps going for a while longer, best handheld ever for me.

@premko1 All the more reason it should be $20 in the US.

It's great to see Nintendo's still supporting the 3DS for a while longer.

It's in its twilight for sure. I just don't believe Nintendo when they say these kind of things. It's like when they said GBA would keep going and then...

@davidevoid Yeah, I remember the Third Pillar talk all too well. GBA will continue to receive strong support. DS will not replace GBA! Except, yeah, it actually did, the very second DS proved it was a strong seller. I take everything Nintendo say with a very large pinch of salt since then.

@Pod

I wasn't talking about sales. A Link Between Worlds is an older Zelda that is critically acclaimed and now long out of print and climbing in price in the secondary marketplace, where as Majora's Mask is still widely available at MSRP.

So while both are equally great candidates for a future Selects rerelease, if one or the other gets a nod in the next wave of Selects for a Zelda representative, I'm afraid it's likely to be the one I already own. Great for those that missed out on it, but obviously not of any use to someone like me that owns a 1st run copy of it.

NOA does some peculiar things at times though, so you never know, I suppose.

Personally I'm not ready to be done with the 3DS family. It's been probably my best handheld experience to date. Whether it's supported for another 1, 2, or even 3 years (though I'm thinking that's not likely), I will enjoy every minute of it (and will be playing that beautiful backlog beyond that).

If you've moved on to the Switch, that's fine. Let those of us still reveling in the 3DS/2DS goodness stay in our happy place for awhile longer (please).

Let's all keep in mind this is Reggie and Nintendo, so anything he says which is handed to him from Japan can 180 in a short amount of time.

Oh well, The Switch was a nice idea.

Well at least 2017 for Switch feels more like 2014 Wii U than 2013 Wii U so it's not like the 3DS is killing the Switch. That was really the problem back in the early Wii U days, the 3DS initially flopped back in 2011 so Nintendo used Wii U resources to save the 3DS which then in turn made the Wii U have large game droughts.

@MattFox Masaomi <3 <3 <3

Why can't Nintendo make these available to all of us. I'd be happy to give them gold and platinum coins for this poster, but I'm not going to go from Utah to NYC just to get a poster

https://my.nintendo.com/news/6e00b075cbb77f70

I wonder what happens to the 3ds eshop when they discontinue the ds line? Last portable I owned was the original DS, and I'm tempted by the new 2DS. And it's because the game catalog is huge. Nintendo not outlining their online, vc, and eshop stuff is keeping me away. I'm fairly confident they will screw this up.

@JaxonH "So Switch still gets 85% of their resources, and 3DS still gets to live on."

Where are you getting that figure from?

@rjejr
Right. It doesn't need to die, it just needs to stop hogging as many resources... which it's already barely getting anything major anymore. They can still drop a Pokémon game on it to swallow up another 10-15mil sales, maybe a port of Pokémon Z/Stars, and I'm ok with that (fully expecting Pokémon Stars to be a Switch release too) and churn out as many Kirby games from HAL Laboratory as they can, few more easy ports...

I do expect a bigger release or 2 for 3DS shown this e3. Maybe something to gobble sales in the holiday period. But even then, that's about an 85/15 split, maybe 80/20 at the most.

Btw, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is mint. It's so jam packed full of content and those new battle arenas are incredible! Lunar Colony, that's my favorite. Even my brother, my Dark Souls/Bloodborne/Nioh plays brother, texted me saying he bought Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. He's like dude I got the Switch fever bug, called into work and gonna play this all weekend. I think it's one of the best games ever released- not only the best MK ever made but now a fully loaded package, ability to play anyone anywhere in tabletop. It's straight up iconic.

I hope the new 3DS games will be in stereo 3D.

this is great news since im primarily a 3ds gamer

I'm personally very pleased to see the 3ds continue to be supported. As someone who doesn't plan on considering a Switch until after Super Mario Odyssey comes out, I'm glad I'm getting more to play on my 3ds. When they said last year that they had plans for the 3ds until 2018 I didn't really believe them. I thought it was usual PR BS to get people to keep buying the portable while immediately abandoning it like Nintendo has with every system the moment the next one comes out. This time is actually different and I'm glad to see that the 3ds will get continued support for at least a little while longer!

@Grumblevolcano That's some revisionist history there.

Nintendo didn't use up "Wii U resources" to save the 3DS. What they actually did was release system selling games that were already in the pipeline for the 3DS.

I mean you talk as if Nintendo has no experience supporting two or even three platforms at once.

I'm glad that the 3DS will still be supported, but that doesn't make the "New 2DS XL" any less stupid (especially that name. It's cringy at best).

OK, how many copies of Pokemon sold last year? 14.5m, was it? Of course Nintendo isn't abandoning the 3DS line. There is far too much juice left in that market to drop it. I'd guess at least another two years before a refresh. Maybe when a Baby Switch drops in two years, the phase-out will begin. Even as a Switch owner, I'd like the 3DS market to stay strong. Nintendo making money can only be good across all formats. And I look on that 3DS software library with envy...

That picture of the N2DSxl looks weird.Looks like someone took an iphone and stuck it with the bottom of a 3DS.

@Krillin https://www.vg247.com/2017/04/28/pokemon-sun-and-moon-has-shipped-15-44m-units-helped-push-3ds-sales-to-7-27m-during-nintendos-fy17/
Actually I think Sun/Moon sold 15.44 million.

@Kanbei I understand people saying 3DS must die You shouldn't understand them, they want to make your 3DS worth less to make their Switch worth more. Here's the thing, Nintendo views the Switch as mostly a console and these people won't get that through their heads.

If continued making of the 3ds can kill off the switch then I say RIP switch. Kill it. Law of the jungle if that happens. That would simply mean it wasnt as attractive as the 3ds to consumers.

@Priceless_Spork That would simply mean it wasnt as attractive as the 3ds to consumers. As a console, it isn't attractive even to those who post on Nintendo Life which is why they don't even acknowledge that it's also a console which would be a first step to admitting that it's first and foremost, a console. If Nintendo wanted it to be a handheld first and foremost, they could have dropped the $95 dock (make it optional) and lowered the price to $250.

And the... pardon, I meant:

And dat Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga remake leak kind of confirmed diz statement man.

@Crono1973 Or, you know, people see right through Nintendo's bs PR talk and know that they plan to have Switch replace the 3DS, but it's not at a point where they can do that yet?

@Crono1973 That's NOA who sees the Switch as a home console. While Nintendo Japan sees it as a portable device that can also work as a home console on the side.

That has to do with how different the Japanese market is (a preference for portable devices) is from the American market (strong preference for home consoles).

NOA trying to sell the Swich as a home console makes sense in the American market. Thus here we are....

But we know better. The Switch is a hybrid system and works either way.

@IceClimbers You know where it is though? It has replaced the Wii U.

@Crono1973 Yes it has. It's bloody obvious that the Switch is intended to replace both platforms. Wii U was able to be dropped immediately, 3DS still has a bit of life in it.

@GC-161 No you don't know better. How many people have you seen out in public using it as a portable? How many people do you see using a 3DS in public? In this country, consoles are king and people just don't want to admit that the Switch is a weak console compared to it's competition so they go with 'it's a strong handheld' instead.

@IceClimbers It's obvious it's a hybrid but what's not obvious is if it can replace the 3DS, it can replace the Wii U though.

@Crono1973 Ffs, read my previous post.

I said portable devices are a lot more popular in JAPAN. And that's why the Switch already has become the best selling system there. Because of its portability. Because that's what sells IN JAPAN.

Meanwhile, in the land of "how many ppl have you seen with a Vita/3DS/Switch in public", Nintendo's latest console is being sold as a HOME CONSOLE because that's what sells here.

That was my point. I dunno what the fudge you're arguing.

I hope they consider games like bravely default, pokemon or fire emblem for their line up of "selects".

@GC-161 Then we agree.

@Kriven If someone who sees the Switch for what Nintendo says it is is a Switch conspiracy theorist then I am guilty. What does that make people who won't accept the truth?

@clvr He rocks!

@Thegentleman I just got Fire Emblem Birthright for 30% off, with My Nintendo( First time i actually used a discount )..

The new version of the 2DS seems to indicate they're finally moving toward the phase-out approach with the 3DS family: eventually, it'll just be the new 2DS and new 3DS on the market, with no sales of the older models. At that point, they can start phasing in more and more new 3DS/2DS exclusive titles, ones that require that extra power and don't run well on the original models of the family. For example, Fire Emblem Warriors. While Hyrule Warriors Legends was technically playable on an old 2DS or old 3DS, it was virtually unplayable due to frame-rate issues, and the 3D even had to be forced off in old 3DS models. Fire Emblem Warriors will be a Switch/new 3DS/2DS cross-platform title, releasing simultaneously on the two platforms, but will not even try to cater to the older models. This is the direction of the future for all 3DS games, and indicates how future 2-screen handheld devices by Nintendo could be phased-in while phasing-out the older versions. Much like, say, a new iPhone.

The 3DS is one of the best consoles I've ever owned, honestly. I'm excited for games like Ever Oasis, RPG Maker Fes, and Etrian Odyssey V (when it finally gets localized) among the other Atlus games on the way.

It's not that I think the Switch and 3DS can't coexist, just that I really want Nintendo to focus their development resources to Switch. If third parties want to ride the 3DS train for a year or two more, I'm okay with that. I just want Nintendo themselves to focus on their brand new console with unlimited potential as opposed to their 6-year-old handheld.

@Yoshis_VGM

Actually they did announce a FE main series game for the switch out 2018

@chiefeagle02 The Gameboy actually was going to die in like 1996, but, you know, Pokemon happened

Actually looks pretty cool!

I'm not happy about this. I thought the whole point of the Switch was that we would get all the portable and home games on one console. If the Switch is only succeeding the Wii U and not the 3DS as well, there is a lot of potential for game droughts in the future. I really hope they let the 3DS go soon so they can devote all their resources to the Switch and keep it successful.

@HeroponRiki
Game droughts because of more consoles to play games on? I like 3ds more than switch personally.

I eagerly await Ultra New Nintendo 2DS XL Turbo: Scraping The Barrel Edition

@MarinoKadame I will be really really mad. I'm still mad about the DS wii drop. They need to support the Wii u and 3ds online as long as possible

Long live the 3DS. The Switch will be fine.

Monster Hunter was the biggest selling game in Japan last month. Pokémon was Nintendo's biggest selling game last year. DS is going nowhere!

@GameOtaku

Don't get your hopes up, my friend. Iwata, prior to his death, said basically the same thing. They've had, what, three years since the last NES game hit the 3DS VC, and it's been four months and counting for SNES. If they had any intention of supporting it, they would have done it by now. As much as it pains me to say it, Nintendo has killed the Virtual Console.

Surely Nintendo have done some extensive market research to ascertain that the New 2DS XL is a sensible idea (no matter how much it might surprise some)... As a very happy N3DSXL owner I can't say I have any plans to get one at all - super stable 3D has transformed games for me! However, it's no problem to me that it exists as an option for others.

I'm a bit worried like others that this could eat into Switch sales, but again Nintendo must have worked out that N2DSXL sales won't affect the Switch adversely... I can only think the strategy here is to make this an entry system and/or to cash in on the remaining hardware sales they can with those yet to indulge in the extensive DS game library.

I'd be surprised if we see many more (any more) first party releases outside 2017 for the DS line though... this looks like a last roll of the dice to me. I mean, I've loved 3DS Pokémons, Monster Hunters, Zeldas, Marios etc... but I don't need/aren't interested in further iterations of those games on this system... been there and done that... it's time to switch things up

So, great budget option for those not ready to commit to or buy a kid a Switch/for those that want an additional DS system/those that don't like 3D, and a sensible way to eek-out those final DS hardware and software sales... but certainly the swan song.

Maybe its just the concept model but I don't see speakers on it.

The top screen is the second pillar, and the bottom screen is the third pillar.

I think this is a smart move. The 3DS family lives in a different tier of electronics than the Switch. NS is clearly a premium piece of tech with price to match, while 3DS is a slick toy with also a price to match.

I'm sure they're sitting on a 3DS replacement to launch if they find the NS sales aren't justifying pulling the plug on the dedicated handheld division. But if NS continues to soar, I'd say the 3DS will have a good long life and then get folded into the One Console To Rule Them All (well, Nintendo's two hardware divisions anyway).

No. One of the keys to the Switch's success is going to be getting a steady stream of games out. Besides third party having a combined lineup of Nintendo's handheld games and console games is the best way to do that, that's likely the main reason the Switch has both a handheld component and a console component and why we haven't seen a new handheld yet. Prolonging the 3DS' life cannibalizes the Switch's lineup and defeats the purpose of this strategy.

Me? I'm still playing 3DS consistently. It's still the game section I go to exclusively in the brick and mortar to check for sales and deals. It's still the device I take with me everywhere I go for streetpassing... It's really just my favorite system and has TONS of games. It's an all in one for me — it has my favorite games on it and I don't ever plan on getting rid of it. I almost want to buy a second brand new one and keep it just in case they become hard to find years from now. I always want to have this system in my life.
....now if I could only figure out how to get it to act as my cell phone like a COMP in devil survivor. I'd be ecstatic.

I think it's funny how some peopletry to spin the annoncement of this system in the direction of Nintendo not having faith in the Switch.

The 3DS family was they strongest money maker, and they would be idiots not to keep it alive.

The Switch enjoying more success than initially anticipated means they can't keep up with supply anyway, so as long as it's selling as fast as they can produce it, it's hard to fault their efforts in that regard.

More 3DS, more Directs with 3DS anathema, sigh

My launch 3DS is still ticking over nicely... Though I'd love to pick up a New 3DS XL as I use 3D pretty much all the time.

@Bolt_Strike It doesn't though. There's room in the market for 3DS and Switch. It's like Apple having multiple iPads and iPhones.

I love my 3DS, buuuuuut I have not used it since getting my Switch.

@liveswired It's not about the market, it's about software support. With HD gaming becoming the norm games are taking more time and money to develop and the quantity of games is decreasing. So the longer they keep the 3DS on the market, the more game droughts we're going to see. Nintendo simply cannot reasonably support two systems anymore.

@liveswired

It is not the same thing.

Apple software work on ALL their current products because of compatible architecture and OS. It is a unified series of products that means one development structure.

Nintendo supporting two completely different systems is not the same thing, it is not unified and each system (Switch and 3DS) must be maintained and developed independently resulting in more work.

@JaxonH Tell your brother I know he bought a Switch in anticipation of XC2, MK8D was just an excuse to get it now, he's not fooling me.

So, can you play MK8D decently 2 player tabletop w/ just the Joycon? That's kinda crazy if that's true. My kids played MK8U (I'm calling it that now, like Zelda U) the other day and it just wound up w/ yelling and screaming and crying, my youngest hates losing to his brother. So no need. Same for Spaltoon 2, those online matches are too stressful for them. Mario, XC2, and whatever they show at E3 which I'm expecting to be new and good.

I'm playing Kameo now, did I mention that already, and it's a lot of fun. Not sure if I'll get to Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey before trading it in for a Swtich but am having more fun than expected w/ my X1.

My guess is that "strong support" means two, maybe three, 3DS games from Nintendo this year. Likely mediocre slop like Federation Force or that crappy Zelda puzzle thing.

@rjejr
Ya, he's a handheld guy. Up til now his GPD Win was his go-to handheld for STEAM and PC games he could get to run (like original Dark Souls and original Skyrim if toned down enough). But Switch really caught his interest being the most powerful handheld ever made. Zelda was his excuse, but I think once he played it and experienced how awesome it is, he started feeling the hype for the possibilities. I gave him MK8 on Wii U but he never played it much cause he didn't really like Wii U. He likes Switch, and the instant speed of tapping home to wake out of sleep mode and be right back in a game makes it very appealing to play. He said the system itself makes games much more appealing to play. But ya, Xenoblade 2 and Skyrim and Mario Odyssey and Fire Emblem and SMTV... those are his big games he's waiting for. I may even get him to play Arms and Splatoon 2 which would be an amazing feat.

I'm pretty much over X1 and 3DS... Switch and PS4 is where it's at nowadays. And even PS4 has fallen second fiddle to Switch. When you have a home console with top tier games that can instantly come with you and be played wherever you go, it ends up being a console attached to your hip 24/7. Did tons of research on charging and got a nice black case with a handle that holds a USB-C Power Delivery charger that charges fast as the official one, only it's smaller and has detachable cable, and a huge USB-C PD battery that is good for 6 full recharges as fast as official charger, and a smartphone tripod that works perfecr for charging in tabletop mode... even bought a 20 Heart Wolf Link amiibo coin that fits in the case as well for on the go, and Bose earbuds... it's the whole package in one tiny case with a handle, and got a $150 Waterfield Switch MP Pro Bag with shoulder strap... looks super classy, fits all my Surge Joycon Grips for using sideways Joycon, plus charge grips and phone charger for online hotspot gaming on the go... and my black case tucks nicely inside. Every day I play Switch with coworkers. And we're up to 3 now... another coworker just ordered a Switch. Arrives tomorrow with Zelda and MK8D.

The sideways Joycon work in a pinch, but you really want the Surge Gripkit from Amazon. It's amazing. I keep 4 in my MP Pro Bag with a spare set of Joycon for 4 player Puyo Puyo and Mario Kart and Fast RMX

https://www.amazon.com/Surge-Nintendo-Switch-Joy-Con-Grips-Thumb/dp/B01MT9RSST/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493608925&sr=8-1&keywords=switch+surge+grip

I didn't realize there were so many people who wanted the 3DS to die. Huh.

Not sure why people think supporting the 3DS is a bad idea. I'm glad I'll still be able to buy new 3DS games for the next year or so along side my Switch games. I take my 3DS almost every where with me, so far my Switch hasn't left the house lol.
I think there's a market to support both systems, it makes sense no more Wii U games but stopping production of the 3DS and games now would be a very bad business decision maybe even worse than the way the NES mini was handled. I don't think the 3DS will cut into Switch sales.
Maybe in 12-18 months if sales decline to a point where is no longer profitable to support the 3DS then fair enough.

3DS is, hands down, my favourite system ever, and I've been playing since the NES. Such a strong library at this point and if they keep churning out b-tier games, remakes and localisation I'll keep buying them

@JaxonH I'm replying to this post Monday morning, AFTER I wrote that tweet to Spoony about your job being SwitchWorld. Nintendo should be paying you a commission.

That Wolf Link "coin" - I read that sentence 3x - would be perfect in the base in a 3D printed amiibo. I'm looking forward to people making all their own NFC toys at home and just embedding a chip. We're getting my kid a 3D printer next year.

PS4 is in kind of a slow place right now, awful timing releasing Horizon same week as Zelda, but it still has God of War and Spider-Man coming so I'm not looking to trade it in anytime soon. I really picked the perfect time for my X1 "rental". SW:FU2 on Gold today, have about 2 weeks left of my free month trial, always wanted to play it but never got to it.

I love the 3DS and I love the fact that Nintendo still have big plans for it. All of those people demanding that Nintendo drop all support for it immediately can go jump in a cold lake. Long live the 3DS!

I have NEVER heard any gamers tell a company to stop supporting a handheld before to focus on their home console. During the Vita era, gamers begged Sony to support the console.

I love the 3DS and haven't jumped to Switch, so I like they are still supporting 3DS but.. its just a matter of time, when switch sells more consoles especially during the 2017 holiday season its a matter of time 3DS will be forgotten, they said the same about the DS when the 3DS was released and theres only about 3 games (if that) that's scheduled to release on 3DS this year, we'll see, who knows maybe theres more that will be announced at E3 but I'm not holding my breath.

@sillygostly I'm with you. I wish they would port Fire Emblem Echoes to Switch. I'd like to play it, but it's hard to imagine myself playing 40 hours on the 3DS while my Switch is sitting there tempting me.

@bluebolt777 Same here, I've LOVED my 3DS the last 5 years, but I haven't played it since March 3rd

@DVM I don't want them to kill the 3DS, I just want all of their development studios to work exclusively on Switch games.
In fact, I'd love for them to add 2 3DS games into the $20 Nintendo Selects line every month. There's a HUGE list to choose from:
FE:Awakening
FE:Fates
Mario 3D Land
Link Between Worlds
Majora's Mask
MK7
Planet Robobot
Smash 3DS
Pokemon X/Y
OmegaRuby
Bravely Default
Bravely Second
NSMB 2
Kid Icarus
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
DKCR 3D
M&L Dream Team
Paper Jam Bros
Tri-Force Heroes
Federation Force
Yo-Kai Watch

That would take you to April 2018 and by then you could feel good about adding
Pokemon Sun/Moon
Mario Maker
Yoshi Wolly World
FE Echoes
Yo Kai Watch 2
Dragon Quest VII & VIII

Plus maybe they convince a few 3rd parties to throw some games onto this selects line and stretch it further.

You can easily keep 3DS customers happy by making the 3DS gaming more affordable and then Nintendo gets to make more money off the 3DS user base while maximizing output to the Switch.
I'm not saying cut off projects that are almost done, but I am saying convert projects that are early in the process to Switch and when the Hey Pikmin guys finish that game get them doing something on the Switch and when the Ever Oasis guys get that done get them on the Switch.

In a recent interview the Fire Emblem team at Intelligent Systems said that they were keen to start on a Switch game when Fates was complete, but the Switch dev tools were not ready and thus Echoes on 3DS became their next project. Echoes is now out in Japan, and almost out in the west, and that team is working on Switch now.

I am sure this is the case for all of Nintendo's internal and second party studios. They will finish up any 3DS projects they had in progress and then focus on the Switch from that point onward.

Thus, all of those people who are upset every time Nintendo announces something for 3DS (because they think every dollar should be spent on Switch) need to chill out. It will not be long and Nintendo will be 100% about Switch.

@NTELLIGENTMAN Lol, that's the extremities of Switch fanboys. NINTENDO YOU MUST STOP SUPPORTING YOUR OTHER SYSTEM THAT IS MAKING YOU ALOT OF MONEY.

@Hotfusion Regardless, Nintendo shouldn't just drop a handheld that is selling well and making them big profit just because they have a new portable system - there's a market for both!

3DS will slowly fade out and Switch will take over.

I do know this about Nintendo's hardware wind downs-- They never just quit a system cold turkey. Rather, they slow burn if it was a successful system (3DS), or quick burn if it was a clunker (Wii U). 3DS still has a viable userbase, and Switch is still "on the rise", so don't worry, the money they make off the 3DS slow burn will fuel Switch's future 2018 and beyond when the 3DS actually retires. Inevitably, while 3DS is strong today, it WILL be near gone in 2018, and there will either be a successor to 3DS, or, Nintendo will finally go full on with Switch alone. Time will tell on that, I have no crystal ball-- I'm just used to how Nintendo does things.

@Fred13 : Plus, there's the fact that everybody can have a separate user profile on Switch, so there wouldn't be any accidental deleting of another person's save data. Most 3DS games are very limited in terms of the number of save profiles that they allow (and many do not include additional profiles at all). Which is why I can't justify spending as much on, say, VC on 3DS as I would on Wii U, where all users can have their own save data (and the game isn't limited to a single user as it is on 3DS, making it overall better value for money on Wii U).

Also, the cutscenes of Fates and Echoes have been produced at a minimum resolution of 1080p (heck, the Japanese-exclusive limited edition of Echoes includes a Blu-ray disc of all cutscenes dating back to Radiant Dawn on Wii!), so it's not as if that Intelligent Systems hasn't "future-proofed" the games to some degree. Frankly, I'm surprised that a port of Fates/Echoes wasn't released on Switch during its launch period. It could have helped tide fans over until the release of Warriors and Fire Emblem (2018).

I never use 3D so I may pick this up, looks really nice

@sillygostly WOW, that's really cool. I didn't know they had done all the cut scenes in HD. Do you know if this Blu-ray has an English track? I'd love to buy that (or a special edition that comes with it, but I haven't seen anything about a special edition)
Thanks for the heads up. Maybe it'll be a side story as part of E3?!? (I know probably not, but I can dream can't I)

@Fred13 : I'd very strongly doubt it as it's a Japan-only release. Just as well, because I prefer the Japanese audio. That Blu-ray would be such a nice thing to have! The Japanese Fates soundtrack included a data DVD with HD versions of most cutscenes in MP4 format, which was a nice bonus.

I'm sure somebody will upload them on YouTube at some point (though they will be heavily compressed due to the nature of YouTube).

Here's an idea that may make MOST people happy: instead of dedicating teams to create new titles for the 3DS, why not fill out the remaining release schedule with the Virtual Console that has long been abandoned? For example, instead of having Square Enix release anything new, why not have them put their huge catalog of 8/16-bit releases on 3DS? Final Fantasy 1, 4, 6, Legends 1-3, Adventure, Secret of Mana/Evermore, Chrono Trigger, Actraiser 1-2, Illusion of Gaia, Super Mario RPG, etc. Have Konami release what is left, as well as Capcom. Natsume was one of their biggest supporters, so why not have them release what they have? The VC has so many gaps that they would be easier to fill than it would to create new titles. I'm just amazed that they have been so coy about the 3DS VC for so long! Either commit to discontinuing it or support it!