Production Of The Standard-Sized New Nintendo 3DS Ends In Japan

The best looking iteration of the 3DS. It will be missed

Wasn't expecting this, of all models, to disappear. The regular New 3DS was the best of them all, IMHO.... Maybe they just couldn't make it more stable

I was fortunate enough to get the North American one they had for Black Friday before they sold out.

The transfer from my old Aqua Blue 3DS was a PAIN, but it was a pretty worthwhile upgrade IMO. I guess I should try to get some new faceplates for it before they end production on those too...

I use the Fire Emblem Fates faceplates on mine. I love it. It reminds me of the DS Lite which was the perfect DS to me.

Glad I got one when I did. They didn't stay around long at all which is too bad as it's the best 3DS version for my tastes. Much more pocketable than the XL which I personally need

I think this is sad news . Best buy another one for spare soon I guess

Having both a Japanese n3DS and a UK n3DSXL, the smaller device has a slightly better feel and the smaller screens produce a sharper image than the XL's, but the normal one has a very small and fiddly stylus. So both had pros and cons but it seems that the XLs were selling better which follows the global consumer trend for larger devices.

I think the faceplates idea was good, but they never really pushed it outside of Japan.

The beginning of the end for 3DS.

It's already impossible to get a regular sized New 3DS.

@Dakt Um, it's bigger than a regular 3DS.

Love my swapable faceplates! Have the Fire Emblem plates on mine at mo.

Snap up any faceplates you may have wanted but didn't get! I have noticed that production of those stopped a while ago here in South Korea. They are getting much harder to find. There are a few last ones I want.

The first of many, HA! "We are not getting rid of 3DS anytime soon" - my bum.

"Goodbye New 3DS
(I know it's going ended although I can still feel it here)
It's not the end,
(It gotta keep it strong before the size turn into complains)
So glad we owned it, coverplate will never ended no no no
no no no no... "

Goodbye - Spice Girls

Wow, that's fast, only out 3 years, must be selling the least amount compared to the LL version in Japan. Which ones next to go?

Hopefully this means full focus on the Switch from next year. 3ds is great, but it's very long in the tooth now.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Nah, I think it's just that sales have been so minimal compared to the XL. Just wait, they'll announce a F-Zero X remaster for 3DS and confirm no F-Zero for Switch!

I wish you could get faceplates for the 2DS XL. Or that Dragon Quest one.

I've got a bunch of Faceplates I couldn't resist buying because they looked so good (Fire Emblem, Zelda, Mario Maker etc) but I don't actually have a standard New 3DS! I always did intend to get one. I might see how much I can get a second hand one for.

@Bunkerneath To be fair, the n2DSXL has been rolling out world wide and will be hitting EU and NA in less than two weeks. IMO, that says more about Nintendo's commitment to the 3DS line than the halted production of one part of the family.

Conversely this could just be them making "updated" systems for posterity's sake and they could stop making first party games after the Metroid 2 remake releases.

"The Switch will not replace the 3DS"

Was planning to replace my o3DS, pointless now, if it breaks im done with nintendo the end.

@Dakt The New3DS has a 20% bigger screen than a standard one and although its the same thicknesses it is ever so slightly longer but in no way to make it less portable. Thanks to its nice smooth style of case compared to my ambassador regular 3DS it does feel smaller and more comfortable in my pocket but without actually being smaller.

So glad I was able to get the white Animal Crossing N3DS. The colours are so much more vivid than on the XLs. The 3D is better. It's a gem.

No, the new Nintendo 3DS launched in 2015Not 2014

@SLIGEACH_EIRE you updated your icon?

Sigh... it wasn't even released in NA besides rare bundles...

Gah! I gotta try to pick up another one. I just had mine "repaired" (replaced) because one of the shoulder buttons stopped working. I love the size most of all, very portable. And the screen is sharper and clearer than the XL because of smaller pixels. It's been a good run, sad to see it go.

@Dakt Yeah have to agree with you there. I still have my original 3DS, while the size was just about 'acceptable' on release, now considering my last two phones have been 5" those miniscule screens don't really cut it! I've played on a New3DS XL, it's really impressive and I'll definitely pick one up second hand once the prices come down!

"Impact the availability of the smaller unit in NA"...man, that thing has BEEN harder to find in the US than big foot.

Well bigger is better.

Once you have had a big one, small ones just won't do...

This is a good sign. Nintendo needs to put the 3DS out to pasture and focus on Switch entirely. This is a first step.

@Danrenfroe2016 You do if the bigger one looks like garbage.

The New 3DS is hands down the best iteration of the 3DS and it will be sorely missed.

End of an era?

I was hoping the coloured ABXY buttons would be here to stay for the next few systems, but I'm still holding out for a SNES/SF themed Joycon set.

Nooooooo!!! My favourite...

So glad I was am to get that special edition Pokemon 20th anniversary New 3DS with Charizard & Blastorie face plates. It's sad to hear that production has stop but at the same time, it's business. "If it doesnt make dollars, it doesnt make sense," ya heard?

@Grumblevolcano no he’s right it’s the beginning of the end

@SLIGEACH_EIRE But the 2DS LIVES!!!

@gcunit Just what I was gonna say.

@OdnetninAges
Are you me? I got my Black Friday NN3DS and the transfer from my OG Aqua Blue 3DS was also a pain.
Never tried to change faceplates, either!

Meanwhile, the 2DS lives on. This shows the power of design over processing power.

I am lucky I was able to get one when the Pokémon 20th Anniversary Edition models came to Canada. Always wished I could get more face plates but the Nintendo Online Store for Canada has very slim pickings and Amazon's offerings are ridiculously expensive. This was the better model by far, and a rather missed opportunity by Nintendo when they didn't launch it here in North America to begin with. I know so many people just in my circle of friends who would have preferred this to the N3DS XL model.

Why are so many people taking this as a sign that Nintendo is replacing the 3DS with the Switch? In the US, the regular New 3DS has always only been available in limited editions while the New 3DS XL is always available in normal editions in addition to limited editions. So saying they are ending production of the regular sized New 3DS is hardly significant. The 3DS will continue at least to the end of 2018, and possibly longer.

@Dakt Not for 8 years old. Weren't they focusing on children with the DS family?

I have an Ambassador New 3DS, but shelved it for the XL. Kinda sad to see it end production. I still play my 3DS more than my Switch (which I'm sure will change over time)... such a good console.

This news doesn't massively surprise me though. Just look at the weekly sales figures from Japan. New 3DS XL is the best seller. New 3DS, not so much.

"It remains to be seen if this move will impact the availability of the smaller unit in North America and Europe as well."
I wasn't able to replace my broken one already last year (december) and since then this model was never made available again outside of used devices. (France)

I like my Nintendo Switch more than I thought I would at first I was not completely sold on Switch but the new Nintendo 3DS XL is my favorite system hands down love it there are a ton of awesome titles I love the 3D effect especially in the 8bit and 16bit looking games I even prefer the clam shell design the 3DS offers for me it's gonna be hard to find a system to take the place of my new 3DS XL .

Well, I just bought a New 2DS XL which is arriving today! So I hope I can get one or two more years of support. Though to be honest I bought it mainly for the Zelda games, Luigi's Mansion and Metroid: Samus Returns so I'll be fine. Anyway, I still see the 3DS alive and well through 2018. 2019 will be year it starts fading.

P.D. I'm sick of the autocorrector changing Metroid: Samus Returns to Meteoroid: Camus Returns. Autocorrect my ass!

Glad I was able to get my hands on one of the Pokémon anniversary edition units when they launched. I imagine production for the other territories will be ended shortly. That's a bummer, even though I have fairly large hands I prefer the smaller unit. I like the size a little better and definitely prefer the screen.

I don't think this says much about 3DS production when the NN2DSXL is about to come out. The regular New Nintendo 3DS has NEVER really existed in North America so this is nothing new.

Still stuck on my launch day original model. At least it's still fully supported after 6 years, the DS, Wii, and Wii U didn't get this treatment.

Such a stable console.

And so the twilight begins....

@Grumblevolcano I laughed. And then I cried.

I'm surprised it's the standard New 3DS getting discontinued and not the 2DS in favor of a standard sized New 2DS.

If they would have dropped it by 20. They might have increased sales dramatically. I got each model released but prefer the standard (smaller) sized New' N 3ds, also better stability with the 3d imo.

It's basically the case in this country too. U can't buy one from Amazon and the official Nintendo Store just has a couple of bundles left. It's being phased out. The plates were cool. But the so model is a lot better to use . The normal 3ds screen just seems tiny these days .

I love this version of the New 3ds (it's the best one imo). Still salty that NoA never fully embraced this model in the states (It's most likely down to Reggie being butthurt that the Gameboy Micro faceplates didn't take off back in '05 ). Still need to go get some more faceplates. I'm looking to nab the FE Fates, Xenoblade, Splatoon, Sable Able and Super Mario Maker Plates

This maybe the beginning of the end for the 3DS, but it's legacy will still live on.

On a side note, I'm still pretty ticked that this version of the New 3DS never got a true wide release over here in America.

New 3DS is way better than the LL/XL version in my opinion. my eyes cannot seem to adjust to the larger screen. also, the smaller one is easier to hold.

@Grumblevolcano Actually, I'd love a 3DS F-Zero X remake. (Especially, with the Japan-only "Expression Pack" included.)

Seeing dust clouds, and such zoom by at 60FPS in 3D would look awesome!

RIP the whole 3DS line. Looks like it's time is gonna be up soon. Make way for the Switch!

-Unless-Nintendo-is-foolish-enough-to-let-the-3DS-live-through-2019-and-beyond-