Are 3DS XL games still being made?

As a lifelong Nintendo fan and avid retro gamer, I‘m sad to confirm that Nintendo ceased production of new 3DS XL game cartridges back in late 2021. While the landmark handheld console leaves behind an incredible legacy, its era has come to an end.

In this post, I‘ll take a nostalgic look back at the 3DS lifespan and dig into everything you need to know now that new games are no longer being made. From when and why Nintendo pulled the plug, to what you can still experience in the post-3DS world, let‘s dive in!

When did 3DS game production stop? A surprise late release…

Nintendo wrapped up manufacturing of new 3DS XL hardware in 2020. Most gaming pundits expected game development to end around the same time.

But surprisingly, the very last 3DS exclusive was Soccer Shootout, launched for New 3DS models on October 28, 2021.

I have to applaud Nintendo for supporting their aging handheld all the way into late 2021 – over a decade after the original 3DS debuted! They easily could have ceased software support much earlier, as sales sharply declined following the Nintendo Switch‘s 2017 launch (more on that next).

3DS Hardware Sales and Global Install Base Over Time

*The Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017

As you can see, sales dropped off steeply as Nintendo shifted focus and gamers migrated to Switch. Yet the 3DS soldiered on with first-party support for another 4+ years post-Switch arrival.

Why develop 3DS games when the Switch was here? Goodbye old friend…

In the end, declining 3DS hardware adoption made it tough for Nintendo to economically justify continued software development. As Switch sales rocketed north of 100 million units, the business case to keep the 3DS platform alive evaporated.

It‘s always bittersweet saying goodbye to a beloved console after so many years. As a gaming commentator, I feel lucky to have witnessed the entire 3DS journey – from struggling 2011 launch plagued by a high price and sparse library, to dominating as the top-selling dedicated handheld ever.

According to Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto: "We really pushed the limits of what we could do with the display and graphics". Pushing such visual innovation came with a hefty $249 launch price that took nearly 3 years and drastic price cuts to overcome.

But with the 2012 arrival of high quality first-party titles like Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land, hardware sales turned a corner to reach lifetime totals of over 75 million units sold. Software crept even higher – over 380 million 3DS games shipped during the platform‘s decade run!

So while the sun may have set on the landmark 3DS line in 2021, its legacy of pioneering glasses-free 3D gameplay lives on. For developers like myself, the concepts it proven will continue inspiring technological innovation for years to come.

What happens to my existing 3DS digital game library?

If you‘re pondering what happens to the 3DS titles you‘ve already purchased, there‘s good news! The recent March 2023 eShop closure prevents new game sales only.

Every digital 3DS game you own remains playable for the foreseeable future. According to Nintendo, you can still:

• Redownload any previously purchased 3DS software
• Download existing patches / updates for owned titles
• Play online multiplayer (for now – this will end eventually)
• Transfer data between two 3DS family systems

So rest assured your current library will live on intact. Just don‘t factory reset any 3DS hardware without first transferring those downloads off of it!

However, the shuttering of monetary transactions does mean certain functionality is permanently gone:

• New official game downloads
• Purchasing DLC content
• Buying Themes from the Theme Shop
• Nintendo Badge Arcade redemption games

It‘s always depressing to see digital storefronts go dark. Owning a game digitally was supposed to represent safe, eternal access to titles you love. But as platforms age, servers inevitably go offline. Cherish the memories – not all elements last forever!

Projected Nintendo Online Service Availability by Platform

I expect multiplayer network support for legacy Nintendo consoles to terminate on a similar cadence:

Note the estimated dates for discontinuation of actual 3DS/Wii U online multiplayer. I foresee support lasting another couple of years as players migrate to newer platforms. But local wireless and single-player will continue functioning!

Should I buy a Nintendo 3DS system in 2024? An exceptional value!

With New 3DS XL units still widely available second-hand, I think 2023 represents an exceptional opportunity to scoop up discontinued 3DS hardware at all-time low prices.

You‘ll gain portable access to a stellar back catalog – over 1,300 eShop titles in North America alone during the platform‘s peak! From AAA Nintendo franchises like The Legend of Zelda (Ocarina of Time 3D / Majora‘s Mask 3D / A Link Between Worlds) and Metroid (Samus Returns) to the definitive handheld Pokémon experience across generations 4-7, the sheer breadth of classics begs revisiting.

Not to mention indie hits like Shovel Knight and Shantae cementing their legacy on Nintendo portables. And who doesn‘t have fond memories of Super Mario 3D Land showcasing the system‘s nascent glasses-free 3D capability?

With new physical cartridges ceasing production after March 2023, collecting sealed 3DS titles may become a lucrative hobby akin to boxed retro SNES games. Early gems like Kid Icarus Uprising already sell for upwards of 4-5 times the original MSRP!

While I‘m sad to bid the 3DS farewell as a developer, its untouchable library remains immortal. I cannot recommend enough jumping aboard the portable time capsule to experience Nintendo‘s exemplary handheld showpiece legacy, now more affordable than ever!