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[Garrett Hawke]

Let say the 3DS was born March 27th, 2011

Hypothetical Date     Age
Apr 30, 2011         Not 1 years old
May 13, 2012         One Years old
Dec 1, 2013          Two Years old
Nov 5, 2014          Three years old
Jun 6, 2015          Four years old 
Apr 1, 2016          Five years old 
Feb 1, 2017          Five years old 
May 2, 2017          Six Years old

The 3DS isn't seven years old as of right now. The 3DS isn't six years old yet. The 3DS is currently five years old. However, I think I'm starting to understand that the 3DS is in its' sixth year of life.

The 3DS is entering its seventh year.
Feb 2011-Feb 2012 was its first year of availability.
Feb 2012-Feb 2013 was its second year of availability.
Feb 2013-Feb 2014 was its third year of availability.
Feb 2014-Feb 2015 was its fourth year of availability.
Feb 2015-Feb 2016 was its fifth year of availability.
Feb 2016-Feb 2017 was its sixth year of availability.
Feb 2017-Feb 2018 will be its seventh year of availability.

What are you not getting?

 

[Ushojax]

I remember when Mario Party 3 came out in 2001 and the inept former head of NoE, David Gosen, was saying that the N64 had a bright future ahead of it.

Of course the 3DS will not be shot in the head, it will keep selling to young children and there will be some low-budget titles in the pipeline for the next 12 months, but that's it.

 

[The Hermit]

We've been through this already.

They don't want to cannibalize the 3Ds sales. That's it.

 

[KratosEnergyDrink]

Of course they will kept the 3DS alive a little bit more. Why not? It still sells good.

Nonetheless more and more 3DS games will switch. If Switch is successfull it will happen sooner than later, but 2017 is surely the last year of 3DS software support, no doubt about that.

 

[Malakai]

The 3DS is entering its seventh year.
Feb 2011-Feb 2012 was its first year of availability.
Feb 2012-Feb 2013 was its second year of availability.
Feb 2013-Feb 2014 was its third year of availability.
Feb 2014-Feb 2015 was its fourth year of availability.
Feb 2015-Feb 2016 was its fifth year of availability.
Feb 2016-Feb 2017 was its sixth year of availability.
Feb 2017-Feb 2018 will be its seventh year of availability.

What are you not getting?

Years of availability doesn't equal age. Someone wrote that the 3DS is seven years old.

 

[Raitaro]

If this means many more years of getting 1 game for Switch compared to 3+ games for 3DS then I guess the Switch will be the last Nintendo console I will buy.

The 3DS has had plenty of good years in the spotlight and has a tremendous library already so I for one would applaud Nintendo if they showed some courage by focusing fully on the Switch from now on to make sure it has plenty of games to help it become an attractive new platform. Sure, sprinkle some low key 3DS games here and there but don't spend resources on 3DS exclusives after 2017 please. That is a large reason the Wii U's library ended up being so thinly spread out over the years.

This is all assuming they are not lying again here to not openly abandon the 3DS install base of course but my gut feeling tells me that they actually do believe that they need to keep the 3DS going, in part because their customers seem to want that.

 

[Lucifon]

Mario & Luigi

Also slight chance of Stars being on Switch & 3DS

Although I truly hope it's Switch only since that would get so many more people to adopt it

I really think they need to make it Switch exclusive, given that it's not a full new game. A new Pokemon on the big screen would make a LOT of people notice the Switch exists.

 

[Waji]

What is this comparison yoooo what is going on here all of a sudden?

I'm answering to an old comment and I don't see a problem with it.
Just saying that if the Vita can sell with third party only, the 3ds also can.
I don't see any problem in this comparison and I still think Nintendo can and should stop work on the 3ds by themselves.

 

[KratosEnergyDrink]

The 3DS has had plenty of good years in the spotlight and has a tremendous library already so I for one would applaud Nintendo if they showed some courage by focusing fully on the Switch from now on

Thats not "courage" its a slap in the face of 3DS players to stop game production immediately after the successor has arrived. They give the 3DS a year to fade out, thats the right thing to do.

 

[Clefargle]

So lemme get this straight:

3DS has no games in 2017 = Doomed

3DS has games in 2017 = Doomed

Ok, right. The Switch will pick up where the 3DS leaves off eventually, but until then there is nothing wrong with extra 3DS support. To anyone concern trolling over if the Switch is 'truly!?" a handheld or whether or not it will be a "third pillar" this late is just missing the point. It's both a console and a handheld and is being marketed as such. It was priced appropriately to make a small profit and is functionally replacing both Wii U short term and 3DS long term. Nintendo is just hedging and pushing the ~65m+ user base the 3DS currently holds. Why wouldn't they? SMH

 

[E-phonk]

(switch) is functionally replacing both Wii U short term and 3DS long term.

This.

 

[Shikamaru Ninja]

I posted this exact sentiment in a thread a few months ago. I was dispelling the notion that all of the R&D was doing to be focused on the Switch (now or immediately). I don't think the device is a true Japan portable just yet. In fact, I think it's marketing itself as a more table top multiplayer portable machine than a micro RPG machine you carry around your pocket. That will change some years from now, when Nintendo watches the market react, and accordingly responds to those trends. Should be interesting.

With that said. I think the Switch will be getting the AAA darlings from Nintendo, but the 3DS will still be receiving notable first party titles.

 

[Scrawnton]

I'm not gonna worry until we see hard evidence that internal devs are ignoring Switch to make more system seller quality 3DS games. For example, if Pokémon Stars is on Switch and 3DS then that's cool. If Pokémon Stars is only on 3DS then Nintendo is out of their damn minds.

 

[i-Jest]

At this point all I want are the localization for Monster Hunter Stories and more info on Fire Emblem Echoes. The next Fire Emblem game, in the mainline series, coming to the Switch has me a bit excited too.

I don't expect the new console to intentionally replace the 3DS anytime soon. It's to soon to call it. The line up is still on the weak side for one. We still don't know how well it's gonna perform 3-4 years from now. The 3DS, although fading in popularity, still has a sizeable user base. Nintendo could still use it as a fall back to maintain market share

 

[oti]

I'm answering to an old comment and I don't see a problem with it.
Just saying that if the Vita can sell with third party only, the 3ds also can.
I don't see any problem in this comparison and I still think Nintendo can and should stop work on the 3ds by themselves.

Comparing the Vita with the 3DS make zero, absolute zero, sense.
And Nintendo shouldn't stop working on the 3DS. It's their cash cow. Not working on the 3DS would be absolutely foolish and just bad business.

 

[Linkstrikesback]

The 3DS has had plenty of good years in the spotlight and has a tremendous library already so I for one would applaud Nintendo if they showed some courage by focusing fully on the Switch from now on to make sure it has plenty of games to help it become an attractive new platform. Sure, sprinkle some low key 3DS games here and there but don't spend resources on 3DS exclusives after 2017 please. That is a large reason the Wii U's library ended up being so thinly spread out over the years.

"Courage" isn't a justification to do what can only be described as a bad business move.

If Nintendo went all in on Switch, and it turns out to be another Wii U, that'd be it for the company, at least as we know it. Supporting 3DS for at least another year gives them a way out if everything goes pear shaped, as well as giving them some time to get Switch costs down so it's more palatable to the current 3DS market, without losing those customers for a while, even if things do go well for switch.

 

[Scrawnton]

At this point all I want are the localization for Monster Hunter Stories and more info on Fire Emblem Echoes. The next Fire Emblem game, in the mainline series, coming to the Switch has me a bit excited too.

I don't expect the new console to intentionally replace the 3DS anytime soon. It's to soon to call it. The line up is still on the weak side for one. We still don't know how well it's gonna perform 3-4 years from now. The 3DS, although fading in popularity, still has a sizeable user base. Nintendo could still use it as a fall back to maintain market share

The problem with the 3DS is that it is old tech. It was weak compared to mobile devices when it first launched and they squeezed six years out of it and it's now entering its seventh year. Switch is a very advanced piece of handheld technology so it could only evolve to be cheaper over time. Even if it has a slow start the tech won't be outdated in 2-3 years in terms of a handheld system. So if Nintendo can decrease the price drastically and offer a handheld only version with three years of game catalogue to back it up, Switch starts to look VERY attractive. I think Nintendo knows this and they're playing the long game with this one.

 

[bman94]

Have no idea how Nintendo is going to be able to support both platforms.

Unless they just added a ton of development teams to pick up the slack I don't see this being a good choice for the Switch's software output.

 

[muyricosuave]

It's more than likely means ports of switch games like with the Wii U. But Pokémon games as well. And who can forget Kirby games.

 

[Scrawnton]

Have no idea how Nintendo is going to be able to support both platforms.

Unless they just added a ton of development teams to pick up the slack I don't see this being a good choice for the Switch's software output.

Some of the games with either be ports or localized games. We are not gonna see another Zelda or Mario platformer in 3DS. We may see another Kirby game though that is on both Switch and 3DS.

There's not gonna be a traditional huge holiday game for 3DS that outshines a game on Switch.

 

[Oregano]

The problem with the 3DS is that it is old tech. It was weak compared to mobile devices when it first launched and they squeezed six years out of it and it's now entering its seventh year. Switch is a very advanced piece of handheld technology so it could only evolve to be cheaper over time. Even if it has a slow start the tech won't be outdated in 2-3 years in terms of a handheld system. So if Nintendo can decrease the price drastically and offer a handheld only version with three years of game catalogue to back it up, Switch starts to look VERY attractive. I think Nintendo knows this and they're playing the long game with this one.

It will be really difficult to get third parties and consumers to suddenly buy in to a system that has struggled for three years. Actually I'm going to say it's impossible.

The 3DS had an oddly good 2016 but that Pokemon bump has been and gone(and wasn't actually that high!) and it's only going to get worse. They can't wait until 2019-2020 to replace it.

 

[jroc74]

Obvious nothing the switch is also a handheld. That's the entire sales pitch.

Exactly.

Like some have mentioned, look at it as last gen vs new gen.

If it's still selling then you still support it.

The PS3 is still being sold. How long it it take for Nintendo to discontinue the Wii? How long did it take for MS to discontinue the 360?

What makes this interesting is that they combined the dev teams.

I also agree with those saying it's their back up in case the Switch is another Wii U.

 

[Scrawnton]

It will be really difficult to get third parties and consumers to suddenly buy in to a system that has struggled for three years. Actually I'm going to say it's impossible.

The 3DS had an oddly good 2016 but that Pokemon bump has been and gone(and wasn't actually that high!) and it's only going to get worse. They can't wait until 2019-2020 to replace it.

Western 3rd parties more or less abandoned 3DS after launch and that system did well. And they are replacing 3DS right now with the Switch, they're just paying lip service to 3DS owners and people they still want to sell them to. Switch coming out doesn't magically make all their 3DS stock disappear. It's obvious they're making PR moves to clear their stock, why else would they release a special pikachu 3DS without a new game to tie it into?

We've been through this before with Nintendo during transitions of handhelds. DS didn't kill GBA for nearly two years, 3DS didn't kill DS for over a year, and Switch won't kill 3DS for over a year. This time, though, Nintendo is only balancing the Switch and 3DS. Not 3DS, Wii, and DS or GCN, DS, GBA and preparing for Wii.

 

[RootCause]

That's fine. But please don't make them 3ds exclusive. I would prefer to have the option to play the games on Nintendo switch.

 

[maxcriden]

Hm, I wonder if we will get one more 2D Zelda on 3DS. That engine's seen two games but maybe it will see one more.

 

[Oregano]

Western 3rd parties more or less abandoned 3DS after launch and that system did well. And they are replacing 3DS right now with the Switch, they're just paying lip service to 3DS owners and people they still want to sell them to. Switch coming out doesn't magically make all their 3DS stock disappear. It's obvious they're making PR moves to clear their stock, why else would they release a special pikachu 3DS without a new game to tie it into?

We've been through this before with Nintendo during transitions of handhelds. DS didn't kill GBA for nearly two years, 3DS didn't kill DS for over a year, and Switch won't kill 3DS for over a year. This time, though, Nintendo is only balancing the Switch and 3DS. Not 3DS, Wii, and DS or GCN, DS, GBA and preparing for Wii.

I'm not talking about western third parties. JP third parties had one wave of software for Wii U and then nothing. That will repeat with Switch unless it's successful out of the gate.

 

[Scrawnton]

I'm not talking about western third parties. JP third parties had one wave of software for Wii U and then nothing. That will repeat with Switch unless it's successful out of the gate.

I'm sorry I was confused becuse this thread is mostly about 3DS and Switch. Wii U is deader than dead. My bad.

Also Switch is portable and Wii U wasn't. That automatically gives it more JP third party attention.

 

[Clefargle]

Jesus, more 3rd party debates? If you seriously think the only thing holding back Switch is western 3rd parties, then I don't know where you were the last three gens. GC: plenty of 3rd party support relative to today, only ~20m sold. Wii got some downports and exclusives, but was carried by 1st party software and sold ~100m. Wii U had halfass ports at launch and bombed hard at <15m. Third party is important, but having COD, battlefield, or ME on this system was never going to ensure its success. In fact, I would wager that those games wouldn't do so well on Switch similar to the Wii U and BLOPS2. The 3DS did fine in the end for having such a shit launch, so we can see that sometimes it comes down to the software support over the longer term window as opposed to what's there day 1. But Switch also has Zelda, so I do expect good things from them.

 

[Oregano]

I'm sorry I was confused becuse this thread is mostly about 3DS and Switch. Wii U is deader than dead. My bad.

Also Switch is portable and Wii U wasn't. That automatically gives it more JP third party attention.

Yes the lineup right now is better than Wii U's due to the portable aspect but Nintendo is being dumb and insisting it's not a portable. Those Japanese games will dry up quick if the system flops/their games flop.

 

[PtM]

The 3DS is entering its seventh year.
Feb 2011-Feb 2012 was its first year of availability.
Feb 2012-Feb 2013 was its second year of availability.
Feb 2013-Feb 2014 was its third year of availability.
Feb 2014-Feb 2015 was its fourth year of availability.
Feb 2015-Feb 2016 was its fifth year of availability.
Feb 2016-Feb 2017 was its sixth year of availability.
Feb 2017-Feb 2018 will be its seventh year of availability.

What are you not getting?

I skip a few pages and you guys are doing elementary-school math. What the heck?
Abandoning thread.

 

[Okami Haundo]

Yeah... This still screams of PR talk to me. It seems like 2017 is the sendoff year for 3DS and I'm honestly ok with that. I also don't blame Nintendo for choosing not to burn all of their bridges and focus on Switch right away. Sony and Microsoft certainly couldn't have justified killing 360 and PS3 as soon as their successor released.

 

[Dee Dah Dave]

The Switches success hangs on it grabbing the 3DS market. I expect the tune to change come E3 2018 with a handheld only SKU.

The Switch is a handheld, currently disguised as a console!

 

[Scrawnton]

Yes the lineup right now is better than Wii U's due to the portable aspect but Nintendo is being dumb and insisting it's not a portable. Those Japanese games will dry up quick if the system flops/their games flop.

They are not insisting that it's not a portable. Every highlight of the system has shown it as a console and as a handheld. I know Reggie says they look at this as their next home console, but that doesn't change the fact that this is just as portable as a 3DS XL.

 

[YuriLowell]

I bet they release a switch without a dock for $199 at some point that plays all of the same games that fills the void felt by the 3ds going away.

 

[FyreWulff]

I bet they release a switch without a dock for $199 at some point that plays all of the same games that fills the void felt by the 3ds going away.

I'll put that on the pile next to "Wii HD" and "Gamepadless Wii U"

 

[Neoxon]

I'm not gonna worry until we see hard evidence that internal devs are ignoring Switch to make more system seller quality 3DS games. For example, if Pokémon Stars is on Switch and 3DS then that's cool. If Pokémon Stars is only on 3DS then Nintendo is out of their damn minds.

Correction, Game Freak & The Pokémon Company would be out of their damn minds. Nintendo can try to make a compelling argument about making Stars only on the Switch, but it's still Game Freak & TPC's call at the end of the day.

 

[SneakersSO]

Great. Well, I guess I will wait until after E3 and see how Nintendo's software support for both of their platforms looks like before I go all in on Switch. Tbh though, the main appeal of the system for me was to have all of Nintendo's software focus on a singular platform. This is a major turnoff for me.

 

[atom519]

If next year at this time I have to still be buying first party games on Nintendo 3DS instead of Switch I'm going to be pissed.

This is my feeling as well. If I see a Luigi's Mansion sequel announcement for 3DS I'm going to throw a big stinking hissy fit.

 

[Platy]

So lemme get this straight:

3DS has no games in 2017 = Doomed

3DS has games in 2017 = Doomed

It is not extra support, the 3DS is dying of old age normally, unlike the WiiU that was put to sleep earlier because of broken legs.

Fire emblem being announced for 3ds soon and switch later is a good example. It will probably be the last big 3ds game, but that doesn't mean it will not receive the last game in the boxboy trilogy =P

 

[AntMurda]

Correction, Game Freak & The Pokémon Company would be out of their damn minds. Nintendo can try to make a compelling argument about making Stars only on the Switch, but it's still Game Freak & TPC's call at the end of the day.

You constantly speak with authority about this matter without any actual proof of the decision making. Not only does Nintendo own the trademark, 1/3 of the game copyright, and significant shares of TPC and Creatures, but the fact is that Nintendo has equal representation on the development side as well on the GameFreak developed Pokemon titles. Hitoshi Yamagami is the Pokemon producer for Nintendo and is involved in the development of every game. It's well documented.

Nintendo has involvement on every aspect of the decision making. It's not one-sided, but they are significant in the process. For the record, I don't think NCL needs or would advocate for Switch exclusivity of Pokemon Stars anyway.

 

[Clefargle]

. You constantly speak with authority about this matter without any actual proof of the decision making.Not only does Nintendo own the trademark, 1/3 of the game copyright, and significant shares of TPC and Creatures, but the fact is that Nintendo has equal representation on the development side as well on the GameFreak developed Pokemon titles. Hitoshi Yamagami is the Pokemon producer for Nintendo and is involved in the development of every game. It's well documented.

Nintendo has involvement on every aspect of the decision making. It's not one-sided, but they are significant in the process. For the record, I don't think NCL needs or would advocate for Switch exclusivity of Pokemon Stars anyway.

Yeah, that's normal for Neoxon. Nintendo definitely has input on target systems for big titles like this. It appears that TPC and GF also have some autonomy as far as implementing certain features or performance. As we saw the 3DS Pokémon games forgo 3D in certain areas or skip 3D altogether.

 

[Neoxon]

You constantly speak with authority about this matter without any actual proof of the decision making. Not only does Nintendo own the trademark, 1/3 of the game copyright, and significant shares of TPC and Creatures, but the fact is that Nintendo has equal representation on the development side as well on the GameFreak developed Pokemon titles. Hitoshi Yamagami is the Pokemon producer for Nintendo and is involved in the development of every game. It's well documented.

Nintendo has involvement on every aspect of the decision making. It's not one-sided, but they are significant in the process. For the record, I don't think NCL needs or would advocate for Switch exclusivity of Pokemon Stars anyway.

Yeah, that's normal for Neoxon. Nintendo definitely has input on target systems for big titles like this. It appears that TPC and GF also have some autonomy as far as implementing certain features or performance. As we saw the 3DS Pokémon games forgo 3D in certain areas or skip 3D altogether.

It's mainly due to how TPC mostly advertises stuff on their own, or how Pokkén Tournament's competitive scene was mostly handled by The Pokémon Company. I'm not saying that Nintendo doesn't have a say, of course they do (Pokémon is about 30+% their IP). My point is that they don't have the absolute final say. There's also the fact that Game Freak is a third party company in of itself, completely separate from Nintendo.

 

[RM8]

The only thing I don't get is people getting angry because of 3DS support, lol.

 

[Lostconfused]

The only thing I don't get is people getting angry because of 3DS support, lol.

Those people probably want Switch to do well.

 

[RM8]

Those people probably want Switch to do well.

Nintendo uses the big 3DS install base to make money with smaller budgets, and in effect funds future Switch projects. Screw you, Nintendo!

 

[RobFox64tm]

Bullshit. 3DS is done after this year.

Not to say that doesn't sadden me, of course.

 

[AdmiralMikey]

This sounds to me like Nintendo's playing it as safe as possible with the Switch. Clearly it's a successor to the Wii U, which is their unsuccessful system, but the 3DS has a pretty big install base and is a low-risk crutch for Nintendo to fall back on in case the Switch doesn't take off.

I remember they had a similar attitude when they were showing off/releasing the DS. They insisted that it wasn't a successor to the Game Boy Advance, but rather a third pillar to be added to the GBA/Gamecube lineup and they continued to release GBA games into 2005. However, once the DS really caught fire they dropped GBA support immediately. I'd expect something similar to happen to the 3DS if the Switch becomes an unexpected hit.

 

[Linkstrikesback]

Bullshit. 3DS is done after this year.

Not to say that doesn't sadden me, of course.

It won't be if the switch utterly fails to take off (which I'd call Wii U level sales or worse), in which case I can absolutely imagine them shoving out some more 3DS software (Fire emblem warriors shows cross platform stuff between 3DS and Switch isn't impossible, even if they do have to potentially scale projects down significantly), then getting Super 3DS (name subject to change) out as soon as humanly possible.

 

[Buzzi]

I can't understand why they have to make things so complicated.
I mean, if it was one time it could be mistranslation, but it's like the fifth time Kimishima (in italian I call him Kimishemo :^) ) said explicitly that it's not replacing the 3DS. It's wrong, it's very wrong, because we (well, most of us) informed ones will know that even with the likely event of new switch models the games and cards will be the same; but the general public and probably some of the press, will start believing and spreading the opposite idea. Because, you know, not making something outdated doesn't equal not replacing it: he, Reggie and the whole N crew should just say that 3DS will continue having great experiences although Switch caters to the handheld crowd too so, strictly speaking, it's gonna replace the 3DS, which is not a shame after six years and a good line up. If someone wants to stay on 3DS and play new games good for him (me), it's not like PS4 didn't replace PS3 although the line up was not there.

It seems they are afraid that someone who has a 3DS wants to buy a Switch instead. If he is pissed off when a more handheld Switch model comes out who cares? If they didn't want to offer people the opportunity to enjoy Switch as an handheld they shouldn't have made it a better handheld (on paper, of course) than what 3DS was at launch. And it's not like they were afraid to launch a ton of 3DS restyles which obviously pissed people of having better specs or price...

 

[pretty done]

The only thing I don't get is people getting angry because of 3DS support, lol.

Nintendo devs making 3DS games = Nintendo devs not making Switch games

And even if they were handing the 3DS versions of every game out to a porting studio, the games would still be getting neutered and held back so that they work on a 3DS. I can see how people would be annoyed, especially when the Switch is such a huge financial commitment.