Earlier this year, Nintendo confirmed that the company was no longer producing Nintendo 3DS systems. The news recently began to spread due to an update on the Japanese Nintendo website in red text. The North American Nintendo 3DS website has now been updated with the news.
For now, the only console that will be produced by Nintendo is the Nintendo Switch. The company is now working to make the console its priority. The popular Wii, WiiU, and now the 3DS will no longer be made, but there’s a big difference between the consoles. Nintendo is no longer accepting repair requests for the Wiis because of a lack of repair materials.
Nintendo is continuing to accept repair requests for the Nintendo 3DS, but it’s unknown how long this will continue. Owners of the 3DS are encouraged to send in their handhelds as soon as possible in case Nintendo decides to stop, but this may not happen for a few more years.
With the decision to stop production of the 3DS, many have wondered about the future of games on the console. Currently, some new games are released, if only through the eShop. Most developers and publishers have long stopped producing games for the Wii, with a few exceptions from companies who want to broaden the release of their titles.
The 3DS shop has a library with over one thousand games. Many of them were award-winning titles beloved by many players. Some wondered about the future of these games, since some may not ever see a Nintendo Switch port.
In an official statement, Nintendo stated that there are no plans to shut down the 3DS eShop yet. A spokesperson told GamesIndustry:
We currently have no plans to end any existing online services for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Online play and Nintendo eShop will continue to be available and it will be possible to access and re-download all previously purchased content in the foreseeable future.
The statement is good news for 3DS owners. The console was first launched in March 2011 and sold over 75.9 million units worldwide. Many were able to pick up one of the consoles for a lower price when the Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017.
The Nintendo Wii didn’t end production until 2013 (and the WiiU in 2016), but the Wii Shop closed in 2019. This game players plenty of time to enjoy their favorite Wii titles before Nintendo closed the shop.
Nintendo has commented that the 3DS Shop will remain open for now, but it will likely shut down in the next few years if it follows previous trends. As for now, 3DS owners can continue to enjoy the large library of 3DS available through the eShop or continue to purchase the physical versions of the game.
