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The 3DS originally launched back in 2011 as Nintendo's eighth generation handheld and a successor to the vastly popular DS. It sold relatively well with a total of 75 million units worldwide, surpassing by far its home console counterpart, the ill-fated WIi U, and its competitor, the PlayStation Vita. Despite the immense success of the Nintendo Switch, the 3DS continued to hold up pretty well thanks to its huge list of available titles appealing to a wide audience of people, with games such as Mario Kart 7 (the system's top-seller), Super Smash Bros for 3DS, Pokemon Ultra Sun/Moon and many others, which helped to ramp up its sales and stay alive for over two years after the Switch's release.

But as with every product out there; no matter how popular, well-known or successful, a console has a limited timespan that must eventually come to an end. Yesterday marked the western release date of Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, a dungeon crawler RPG spinoff of the highly esteemed Persona 5 game, and pretty much nothing else noteworthy has been released or announced aside from some titles such as Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn (a remake of the original classic on the Wii) and a few Indies here and there.

The time is nigh for the 3DS, as many developers, along with their respective resources, are shifting their attention towards the Switch, thus dropping third-party support for Nintendo's previous handheld console significantly. Not to mention how the general user base has migrated towards the latter too, mainly due to the various upcoming/released games or for its hardware-related innovations and features. As a result, Nintendo of Japan's website reports that there are no more games scheduled on the upcoming releases list for the 3DS, hence leaving its lineup of games completely empty for the time being, which might upset hardcore 3DS fans.

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[Hayato213]

End of an era, the 3DS library was really good.

 

[NoNAND]

End of an era, the 3DS library was really good.

A remarkable selection of many great games. Truth be told if it weren't for the 3ds I would not be a gamer.
It's what actually got me into gaming.

 

[pedro702]

about time really, switch being portable we dont need nintendo to throw games at the 3ds, they need to focus on what is selling and serve it well.

 

[EmulateLife]

Now we wait for the 4DS.

 

[Bladexdsl]

good riddance that thing nearly gave me brain cancer

 

[H1B1Esquire]

Even if Ninty says "nyoooo moar gyames farr ewe", I bet there'll be a country somewhere in the world releasing games until 2025.

 

[Harsky]

As long as Switch's Virtual Console offering is still lacking, the 3DS VC catalogue will probably be the only way the 3DS is still considered a money maker for Nintendo.

 

[DJPlace]

i wonder how long Online is going be up for the Wii-U and 3DS but yeah let's put you to sleep....

 

[spotanjo3]

I never own 3DS because I am not into bring it on the go at all so that's ok. I hope they have an awesome games up theirs sleeve in E3 for Nintendo Switch. And 3rd Party too. No, I don't use Switch on the go. Not my thing. I am into outgoing, nature explore, and have fun. Everything is left at home only. By the way, it is for home use only. That's why it is a nice equipment to use as a go anywhere in the house if I want, lol.

 

[NoNAND]

Even if Ninty says "nyoooo moar gyames farr ewe", I bet there'll be a country somewhere in the world releasing games until 2025.

Now..that's not unheard of happening.
Given the fact that the 3DS's security is cracked hence allowing for fully featured custom firmware to be run on the system, someone skilled enough in programing might deliver use a full blowing video game out there, not just some niche 3D rendering app or other things of that kind. Needless to say how well-documented and abundant in information and resources the 3DS homebrew scene is. But as Nintendo is keen on not letting anyone mess with their systems (for obvious reason), anyone found making games for profit without Nintendo's licensing and endorsement could get DMCA'd fined, and etc etc.

As long as Switch's Virtual Console offering is still lacking, the 3DS VC catalogue will probably be the only way the 3DS is still considered a money maker for Nintendo.

True to that. the 3ds has such an immense and solid lineup of virtual console games worth checking out.
And the New 3DS SNES exclusive adds more to it Though the latter might put off Old 3DS owners, it's kind of amazing how the new 3ds emulates the SNES so smoothly, granted that it's an underpowered arm chipset

 

[The Real Jdbye]

People pretty much figured this out already when news on new 3DS titles started drying out. It was bound to happen soon. No great loss, since this will enable devs to focus more on developing Switch titles, and the 3DS still has a huge library of great games for anyone that hasn't played them yet.

 

[NoNAND]

People pretty much figured this out already when news on new 3DS titles started drying out. It was bound to happen soon. No great loss, since this will enable devs to focus more on developing Switch titles, and the 3DS still has a huge library of great games for anyone that hasn't played them yet.

This is great news for homebrew enthusiasts and developers alike.
Nintendo shifted it's attention and focus towards the switch,leaving the 3ds behind thus means that no further updates may get released. But then again this always isn't the case with updates. Ninty can get unpredictable and drop an update at the most unexpected time.

 

[ChaosEternal]

I remember when the 3DS first came out. People were saying that it was going to quickly die off and that it wouldn't develop a library of great games. Looking back on these eight years, it's crystal clear that they were wrong on both counts.

 

[BlueFox gui]

that's sad, well i'm still playing mine so meh :V

 

[Mark McDonut]

Shakedown Hawaii is supposedly still coming and is being finished.

 

[Kwyjor]

I have waaaay too many legitimately-purchased games that I never even started, for both DS and 3DS. I don't mind the lack of new ones, though it's unfortunate that the cartridges aren't going to get any cheaper or easier to find – not that I need to buy more.

I'm still trying to finish the Mii Plaza games. I'm really, really close! I just hope the hardware doesn't somehow spontaneously fail before I do.

I am frustrated to note that My Nintendo no longer offers games as gold-coin rewards – just discounts for games I already bought and extra themes. Somehow I doubt they'll be bringing them back.

 

[CallmeBerto]

While I am indeed sad it makes sense. The 3ds is about 8 years old at this point. Such a great handheld with so many great games that I still play to this day.

 

[Alysh_Graham]

Now that Nintendo no longer make first party 3DS games, third party shovelware games could come to.the system. (It happened on the DS though.)

 

[NoNAND]

Now that Nintendo no longer make first party 3DS games, third party shovelware games could come to.the system.

For the love of god, please no.