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Why did the price of 3ds shoot up ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter NoNamida
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GenoCL said:
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.
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Nope, not always the case.

Wii U didn't sell shit, even with the so called "Nintendo Bonus":
 
RumbelBoss said:
Nope, not always the case.

Wii U didn't sell shit, even with the so called "Nintendo Bonus":
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think the wii u gamepad kinda killed it . if you did not need that am sure would of moved a bit more ... "Nintendo Bonus" ? is that the coin thing you would get from buying stuff ? if so i think i have only seen like 1 or 2 people get something with them and it was a crazy to even get the points for stuff .
 
Weird, it seems like the opposite case on my place.

o3DS prices are slowly going down almost reaching Wii U prices ($100 average), I remember o3DS prices were between $130 - $240 but nowadays the most expensive o3DS (regular color; not limited edition) I found in the market is $160.

I recently bought one for $50 with its only flaws are the smudge marks underneath the LCDs which aren't noticeable to notice at least; everything else is surprisingly in mint condition despite it being 13 years old (via Mii Plaza; last StreetPass).

New 3DS (XL) prices haven't changed a bit for years (shit doesn't go below $200 unless it's defective 😭).

It seems like Yahoo! Auction is the only place to buy one in decent condition for less than $200.

I won't deny that the Switch V1/V2/Lite prices recently are crashing quickly, the V1 iPatched units became the cheapest and nobody are buying them if it's above $70. I need to sell my unpatched V1 immediately. (Already have a V2, preparing it for modchipping for better overclocking/underclocking yields than the V1)
 
Last edited by Nix_Lon,
Most significant factor is limited supply of really cherry examples. Very few people, when buying a used game console, want one that's been beat to shit already. They want to find one that's nice. While a TV console usually just sets on a shelf, or else in storage, handhelds get handled. And Nintendo handhelds, especially those with a hinge, eventually break in one way or another if handled a lot. Cases crack, hinges break, shoulder buttons fritz out, etc. Plus there's the 'brick factor' of people who modded their 3DS and screwed something up. It's true they made millions overall, but most people want a N3DS XL that's in pristine condition, and they are getting scarcer every day.

2nd big factor, as mentioned above, is that the 3DS is a unique hardware experience that can't really be duplicated by emulation, but which has a fantastic library that is 100% available (and more) if the console is modded properly. These factors keep demand high.

Limited supply, high demand.
 
Hanafuda said:
Most significant factor is limited supply of really cherry examples. Very few people, when buying a used game console, want one that's been beat to shit already. They want to find one that's nice. While a TV console usually just sets on a shelf, or else in storage, handhelds get handled. And Nintendo handhelds, especially those with a hinge, eventually break in one way or another if handled a lot. Cases crack, hinges break, shoulder buttons fritz out, etc. Plus there's the 'brick factor' of people who modded their 3DS and screwed something up. It's true they made millions overall, but most people want a N3DS XL that's in pristine condition, and they are getting scarcer every day.

2nd big factor, as mentioned above, is that the 3DS is a unique hardware experience that can't really be duplicated by emulation, but which has a fantastic library that is 100% available (and more) if the console is modded properly. These factors keep demand high.

Limited supply, high demand.
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It can now, with the Ayn Thor, Ayaneo Pocket DS etc.
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Hanafuda said:
Most significant factor is limited supply of really cherry examples. Very few people, when buying a used game console, want one that's been beat to shit already. They want to find one that's nice. While a TV console usually just sets on a shelf, or else in storage, handhelds get handled. And Nintendo handhelds, especially those with a hinge, eventually break in one way or another if handled a lot. Cases crack, hinges break, shoulder buttons fritz out, etc. Plus there's the 'brick factor' of people who modded their 3DS and screwed something up. It's true they made millions overall, but most people want a N3DS XL that's in pristine condition, and they are getting scarcer every day.

2nd big factor, as mentioned above, is that the 3DS is a unique hardware experience that can't really be duplicated by emulation, but which has a fantastic library that is 100% available (and more) if the console is modded properly. These factors keep demand high.

Limited supply, high demand.
Click to expand...
Even the beat up ones seem to be expensive though.

It can now, with the Ayn Thor, Ayaneo Pocket DS etc.

When you can get the Ayn Thor for a similar price as a n3DS XL it begs the question why people are still willing to pay that much for them. Collectors I get, they'll always be willing to pay the premium for a good example of original hardware. But most people aren't collectors.
 
When people ask this question, it always reminds me of this video.:
Screenshot 2026-05-23 at 19-43-31 3ds new beast budget - YouTube.png
 
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.
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Personally owned computer hardware is becoming more valuable because it's literally going away.
Just look at all the latest comments from NVIDIA who are actively outphasing home-owned GPUs year after year because "Agentic AI will use computers in datacenters, and instead you will have a personal AI, not a personal computer".
That's what they want the future to be. Own nothing and be happy. Be surveilled 100% of the time while you tell the chatbot everything that flies through your mind.

So with that, even retro consoles are just becoming more expensive, because they contain rare chips that might actually be of use to people who are hoarding home-owned hardware, would be my guess.
 
The 3DS prices started increasing around Covid, same for DS Lite and DSi, although they keep on increasing (I used to buy DS Lites for like 30€, they're close to 100€ now, as for DSi, I got one almost new for like 75€ in a used store a couple of years ago, now they go for over 100€).
 
Wii's are still Gamecubes, and are basically worthless (price-wise), despite being a very loved system. I haven't touched my N3DS XL since the Switch came out. I don't feel like the 3DS game library really took advantage of the hardware either. A few years in, and devs gave up on the 3D gimmick entirely.
 
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It doesn't help that 3DS emulation is still weirdly hit-or-miss even with the most recent versions of Azahar. Every single game I've tried has annoying issues from major stutter to missing/glitched graphics. I don't want to rag on what's ultimately a passion project made by hardworking devs in their free time, but it's not like Dolphin or even stuff like Wii U or PS3 where emulation has arguably eclipsed the original hardware.

And of course, emulating a DS/3DS just doesn't measure up to the real thing's unique hardware. (I still resent that glasses-free 3D never took off, modern resolutions are actually high enough to make it look good)
 
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The thought of losing PCs to the cloud is scary. Homebrew would be blocked as all terminals would be patched, regulated, and monitored. Gotta hide my IBN5100 Vita.
 
SpaceGameJunkie said:
Yeah me too. As much as I love GeForce Now, I wouldn't want it to fully replace my PC.
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that will be some crazy times + they could just scan all your stuff any time they want lol + if you had a Stalker no need to wait for Instagram or fb to get them pics
 
NoNamida said:
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
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ai sucks, but you cant say that when you have an ai pfp :/
 
It became increasingly rare and well sought from where I live. Good thing I have 6 of them before price shoot through the roof.
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Nix_Lon said:
Weird, it seems like the opposite case on my place.

o3DS prices are slowly going down almost reaching Wii U prices ($100 average), I remember o3DS prices were between $130 - $240 but nowadays the most expensive o3DS (regular color; not limited edition) I found in the market is $160.

I recently bought one for $50 with its only flaws are the smudge marks underneath the LCDs which aren't noticeable to notice at least; everything else is surprisingly in mint condition despite it being 13 years old (via Mii Plaza; last StreetPass).

New 3DS (XL) prices haven't changed a bit for years (shit doesn't go below $200 unless it's defective 😭).

It seems like Yahoo! Auction is the only place to buy one in decent condition for less than $200.

I won't deny that the Switch V1/V2/Lite prices recently are crashing quickly, the V1 iPatched units became the cheapest and nobody are buying them if it's above $70. I need to sell my unpatched V1 immediately. (Already have a V2, preparing it for modchipping for better overclocking/underclocking yields than the V1)
Click to expand...
o3DS prices actually increased!!! It used to be at the $40 range used. Even the 2DS price increased from $50 range to almost $200.
 
ertaboy356b said:
It became increasingly rare and well sought from where I live. Good thing I have 6 of them before price shoot through the roof.
Post automatically merged:


o3DS prices actually increased!!! It used to be at the $40 range used. Even the 2DS price increased from $50 range to almost $200.
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o2DS is like $80
 
elsii said:
ai sucks, but you cant say that when you have an ai pfp :/
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sure you can . better then them people that have ai do everything for them and cry if something go wrong . lol just think of that deletes database. ai was funny in the start with random pics and vidz of will smith eating spaghetti. now just a waiting game for The Terminator
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XFoxPrower said:
The thought of losing PCs to the cloud is scary. Homebrew would be blocked as all terminals would be patched, regulated, and monitored. Gotta hide my IBN5100 Vita.
Click to expand...
if that took off i wonder how big the database would be . or even how much power and water would go to them ...
 

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