Are DS systems still being made?
No, Nintendo ceased production on all DS console models, including the original DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL and 2DS XL, back in 2020. The entire dual-screen handheld line was officially discontinued after a landmark 15-year run.
The Unparalleled Impact of the Nintendo DS
As a nostalgic gamer, parting ways with the revolutionary DS family was bittersweet. Launching in 2004, the original Nintendo DS pioneered touchscreen controls and microphone inputs that influenced gaming handhelds forever after.
Across over a thousand games released on DS cartridges, developers constantly reimagined gameplay possibilities using the two screens, bottom touch surface, and innovative stylus. Quirky experiments like trauma center surgery simulations, brain-training mental exercises, bite-sized music sessions, and walking virtual pets all sprang from the same versatile formula.
The record-breaking success backed up that spark of innovation too. With over 154 million systems sold worldwide, the Nintendo DS is the second highest-selling dedicated gaming platform ever behind only the Sony PlayStation 2. For developers, the engaged installed base kept fertile ground. For players immersed in dual-screen adventures, it left memories that last.
Why Did Nintendo Retire Its Hot Sales Streak?
If the Nintendo DS was still selling well in the tens of millions annually, why halt production? Simply put, the Nintendo Switch rendered it obsolete. As early as 2017, the hybrid home console/handheld system was clearly the future.
Modern gaming habits changed in tandem. The rise of smartphones as an ever-present pocket gateway to hyper-casual titles chipped away at demand for dedicated portable hardware. Times change, and even beloved products get left behind eventually.
But while Nintendo shuttered its DS dynasty in 2020, the unique game catalog keeps collectors and enthusiasts active. Let‘s explore why.
DS Game Nostalgia Fuels a Thriving Aftermarket
| Iconic DS Game | Original MSRP | 2023 Resale Value |
|---|---|---|
| Pokémon HeartGold Version (2010) | $39.99 | $299.99 |
| Transformers: War for Cybertron – Autobots (2010) | $19.99 | $69.99 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009) | $19.99 | $60.00 |
Of the thousands of DS cartridges available during the handheld‘s tenure, a select few stand out as particularly rare and valuable collectibles based on critical acclaim, franchise popularity, short print runs or some combination therein. Games like Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver demand premium prices due to brand power. Meanwhile, under the radar gems such as Transformers: War for Cybertron shot up over 300% in resale value due to small production batches meeting enthusiast demand.
Even triple-A evergreen IP like Grand Theft Auto garners renewed fervor in portable form, with the uniquely stylized Chinatown Wars entry a showcase for how flexibility bred ingenuity throughout the DS library. Developers constantly asked – "how could we best leverage these two screens?" – and the diversity of answers makes revisiting classics or hunting down hidden throwback experiences perpetual joys.
The Console War Winner That Should Have Never Existed
Incredibly, before launch and up to the DS taking shape as a runaway innovation leader, Nintendo executives internally bandied about abandoning their "third pillar" handheld vision entirely. Conventional wisdom saw portable gaming as a shrinking redundant market being consumed by mobile.
Even developers initially struggled conceiving software distinct from the Game Boy Advance. It took daring blue-sky visions from creators like Metroid producer Yoshio Sakamoto to devise groundbreaking IPs like Nintendogs which opened eyes to the possibilities.
Of course, history played out far differently once gamers got hands-on. By 2007, DS sales were steamrolling past the installed base of Nintendo‘s current living room console at the time, the GameCube. Momentum never slowed from there.
The DS family of systems single-handedly spawned an avenue of gaming creativity and accessibility that gave Nintendo a dominant market position over Sony‘s PSP. That affordable approachability for new audiences endures as a driving ethos across current platforms like the Switch and into future tech still being dreamed up in Kyoto.
The Lasting Legacy That Won‘t Fade
So while DS hardware manufacturing ended over 21⁄2 years ago, the legacy persists through official & unofficial channels:
- [insert 5-10 examples of DS game re-releases, remasters or backwards compatibility support]
Of course, outside computer emulators keep classic DS experiences alive as well. And the homebrew community constantly uncovers hidden potential, breathing new life into aging consoles.
In short, the groundbreaking Nintendo DS earned a coveted place in gaming history books and nostalgic gamer hearts alike. Where will tomorrow take us? For now, joining friends in revisiting those touchscreen times never loses its magic.
