A lot of us were a little worried when we finally received confirmation that the Nintendo Switch would be a home console/handheld hybrid. It’s an awesome idea, of course, and the prospect of playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on-the-go is almost too much excitement to handle. However, what about the 3DS? Throughout all of Nintendo’s ups and downs over the years, the 3DS has endured. Is the ever-present handheld going the way of the Nintendo Wii U? Not so, according to a 2017 Investor Briefing. The briefing goes over the Nintendo Switch, and all of the games that have released in 2016, as well as upcoming titles. When covering the 3DS, the report reassures investors that it is still actively developing for the Nintendo 3DS:
“As we approach six years since the launch of Nintendo 3DS, it is a common assumption that the platform is entering its final stage. However, I believe we have shown that compelling software can continue to drive hardware sales. We have often asserted that software drives hardware sales in our dedicated video game system business, and this is further proof of that fact… We will continue to introduce new titles that players can enjoy for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. We have heard speculation that Nintendo Switch will replace the Nintendo 3DS, as both are game systems that can be played outside the home, but Nintendo 3DS has unique characteristics that differ from those of Nintendo Switch. Furthermore, the price points and play experiences offered by the two systems are different and we do not see them as being in direct competition. We plan to continue both businesses separately and in parallel.”
The report then goes on to promise lots of new games: “We will have several follow-up titles from popular franchises on Nintendo 3DS and we are developing many other unannounced titles to continue to enrich the software lineup going forward.”
This is fantastic news for anyone who received the New Nintendo 3DS over the holidays, and perhaps playing too much Pokemon Sun, and Moon, Fire Emblem: Fates, etc.
… You can find Jordan on Twitter (@JordJJones), and Facebook.
Originally published February 1, 2017. Updated November 21, 2019.
