Nintendo Finally Hints That It Has Ditched Game Development On The 3DS

I love the 3DS, but it has done it's job. Wonder how many more hardware and software units they can squeeze out of it. I still play mine from time to time.

I better grab another one before they are gone. Maybe it will come down a little in price. I have a compulsion where I have to play Animal Crossing New Leaf every night at bed time. I can't let my villagers go without. I wish I didn't have to do it. But I do. I enjoy it though.

I don't mind no new games on the 3DS but wish they had kept the Virtual Console alive.

That's perfectly fine, people have moved on so it makes sense to end game development.

@Digitamamon64 id love to see a 3ds/DS shop on the Switch eshop.

Waits for Nintendolife commentators saying the 3DS family is NOT DEAD. I guess based on their definition my Atari in the attic isn't dead either.

Maybe they could have made a 3ds micro to squeeze any last remaining pennies from people, I'd probably buy one lol

My New 3DS with it's Mugen Power Battery attached comes everywhere with me. Fantastic handheld, probably the greatest ever.

@Joe-b
I'd probably spend a gross amount of money on that if it happened.

Well given that AlphaDream went bankrupt with their last 3DS release, I’d say that’s obvious at this point. Yes, AlphaDream had other problems that led to bankruptcy, but still, NL reported that Nintendo killed other projects cause of it.

3DS had a fantastic run, with some of the best portable games ever made. It kept Nintendo afloat going through the tough years of the Wii U, and that can’t be understated.

@Digitamamon64 my God, no kidding. Be great though!

A bit sad but it had to happen one day. I hope this means that they'll make certain hard to find games easier to get like Kid Icarus Uprising and FE Awakening. Maybe they'll put them in the Selects line? I hope so. People who haven't played those games need too. Especially Uprising.

Hmmm.... gonna need to buy a spare 2ds or two.

Goodnight, sweet prince.

Bought my son a pristine 2ds second hand for Christmas stocking filler this year for an amazing £15. He has just started to show an interest in gaming so perfect place to begin. If he gets on with that will get him a switch lite next year.

So long 3DS. Easily the second best Nintendo system ever. The Switch is the best!

I went crazy for 3DS over its lifespan. I have 5 different models of the thing with about 150 games.

It's sad to see it go in a way. Loved StreetPass. So many hours spent on Monster Hunter... or New Leaf, or countless others.

But in the same breath it's totally dated and I'm happy for Nintendo to lay it to rest.

I’ll still be playing mine regularly for years. I’ve got a massive backlog of games to play on it, plus it’s way easier to travel with than the Switch.

My 3DS is now my Picross machine.

i have to say tho, i loved the 3DS for sure. But when the switch arrived i havent touched my 3DS and sold it.
They should bring the games over to the switch Eshop, i would love to play those games on the go again on my switch.

I mean... it hasn’t “gone” anywhere so long as you still own one and actually use it. It’s not like Nintendo is going around and removing them from people’s houses. I picked up a rather tasty Groudon themed new 3DS last month and it’s been getting a fair bit of use. Still so many great games to play on the console, and certain genres (Layton/Ace Attorney/etc.) just seem to be that much more at home in the cosy clamshell of Nintendo’s last genuinely pocketable portable.

While it’s been clear for a some time that Nintendo aren’t pumping fresh resources on it, it’s legacy is enough to ensure that - in my household at least - it’s not dead.

If only the Switch would have "Street Pass." I still haven't embraced the Switch as a truly mobile system yet. I still take my 3DS on trips with me.

To the surprise of nobody I am sure.

Now is the best time to pick up some 3DS Games you didn't get before. Many Titles are really cheap now.

So they drop support on the 3DS because the system almost doesn't sell units anymore, but maybe the sales dropped because no new software was being released, isn't it? Catch-22.

About the games, even when a Nintendo system is dead, the titles cost the same as always. Don't get your hopes up.

It was evident with the Switch Lite release the era of 2DS/3DS would come to a close and developers were Switching (pun) or moving developments towards the Switch as that is current offering. I see nothing wrong with the closing History of the 2DS/3DS they did their time but also there still games out there for them. I have over 300+ games in 2DS/3DS that still haven't finished either.

@RazumikhinPG Exactly.

We knew that a few years ago... 240p in 2017 doesn't really work even for handheld.. ps1 was released like in what? 1996 and had 480p.. they also used cheap parts that's for sure. I'm glad it's dying now. bye bye. Now NIntendo remake Ocarina of Time and not like 3DS adding colour... the game was meant to be dark you know.. for the atmosphere. I'd like to see a proper remake of that one

The 3DS was always my most wanted game console ever since I saw it in Nintendo Power. I got mine almost 3 years later (3DS XL) and still use it to this day. I have never thought of upgrading to the New 3DS and I never will.

@Alucard83 That was a proper remake.

Nintendo might not be making 3DS software or hardware anymore but I think the console is really finished when they pull the plug on the eShop and all the VC games are no longer available.

I still love it. And still continuing to buy games for it.

GBA remained on store shelves for YEARS after new releases stopped trickling out. It was the budget, entry level device for a long time.

So long as Nintendo is selling them, the 3DS will remain on shelves in some capacity.

Contrary to what some people seem to think, there is no shame in a console being "dead". It's not like they stop selling it and you're suddenly forbidden to play it anymore.

Nintendo should drop the 2ds to 50 and the new 2ds xl to $99. Nobody will buy that at its current mrsp when for 50 dollars more you can get a switch lite

Dude, I’m playing my 3DS even more than my Switch so this is kind of sad. But I get it.... it’s an old system. But it’s sooooo good, it’s for sure my favorite next to N64.
I love the switch but it just won’t ever cut it as a 3DS/portable replacement. Those analog sticks need some work (not drifting—I’m referring to the “loose” feel they have), the lack of clamshell design and streetpass-like functionality.... I can name a few others but ... the 3DS is just a feel-good system to me. Simpler times, perhaps I don’t know.
Come talk to me when Animal Crossing: NH comes out and officially dethrones New Leaf, though. I think that’s going to take over my life as NL did.

I have trouble going back to playing the 3ds after switch. Just comfort is enough of a reason.

I recently went on a trip, and I had my 3DS in my backpack, and when I took it out I saw the little green light on, and I got a huge smile. Street Pass makes me so happy. I need to complete all the puzzles and I'm close to getting all 50 states.

It's sad, but I get it.
The worst thing is, my personally curated virtual console library (that costs me nothing per month) is still profoundly better for accessing classics than their subscription. I should go through the store while it's still good and see what else I want to track down.

I recently re-downloaded all of my previously purchased titles and restored all my backed up saves. When it goes, i'll still have it. It will be a sad day but all good things must come to an end.

I completely understand, but I still have such a massive backlog that I will be playing for years to come.
The 3ds is my favorite console of all time, and nothing yet has come close. I just need to buy some backup hardware while I can!

I love my Majora’s Mask New 3DS XL ( and my extensive DS/3DS game collection) to bits, but as someone with bad eyesight in spite of glasses, I find it difficult to go back to the comparatively blurry screen for longer than 30/60 minutes at a time now that I am used to the Switch. Which is a pity, because the 3DS is probably my favourite handheld of all time, and it had some really amazing games. Stopping making new games for it will never change that.

Totally fine with that, Switch is my current handheld console.

My sister in law opted to get my nephews three new 2DS systems with Mario pre installed. After she compared my switch to a 2ds, 3ds & new 2DS I own, she opted for the 2ds. It's just too good of a deal and the games are awesome. The kids are aged 9, 7, 5.

The other problem with the switch is that it just feels way too flimsy, 2ds is Rock solid.

So I see allot of younger children getting 3ds products this year at Christmas.

Unless Nintendo releases a 3DSwitch, the 3DS will remain my favorite game system ever.

@Alucard83 I definitely see your point but to me the screens on my new 2DS XL are great. Maybe it's just because I started gaming with the NES and Gameboy, but the lower resolutions do not bother me. I still play Gameboy and Gameboy advance on my 92" screen ( EON GCHD MK. II works wonders, pixels are so crisp!).

However some of my younger friends can't stand to look at a GB game blown up on a projector.

I'm wondering if it really does have to do with what folks started with as kids.

@Alucard83 curious to know your age and what your first system was?

@Thundertron55 I know most prefer physical copies but at least on 3DS, many of those hard-to-find games can be bought off the eShop. Fingers crossed Nintendo doesn't deactivate the 3DS eShop anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure the Switch Lite and new Pokemon games are the final nails in the coffin for the 3DS/2DS.

I read on an article that IGN is reporting that Nintendo is thinking about releasing more 3DS style franchises over to Switch. I mean, I wouldn't doubt it. I would love to see them bring over popular 3DS titles to Switch in HD form. I can see that boosting sales to an even greater extent then what it is now. I am not keeping my 3DS much longer anyway, I've had numerous iterations of the 3DS since my 16th birthday in 2011. I think it's time to get the secret out of the bag. The 3DS had its 8 long years in the spotlight. The Wii U needs to be ditched too, cause I don't know why small developers are still releasing games for that console that's been dead since early 2017 with games coming out for that since like mid October 2019.

With this inevitable forecast I purchased 2DS a new 3DSXL And a Metriod Edition 3DSXL. Better now then when they are to hard/expensive to find.

I still need to get around to Fates Revelation. Persona Q2 might be good as well, who knows?

@sixrings Can you still buy 3DS systems and games on store? Yes. Is Nintendo still manufacturing them? Yes. Are they still supporting the online store? Yes.

Hardly sounds like a dead system to me.

I think it's pretty obvious, the last game they released was Kirby's extra epic yarn on March and the last new games was Wario Ware Gold last year, so yeah, they are no longer making games for it. However was astound me is the people wishing, craving for the 3DS to die, even though it no longer affects the Switch at all. So why then? Because a portion of Switch owners are toxic purists.

Using the word Evergreen in that context suggests popular downloadable Nintendo games.

Evergreen titles will remain on Nintendo's website so those buying a DS will be able to purchase them regardless of whether physical copies are available.

Long live the 3DS

Wasn't it a few months ago we were talking about how Nintendo's own website for the "3DS family" lacks a 3DS? (just 2DS variants)

I still need to finish the new Metroid, then probably let it rest. Maybe play a older game from time to time.

My 8yr old daughter has inherited my 3ds xl, completed Pokemon Red, working her way through Gold, and discovered Nintendogs. Lots of old games can be picked up really cheap.
Hopefully the newer Pokemon games drop in price soon so I can play them

Yeah, it's not surprising that they aren't developing games for it any more, but I hope they'll continue to do sales and the like, seeing as it's still has the eShop.
Am I the only still looking forward to playing different games on it?
I still haven't started Fates and I've only just completed Persona Q's NG+ so I have Persona Q2 to look forward to as well!

The 3DS went out perfectly. Not too soon, not too late, and with a MASSIVE, near-perfect library of games under its belt.

To think that to this very day we still had not seen a brand new Mega Man game on the 3DS at all. A great opportunity to win back fans wasted. Such a shame really. On the otherhand it was nice to see a new Resident Evil game for the system that is not a waterdown port.

I don't know why everyone is so eager for the 3DS to die. Especially this site with all the articles constantly talking about how it's no longer relevant or Nintendo needs to officially kill the thing off or sales are at an all time low.

The switch and 3DS can co exist you know. It's not going away anytime soon and even if it did do you think officially killing it will suddenly have some great benefit to Nintendo? I don't get it.

Besides a system is only dead when you stop playing it and well i just played mine a few days ago thank you very much!

despite the 3ds slowly making its leave, it had an amazing run. and id say theres no better time to buy a 3ds than now, its the most affordable its ever been with pretty much infinite quality games to play at this point

Coming up on nine years of market viability, I'd say they certainly gave it a good run.

And I wouldn't be surprised if the system proved the viability of going sticking to ARM for main processing.

It's embarrassing that I loved my 3DS. Best, most played console I'd ever owned to date, and I still have a backlog of games I own but haven't played for it. Yet I never can get myself to pick it up since Switch came out....

I still have a decently sized 3DS backlog and a small handful of unplayed DS games to boot. Enough to keep me busy for at least a couple of years. Likely longer than that as I plan to finally pick up a Switch soon.

I love both of my 3DS systems and still play on my main system (N3DS XL) and occasionally my original/backup system (OG 3DS). It's sad to see the family finally entering retirement, but such is how the technology cookie crumbles. Eight years is still an excellent run.