Why did the price of 3ds shoot up ?

NoNamida · May 16, 2026

i have seen some 3ds are more then a switch now or 2 3ds for a switch 2.. why did the price for them shoot up like crazy

SpaceGameJunkie · May 16, 2026

I've read a few articles about this and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. My gut tells me that with the price of new electronics rising due to RAM shortages, people are leaning toward the well-known and nostalgic.

NoNamida · May 16, 2026

SpaceGameJunkie said:
I've read a few articles about this and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. My gut tells me that with the price of new electronics rising due to RAM shortages, people are leaning toward the well-known and nostalgic.

True was thinking the same . the RAM spike is crazy am sure after Ai mellow out price will come down . or the chip makers will move on to the next big thing

Ricken · May 16, 2026

I've seen a spike in random short-form content creation showing off modded 3DSs in the past year or so - demand + lack of production methinks

SpaceGameJunkie · May 16, 2026

Yeah but what has increased this demand and interest is the real question.

RyanTheArchivist · May 16, 2026

NoNamida said:
i have seen some 3ds are more then a switch now or 2 3ds for a switch 2.. why did the price for them shoot up like crazy

Because the DS/3DS line of consoles offer an experience that is hard to emulate the proper feeling of on other platforms. The dual screen setup with microphone, touchscreen, etc just doesnt work well in most emulation situations and 90% of people would want original hardware for them.

SpaceGameJunkie · May 16, 2026

I just skimmed some videos, and one reason I hadn't thought of was this: people are tired of doomscrolling on their phones and want something more fun. I don't know if that's the silver bullet, but it makes sense as to part of the reason for the resurgence.

The world is a little darker today than it was when the 3DS came out. It's a shining beacon of joy in a fairly dark world. That makes sense to me.

ChibiMofo · May 16, 2026

Virtually every console and handheld ever made offers the same experience. That is, they can run the same types of games and the only difference is the relative graphics quality. The 3DS offers a unique experience you do not get from any other device. People are figuring that out. The fact that it can emulate PS1 and earlier, and can natively run GBA, DS and 3DS titles make it an amazing little device. I have a New 3DS XL -- the only version worth owning and do buy one before prices on those skyrocket! -- but I do not own a Switch and have no interest in one. There's nothing the Switch does that I cannot do a thousand other ways. But the 3D on the New 3DS XL is amazing and unique. That will always set it apart from the "me-too" consoles and handhelds that simply are not special like the N3DSXL.

The Catboy · May 16, 2026

The 3DS is easy to hack and can do a cool amount of shit when hacked. Plus, YouTube/TikTok videos hyping up the system

codezer0 · May 16, 2026

Doesn't help that the 3DS family is notoriously difficult to repair successfully. I've killed at least as many trying, so it hurts every single time.

the n3DS non-XL has like ZERO parts availability anywhere. The n3DS XL would give the false impression of being easily repaired due to how easy it is to source parts... couldn't be more wrong. Where most Nintendo handhelds are a single large PCB inside there, the N3DS XL is FIVE in a tetris sandwich with each other, connected by a nightmarish field of connectors and ribbon cables. Even the shoulder triggers are a nightmare of tiny boards and ribbon cables layered on each other. First time in a while I broke down crying because something that was supposed to be a simple job was like seeing a patient's guts pour out faster than you could put them back in. :cry:

Even now that I somehow have an N2DS XL, replacing the battery for a fresh one, and somehow managed to break the volume slider in it. To even attempt to tackle that now requires (micro)soldering skills (and tools) I just don't have.

isoboy · May 16, 2026

Anybody want to buy my new 3ds pokemon 20th anniversary cib bundle? 567898765a dollars please.

master801 · May 16, 2026

SpaceGameJunkie said:
I've read a few articles about this and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. My gut tells me that with the price of new electronics rising due to RAM shortages, people are leaning toward the well-known and nostalgic.

The 3DS has been expensive even before RAM prices skyrocketed.

SpaceGameJunkie · May 16, 2026

master801 said:
The 3DS has been expensive even before RAM prices skyrocketed.

It looks like the prices skyrocketed within the last year, which mostly coincides with the ram increases. I'm not saying it's the silver bullet but I think it's one reason.

XFoxPrower · May 17, 2026

Discontinued 3DS' prices affected by modern-day RAM prices? Almost as bad as XBoxes collecting dust on Costco shelves inflating.

GenoCL · May 17, 2026

It's a mix of:
>On its own being an amazing handheld with lots of great games
>hacking potential making it an incredible portable emulation machine
>content creators and streamers bringing it to the mainstream's attention
>the Nintendo bonus

TVL · May 17, 2026

SpaceGameJunkie said:
Yeah but what has increased this demand and interest is the real question.

My guess would be that it reached age of nostalgia. It's a little early though, seems like the peak of such things are usually + 5, 10 years if you look at release date.

Maybe it's a bit of novelty too, where having the real hardware offers something, almost everything out there can just be emulated... But with a few things it's not the same thing (I think there are three of those in my estimate, and the 3DS is one of them).

SpaceGameJunkie · May 17, 2026

GenoCL said:
>the Nintendo bonus

Sorry what's this?

TVL said:
But with a few things it's not the same thing (I think there are three of those in my estimate, and the 3DS is one of them).

This makes a lot of sense. I tried to play DS/3DS games on my gaming tablet and my god it just felt wrong.

The Real Jdbye · May 17, 2026

Your guess is as good as mine, 3DS consoles have been way overpriced for a while considering they're not exactly rare, they sold nearly 76 million of them.

I guess people are starting to get nostalgic for them. And to be fair, that is also why I just ordered an Ayn Thor. I miss clamshell handhelds and how pocketable they were, especially compared to the handhelds of today. And there's no good way to play DS/3DS games other than a dual screen handheld.

GenoCL · May 17, 2026

SpaceGameJunkie said:
Sorry what's this?

This makes a lot of sense. I tried to play DS/3DS games on my gaming tablet and my god it just felt wrong.

Things being more expensive for no reason other than Nintendo made them.
Nintendo can make the shittiest things and they'll still go for a lot just because it has their name on them.

SpaceGameJunkie · May 17, 2026

Ah that makes sense. Thank you.

Why did the price of 3ds shoot up ?

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