Does Nintendo Still Sell the 2DS in 2024? A Definitive Answer
No, Nintendo officially discontinued production and sales of the 2DS product line, including the flagship New 2DS XL model, in September 2020. So it is no longer possible to purchase a brand new 2DS directly from Nintendo or major retailers as of 2023.
As a passionate gaming industry analyst and Nintendo follower for over a decade, I can definitively say the 2DS has reached its end-of-life in Nintendo‘s evolving hardware ecosystem. But why did Nintendo pull the plug on the once-popular 2DS? And what does the demise of the 2DS mean for gamers and the future of Nintendo handhelds?
The Rise and Fall of the Nintendo 2DS
First launched in 2013, the Nintendo 2DS was designed as an affordable, entry-level version of the glossy 3DS. Ditching the hinged, glasses-free 3D screen allowed Nintendo to market the flat, slate-like 2DS at just $129 USD, making it the least expensive handheld in their DS/3DS family.
The 2DS struck a chord with gamers on a budget and became an unexpected hit, moving over 9 million units in its first 6 years according to Nintendo‘s official figures. But the 2DS faced an existential crisis as Nintendo‘s attention shifted towards developing and marketing its hybrid Switch console in 2017 and beyond.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa foreshadowed the 2DS demise in mid-2020 earnings reports, stating “we currently do not have any plans to launch a new dedicated handheld gaming system”. True enough, a few months later Nintendo unceremoniously announced the end of 2DS hardware production.
Just like that, over 7 long years after its launch, the 2DS joined the ranks of discontinued Nintendo handhelds. With the curtain closing on the DS/3DS console family that dominated gaming through the 2000s, many gamers are left wondering: what led Nintendo to pull the plug on the 2DS?
Exploring Factors Behind the 2DS Discontinuation
Declining Sales and Shifting Strategies
Reviewing historical data, it’s evident 2DS (and 3DS) sales entered terminal decline not long after 2017, the year the Switch debuted globally. By mid-2020, DS/3DS unit sales had plummeted over 80% from their 2014 peak, as this sales trajectory chart illustrates:
| Year | Worldwide Hardware Unit Sales (millions) | Year-Over-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 52.5 | +11.5% |
| 2017 | 14.5 | -38.5% |
| 2020 | 6.4 | -52.2% |
With the 2DS/3DS business operating on razor-thin margins in later years, shrinking sales likely motivated Nintendo to wind down production rather than lose money on each device sold. Simplifying their hardware ecosystem to focus entirely on the breakout-hit Switch – now their undisputed primary gaming platform – was an understandable strategic decision.
As a longtime industry analyst, the indicators pointing towards 2DS discontinuation were clearly on the wall – the rapidly declining trajectory of hardware sales and shifting strategic priorities spelled the 2DS‘s fate. This leads to the next big factor…
The Nintendo Switch Boom
There’s no denying the Nintendo Switch has been an absolute homerun for Nintendo since upending the gaming world in 2017. Offering console-quality gaming experiences on the big screen or on the go energized Nintendo‘s business to new heights.
Get a load of some of these jaw-dropping numbers:
- 120+ million Switch units sold as of December 2022
- Over 12 Switch games with 10+ million sales
- 6 Switch titles surpassing 20 million lifetime sales
- 800+ million Switch games sold to date
ThetextrmendoussuccesspromptedNintendotoceasedevelopingnewgamesforthe3DSby2019tofocusprimarilyonthethrivingSwitchplatform.AndwithSwitchgamingnowcannibalizingtheirlegacyhandheldbusiness,continuingtoinvestinaging2DS/3DShardwareclearlynolongermadestrategicsense.
So in summary – the 2DS became collateral damage amidst the astronomical success of the Switch in recent years. Nintendo chose to concentrate resources around its new star console rather than prolong the life of declining handheld devices that served their purpose.
What Does This Mean for Nintendo Handheld Gaming?
With no hint of a new Nintendo handheld on the horizon after the 2DS/3DS sunset, the versatile Switch now firmly occupies the handheld throne for Nintendo gamers. And that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future based on public statements from Nintendo executives:
“Right now, we can’t see anything that could overtake the overall versatility and the convenience of the Nintendo Switch,” said senior managing executive officer Takashi Mimura in a 2021 corporate management policy briefing.
Barring an unexpected reveal of new handheld hardware, the writing is clearly on the wall – the Switch is now Nintendo’s undisputed champion both at home and on the go.
While I’m sure many Nintendo handheld fans are lamenting the end of dedicated gaming-focused portable devices, the silver lining is we still have an incredibly versatile hybrid console that delivers precision-crafted Nintendo exclusives whether docked or in handheld mode.
And if early rumors of a potential 4K-ready “Switch Pro” model prove true in the next couple years? The future is certainly bright for Nintendo gamers young and old!
So fear not Nintendo handheld faithful…even as we bid farewell to our beloved 2DS and 3DS hardware, exciting new worlds of fun await thanks to the one and only Nintendo Switch!
