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[Duxxy3]

If Nintendo wants to prove that they're dedicated to the 3DS I can think of one way they can do that. Get the black and white N3DS's back into stores. Back into stores at $99. Right now it looks like they are just letting the system linger on, with limited systems in stock.

It looks like they don't want to make TOO much hardware.

 

[mrklaw]

They HAVE to say it like that; I mean if Switch fails they're gonna need to put out a "real" 3DS successor.
But GBA was pulling huge numbers still, the GameBoy line was a powerhouses brand and yet they still killed both when NDS secured its success.
It can go both ways and how it pans out rests entirely on what Switch's numbers will be.

Switch Succeeds: no 3DS successor, Switch replaces it, Switch 2 planned

Switch Fails: New DS hardware comes out in 2019/2020 as a "real" portable console.

It's not even that sophisticated.

They're still trying to sell 3DS so they have to talk it up and downplay any 'replacement' talk. Right up until the point where they stop supporting it, and then we'll see their messaging flip to talk about how switch is the new future for handheld gaming.

Surprised they haven't already done that in the US, but I guess they have to look at a global picture so can't pull the plug properly until start of next year or whenever the Japan support starts to drop (and ideally to coincide with a switch price drop)

 

[FStubbs]

3DS is also still the budget entry into Nintendo gaming atm. Even if Switch takes off, until they can get the price down the 3DS has a position in their lineup.

 

[Prithee Be Careful]

What do people expect him to say?

"We are killing off the 3DS, when the Switch releases. Please don't be mad."

This is disingenuous. If he wanted to communicate a shift to the Switch, he could easily say:

"The Switch is an incredibly dynamic piece of hardware. Our ambition is to harness that unique flexibility and combine all of the energy and passion we have as a company to deliver the most exciting and varied gaming platform we've ever built.

That doesn't mean the end for the 3DS. It's enjoyed fantastic support throughout it's life from development teams all over the globe and we expect that to continue long into the future."