The 3DS- Has It Started To Run Its Course?

[Elvis Starburst]

Having taken a look on the list of upcoming 2017 games for the 3DS in North America, I was surprised to see the list was rather small. Only a few titles really stood out to me, one of them being Ever Oasis coming out on an unspecified date. A lot of titles are unreleased as well, but I can't help but feel like the thing is slowing down rather heavily. Pikmin, Ever Oasis, a new Story of Seasons, Monster Hunter XX and Stories, Dragon Quest, Etrian Odyssey 5... And I can't quite think of much more beyond that.

Of course, the list could grow with this years E3, Tokyo Game Show, etc etc. I can't help but feel like the amount of big games coming out for the system are going to be rather spread apart at this point. This could be chalked up to personal tastes as well... Though the system has been out for almost 6 years.

Is it time for a new handheld system? Or do you feel the Switch is going to fill any handheld needs for the world (And especially in Japan)? With the Switch being a thing, I'm not so sure a new 3DS or Nintendo based handheld system will come out. I certainly hope it won't be the only thing out there, but if the Switch brings out a good lineup of games, I guess I won't mind much. I'd much prefer handheld game pricing though, which would be missed if handhelds die off

 

[Saelune]

Im still not convinced the Switch is supposed to replace the 3DS.

I think they might have taken some focus away from the 3DS to focus on the Switch, but I think its just like temporarily neglecting your other kids cause a new baby is being born.

 

[Souplex]

The switch can't fit in my pocket. It's not a real portable system.

 

[Rangaman]

The Switch is the replacement for the Wii U, regardless of what Nintendo say. The 3DS has actually been the best selling dedicated gaming machine of this generation. The most recent figures I can find are from September and they state that there have been "61.6 million units sold". For comparison, the PS4 is currently sitting on 53.4 million units and those figures are from just a few days ago.

The reason for the lackluster line-up is simply that Nintendo want all the focus to be on the Switch. The 3DS is still the breadwinner of the Nintendo console family (something that the Switch is unlikely to change), I doubt they'll just drop it like a hot potato.

 

[WeepingAngels]

The Switch is the replacement for the Wii U, regardless of what Nintendo say. The 3DS has actually been the best selling dedicated gaming machine of this generation. The most recent figures I can find are from September and they state that there have been "61.6 million units sold". For comparison, the PS4 is currently sitting on 53.4 million units and those figures are from just a few days ago.

The reason for the lackluster line-up is simply that Nintendo want all the focus to be on the Switch. The 3DS is still the breadwinner of the Nintendo console family (something that the Switch is unlikely to change), I doubt they'll just drop it like a hot potato.

Well if you look at it like that, they should have never dropped the original Game Boy. The 3DS is 6 years old and while Nintendo sees the Switch as primarily a console, they can't just keep milking the 3DS. It's time to replace it.

 

[Saelune]

The Switch is the replacement for the Wii U, regardless of what Nintendo say. The 3DS has actually been the best selling dedicated gaming machine of this generation. The most recent figures I can find are from September and they state that there have been "61.6 million units sold". For comparison, the PS4 is currently sitting on 53.4 million units and those figures are from just a few days ago.

The reason for the lackluster line-up is simply that Nintendo want all the focus to be on the Switch. The 3DS is still the breadwinner of the Nintendo console family (something that the Switch is unlikely to change), I doubt they'll just drop it like a hot potato.

Well if you look at it like that, they should have never dropped the original Game Boy. The 3DS is 6 years old and while Nintendo sees the Switch as primarily a console, they can't just keep milking the 3DS. It's time to replace it.

With the original Gameboy, they replaced it with literally a superior product all the way around, and they kept doing that all the way till the Advanced SP, cause the SP can do everything, literally everything every gameboy before it could do, and more. The DS is the first Gameboy to remove good things. Minus the GBA port though, the 3DS can do everything the DS can do, and more and better.

Edit: I skipped the DS, but when Pokemon White and the 3DS came out, I got them, cause of that. Hell, the literal only reason I eventually bought an old DS, was for that GBA port so I could transfer pokemon from the GBA games into the later games.

Ofcourse it was only $50 for that DS.

 

[WeepingAngels]

The Switch is the replacement for the Wii U, regardless of what Nintendo say. The 3DS has actually been the best selling dedicated gaming machine of this generation. The most recent figures I can find are from September and they state that there have been "61.6 million units sold". For comparison, the PS4 is currently sitting on 53.4 million units and those figures are from just a few days ago.

The reason for the lackluster line-up is simply that Nintendo want all the focus to be on the Switch. The 3DS is still the breadwinner of the Nintendo console family (something that the Switch is unlikely to change), I doubt they'll just drop it like a hot potato.

Well if you look at it like that, they should have never dropped the original Game Boy. The 3DS is 6 years old and while Nintendo sees the Switch as primarily a console, they can't just keep milking the 3DS. It's time to replace it.

With the original Gameboy, they replaced it with literally a superior product all the way around, and they kept doing that all the way till the Advanced SP, cause the SP can do everything, literally everything every gameboy before it could do, and more. The DS is the first Gameboy to remove good things. Minus the GBA port though, the 3DS can do everything the DS can do, and more and better.

Edit: I skipped the DS, but when Pokemon White and the 3DS came out, I got them, cause of that. Hell, the literal only reason I eventually bought an old DS, was for that GBA port so I could transfer pokemon from the GBA games into the later games.

Ofcourse it was only $50 for that DS.

...and it's time to replace the 3DS with a more capable, backward compatible handheld.

 

[Saelune]

The Switch is the replacement for the Wii U, regardless of what Nintendo say. The 3DS has actually been the best selling dedicated gaming machine of this generation. The most recent figures I can find are from September and they state that there have been "61.6 million units sold". For comparison, the PS4 is currently sitting on 53.4 million units and those figures are from just a few days ago.

The reason for the lackluster line-up is simply that Nintendo want all the focus to be on the Switch. The 3DS is still the breadwinner of the Nintendo console family (something that the Switch is unlikely to change), I doubt they'll just drop it like a hot potato.

Well if you look at it like that, they should have never dropped the original Game Boy. The 3DS is 6 years old and while Nintendo sees the Switch as primarily a console, they can't just keep milking the 3DS. It's time to replace it.

With the original Gameboy, they replaced it with literally a superior product all the way around, and they kept doing that all the way till the Advanced SP, cause the SP can do everything, literally everything every gameboy before it could do, and more. The DS is the first Gameboy to remove good things. Minus the GBA port though, the 3DS can do everything the DS can do, and more and better.

Edit: I skipped the DS, but when Pokemon White and the 3DS came out, I got them, cause of that. Hell, the literal only reason I eventually bought an old DS, was for that GBA port so I could transfer pokemon from the GBA games into the later games.

Ofcourse it was only $50 for that DS.

...and it's time to replace the 3DS with a more capable, backward compatible handheld.

Thats fine. But the Switch aint it.

 

[Rangaman]

The Switch is the replacement for the Wii U, regardless of what Nintendo say. The 3DS has actually been the best selling dedicated gaming machine of this generation. The most recent figures I can find are from September and they state that there have been "61.6 million units sold". For comparison, the PS4 is currently sitting on 53.4 million units and those figures are from just a few days ago.

The reason for the lackluster line-up is simply that Nintendo want all the focus to be on the Switch. The 3DS is still the breadwinner of the Nintendo console family (something that the Switch is unlikely to change), I doubt they'll just drop it like a hot potato.

Well if you look at it like that, they should have never dropped the original Game Boy. The 3DS is 6 years old and while Nintendo sees the Switch as primarily a console, they can't just keep milking the 3DS. It's time to replace it.

Yeah, but the Game Boy had competition. There was a reason for the successors to exist. Nintendo jumping into mobile gaming suggests they want to sell the 3DS as a dedicated handheld gaming machine above all else, and there is quite simply no competition in that area. If they have that much control, then there's no reason for them to stop milking the 3DS. At least not until Sony comes out with a new handheld (if they ever do).

 

[gsilver]

Switch is the merging of the Wii U and 3DS lines. It replaces both.
Unless it fails, in which case, the 3DS will stick around.

That should be pretty obvious, IMO. A company doesn't want to spread out its resources any more than is necessary.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Switch is the merging of the Wii U and 3DS lines. It replaces both.
Unless it fails, in which case, the 3DS will stick around.

That should be pretty obvious, IMO. A company doesn't want to spread out its resources any more than is necessary.

Switch is a single screen device and both Wii U and 3DS are dual screen devices. Switch is not a merging of Wii U and 3DS though it may be a replacement if people accept it as such. The 3DS is not dying yet, according to Nintendo but then again the Game Boy line wasn't dying either when the DS released until the DS was successful. Atleast with the DS there was GBA backward compatibility. Nintendo sees the Switch as primarily a console with portable capabilities.

I think there?s a sense that Nintendo Switch is a portable device. It is portable. But at its heart, it?s a home console that you can take with you on the go.

https://www.wired.com/2017/01/reggie-fils-aime-nintendo-interview/

 

[Scarim Coral]

Wheater or not the Switch will replacet he 3DS or not but it's safe to say we agreed the 3DS is on the decline?

I do agreed with the OP that is not much exciting games coming out for it this year other than that Oasis game. Even then I am not in a hurry to buy that on release day and the same for the other upcoming game Miitopia.

 

[votemarvel]

I rarely see people gaming on tablets when out, I can't see people gaming on a tablet where you could also lose the peripherals.

The 3DS can easily be slipped into a pocket and if you lose the stylus, well it's not going to cost you $50 to $80 to replace it.

Honestly I can't see the Switch being a system that people carry around like Nintendo seem to think they will.

 

[meiam]

The Switch is the replacement for the Wii U, regardless of what Nintendo say. The 3DS has actually been the best selling dedicated gaming machine of this generation. The most recent figures I can find are from September and they state that there have been "61.6 million units sold". For comparison, the PS4 is currently sitting on 53.4 million units and those figures are from just a few days ago.

The reason for the lackluster line-up is simply that Nintendo want all the focus to be on the Switch. The 3DS is still the breadwinner of the Nintendo console family (something that the Switch is unlikely to change), I doubt they'll just drop it like a hot potato.

Hum your comparing something that came out in 2011 versus 2013, by the time the PS4 is 6 year old it'll almost certainly have overtaken the 3DS sale number wise.

Having a new 3DS at the same time as the switch would be the dumbest decision ever since the two would be directly competing each others. At most I could see a scaled down switch in maybe a year or something like that where every switch game is ported to it. I think what's happening is that nintendo is going for very short console cycle, 3-4 year per console and they'll gage the market reaction. The switch will be the only dedicated video game device they'll release for at least a year, and they'll see if it's pulling 3DS number (during that time don't expect any nintendo game for the 3DS, there's a reason they started releasing game for mobile device). If it does they'll just quietly retire dedicated handheld, if not they'll bring out a new handheld device and drum it up as the new 3DS and will quietly push the switch to the morgue. Either way the 3DS is obviously dead, the question is whether it's the last device they market has a dedicated handheld device (meaning from her on out nintendo will only have one device at a time) or if the switch is just an anomaly, a wild experiment gone wrong.

 

[kilenem]

The DS had a pretty long life but I'm not sure how hard Nintendo is going to push the switch because the DS got Pokemon Black and White and their Sequels while the 3DS was out. Pokmon stars is the rumored next pokemon game for the switch.

 

[FrozenLaughs]

People seem to forget that Nintendo recently reupped the DS with the NEW 3ds, why would they invest that money and resources if they were planning on replacing the whole line with the Switch? If it was planned to replace, why doesn't it have a 3ds card slot? Why didn't they design it to flip on its side and display both screens, over/under? They clearly chose to leave these options out to make it apparent that this isn't just the merging of two systems.

You WANT it to be the merging of both? Buy the Switch to let Nintendo know there's a desire for it, and when they decide to release their next "NEW Switch XL U" or whatever they call it maybe they'll merge the features.

 

[Elvis Starburst]

People seem to forget that Nintendo recently reupped the DS with the NEW 3ds, why would they invest that money and resources if they were planning on replacing the whole line with the Switch? If it was planned to replace, why doesn't it have a 3ds card slot? Why didn't they design it to flip on its side and display both screens, over/under? They clearly chose to leave these options out to make it apparent that this isn't just the merging of two systems.

You WANT it to be the merging of both? Buy the Switch to let Nintendo know there's a desire for it, and when they decide to release their next "NEW Switch XL U" or whatever they call it maybe they'll merge the features.

Nintendo has made plenty of DS revamps like the New 3DS before, and it's only gone so far. I remember the DSi was a case of a second upgrade to the DS with the DSi store, and it only took off so much. The New 3DS is a second upgrade to the 3DS, and added some buttons and extra power, but the thing that was used very little was New 3DS exclusive titles. We have the SNES games and Xenoblade Chronicles, but I'd be hard pressed to find more.

My point is that Nintendo has made 3rd iterations of their systems, saying it'll be the next big thing, but the new features don't often get a lot of recognition before the next system is made. This is a strange case where the Switch is portable as well, a home console having portable functionality like the 3DS. One has to wonder if Nintendo is gonna simply shrug off the New 3DS and make a new dedicated system, or place all of their focus onto the Switch

 

[Rangaman]

Hum your comparing something that came out in 2011 versus 2013, by the time the PS4 is 6 year old it'll almost certainly have overtaken the 3DS sale number wise.

My point wasn't that "the 3DS will continue to outsell the PS4". My point was that the 3DS is currently the breadwinner of the Nintendo line-up, and that Nintendo will keep it around for that reason alone.

Having a new 3DS at the same time as the switch would be the dumbest decision ever since the two would be directly competing each others. At most I could see a scaled down switch in maybe a year or something like that where every switch game is ported to it. I think what's happening is that nintendo is going for very short console cycle, 3-4 year per console and they'll gage the market reaction.

Except they aren't directly competing with each other. The 3DS is less powerful, but it has a longer battery life and can be taken anywhere in your back pocket (provided you don't have the XL model). The Switch is a dedicated home console with handheld capabilities, the 3DS is a dedicated handheld. What you said was equivalent to "the iPad and the iPhone are directly competing with each other". As for your second comment, there's a statement from Iwata that went along the lines of "we're taking inspiration from Apple's method of releasing new systems". What that means is we'll likely see the abandonment of "generations" altogether in favor of "new variants of the same systems".

The switch will be the only dedicated video game device they'll release for at least a year, and they'll see if it's pulling 3DS number (during that time don't expect any nintendo game for the 3DS, there's a reason they started releasing game for mobile device).

Yes, the reason is so that they can get in on that sweet, sweet mobile gaming money. I once argued something similar to what you're currently saying, until someone else pointed out how dumb it was.

If it does they'll just quietly retire dedicated handheld, if not they'll bring out a new handheld device and drum it up as the new 3DS and will quietly push the switch to the morgue. Either way the 3DS is obviously dead, the question is whether it's the last device they market has a dedicated handheld device (meaning from her on out nintendo will only have one device at a time) or if the switch is just an anomaly, a wild experiment gone wrong.

Again, the 3DS is still selling quite well and a lack of competition in the dedicated handheld gaming sector means that they don't have to replace it. Pokemon Sun and Moon ought to have boosted sales. You're also forgetting that the reason Nintendo keeps handhelds around because they're cheap to make, cheap to develop for and they always make lots of monies, so that Nintendo can keep making the home consoles for their hardcore fans. The Switch, for all its blessings, will not be cheap to develop for, nor will it be cheap to make. So Nintendo will keep the 3DS alive, until there's actually a reason for them to replace it.

 

[SweetShark]

I just recently bought a XL Black Edition and I have a Big List for me to select.
4 SMT games, two Ace Attorney games, a Fire Emblem game, Luigi's Mansions and Xenoblade. I think so far are enough for me.
So even if it doesn't have games in the future, I need "some" time to finish these games.

 

[Foolery]

Maybe? Kinda? Not sure, to be honest. It's getting releases, and good ones, at that. Like Dragon Quest VIII.