Nintendo’s 3DS has had a great run. It’s now over eight years since its release and it has sold over 70 million units worldwide. Even though the handheld had a bumpy release (which resulted in a price drop), it recovered well and has outlived the PS Vita by a number of years. The game library is substantial and where else can you play almost every Zelda or Pokemon title?
The handheld system may be reaching its end as it has been announced that its YouTube service will be discontinued in Japan this September, according to Nintendo themselves.
End Of The Line?
It seems new game releases on 3DShave ended, with the last title being Persona Q2, which released last month. It’s sad that no new games are in development, as making games for Nintendo’s dedicated handheld must be cheaper than for an HD system and it could have been a hotbed for new ideas and innovation. The low price point also makes it an ideal entry-level system.
3DS Vs Vita
The PS Vita, which is often labeled a failure, still gets third party support. If you compare this to the 3DS in the last month, it’s clear which system is doing better. I think it’s sad, that with the huge install base that the 3DS has, no third-party developers or publishers want to take a chance on it and release a title. Even if it was e-shop exclusive.
The 3DS only shifted 200,000 copies in the last quarter, which is a real decline over previous years. It seems Nintendo really is putting the 3DS to bed. Despite this, they won’t publicly come out and say that they’re going to stop supporting the system. As mentioned above, the Japanese Youtube service is also due to officially close September 3rd, which really shows that it’s on the verge of death.
What are your favorite memories of the 3DS? Do you think Nintendo could or should keep supporting the system? Let us know in the comments.