The Nintendo 3DS is here to stay, reiterated Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime, despite the overwhelming success and popularity of the Nintendo Switch.
It is easy to see why many people would think that the Nintendo 3DS end of life is approaching, as the Nintendo Switch's hybrid nature also allows it to function as a portable console. However, as previously said by Fils-Aime, the Nintendo Switch will not replace the Nintendo 3DS.
Nintendo 3DS Future Plans
Nintendo's presence at E3 2018 was dominated by the Nintendo Switch, but that does not mean that the company has forgotten the Nintendo 3DS and its variants.
At the annual video game event, Fils-Aime told IGN that in addition to the games for the Nintendo 3DS and 2DS that were already announced, more titles for the portable consoles will be revealed in the coming months.
"We're going to continue [focusing on the 3DS], we're going to continue to have some new games on that platform. We're going to announce [them], and we will over the next number of months, but it's going to continue to be a vibrant piece of our overall business, certainly here in the Americas," Fils-Aime said in the interview.
Fils-Aime did not specify if the new Nintendo 3DS games will be first-party or third-party titles, but he reassured its owners that the device is not yet dead.
The Nintendo of America boss, however, did refer to the continuing success of the portable console. December 2017 was the best sales month of the Nintendo 3DS since December 2014 due to the release of Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon. The Nintendo 3DS, including all its versions, sold more than 750,000 units in the holiday month for a 27 percent increase compared to December 2016.
Fils-Aime believes that the Nintendo 3DS is still a great portable gaming option with more than 1,000 games, especially for parents who are looking for a video game device for their children.
Nintendo 3DS Vs Nintendo Switch
Ever since the announcement of the Nintendo Switch, Fils-Aime has been reassuring gamers that the Nintendo 3DS will not be forgotten any time soon.
In January 2017, before the Nintendo Switch was released, Fils-Aime said that the two consoles will be able to "coexist just fine." The statement was met with skepticism at the time, but it appears that Nintendo is staying true to its promise.
A re-release of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is coming to the Nintendo 3DS this July, followed by a remake of Luigi's Mansion within the year. Meanwhile, Metroid: Samus Returns, a reimagining of Metroid II: Return of Samus, will only be available on the Nintendo 3DS.
