If you thought Nintendo was going to phase out the 3DS in favor of the Nintendo Switch, get ready to be pleasantly proven wrong. In an interview with IGN, Nintendo of America’s Reggie Fils-Aime said there are plans to support Nintendo’s handheld through 2018 and beyond.
"The way we continue to make Nintendo 3DS vibrant as a platform is first we continue to innovate from form factor standpoint," Fils-Aime told IGN. "So the New 2DS XL is just the latest for us in having form factor innovation. We know colors are a key differentiator, consumers love the variety of different colors. And also the larger screen and the different form factor in the 2DS family, we think is a going to drive and continue to drive the 3DS platform."
While new colors and sizes are cool, people aren’t going to continue to buy new consoles with no games. According to Fils-Aime, those will continue to roll out as well.
"We’re going to continue to bring new content, and that’s what’s going to keep this device vibrant and keep it going well into 2018 and beyond," he said.
While the Switch was (rightfully) front and center at Nintendo’s E3 2017 press conference, there are still some major 3DS games coming out this year alone. An expanded Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon will add to the just-announced Metroid: Samus Returns, both with release dates scheduled for this fall.
Fils-Aime also looked to clarify Nintendo’s views on the Switch as a home console, and how that isn’t supposed to impact the 3DS and what it’s doing. He even went so far as to call Nintendo “greedy” for wanting to dominate with both platforms.
"We say that it’s [the Switch] a home console that you take with you and play with anyone, anywhere, anytime. It really is meant to deliver that great home console performance, you just happen to be able to undock it and take it with you, which is a key innovation," Fils-Aime said. "But look, in the end, what we want is we want the consumer to call it their device, right? Their preferred gaming device that they can play fantastic Zelda, Mario, third-party content, all of their favorite franchises brought to life on the platform. That’s what we want. And we’re greedy and we want Nintendo 3DS right alongside it."
So what do you think? Are you happy to know the 3DS is still planned to be a part of Nintendo’s operations for the next year or more? Do you think the Switch will eventually take over as the sole focus for Nintendo? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
