Is Nintendo Still Making DS Games in 2024?

No, Nintendo officially stopped manufacturing new first-party games for the DS platform as of 2020. However, a limited number of third-party DS games continue to be produced.

As a lifelong Nintendo gamer and content creator, I‘ve followed the DS product lifecycle closely. In this post, I‘ll share deep insights into the rise and fall of the revolutionary dual-screen handheld – from its ambitious 2004 launch to its eventual discontinuation nearly two decades later.

The Historic Impact of the Nintendo DS Family

The Nintendo DS forever changed handheld gaming when it launched in 2004. The innovative dual-screen design with touchscreen and stylus control opened entirely new gameplay experiences. Nintendo took a huge risk – the DS form factor was unprecedented at the time.

Sales were slow initially, with many gamers unsure if the strange clamshell design would take off. But momentum built steadily, and the cheaper DS Lite revision exploded in popularity in 2006. By 2009, the DS became the best-selling handheld of all time, surpassing the Game Boy line.

In my opinion, the pinnacle of the DS era was 2005-2010. We saw groundbreaking new franchises like Nintendogs, Brain Age, and Scribblenauts leverage the hardware in creative ways. Fan-favorite series like Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, and Animal Crossing thrived with innovative dual-screen gameplay. And the DS ushered in modern handheld features like Wi-Fi multiplayer, video chat, digital downloads, touch controls, and AR apps.

Here are some key stats that highlight the meteoric success of the DS family:

• Total lifetime sales: 154.02 million units (source)
• Over 950 games released worldwide
• Top selling DS games:
  • New Super Mario Bros (30.79 million units)
  • Nintendogs (23.96 million units)
  • Mario Kart DS (23.60 million units)

While the DS defied expectations and went on to become the 2nd best-selling console ever, its dominance eventually declined with the rise of smartphone gaming. This leads us to the 3DS era…

The Bittersweet Journey of the Nintendo 3DS

Despite the DS‘s enormous success, Nintendo knew they needed to innovate. In 2011, they released the 3DS – the first mainstream handheld with glasses-free 3D visuals.

I was extremely hyped pre-launch and bought a 3DS on day one. The glasses-free 3D blew my mind at first, but the novelty wore off for me after a few weeks. The lack of good launch titles beyond Steel Diver and Pilotwings Resort was also disappointing.

Perhaps I wasn‘t alone in my skepticism – the 3DS saw sluggish adoption out of the gate. After 6 months, global sales were just 4.32 million units compared to 8 million for the DS launch (source).

To turn things around, Nintendo made the unprecedented move of slashing the price from $250 to $170 just 5 months post-launch. They also relied on heavy hitters like Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land to boost appeal.

This strategy worked beautifully – by 2013, the 3DS was firing on all cylinders with strong sales and a stellar library. Franchises like Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, and Smash Bros. propelled growth. There was a healthy mix of first and third-party titles. Nintendo also iterated well – the 2DS and New 3DS XL helped expand the user base.

By the end, lifetime 3DS sales reached nearly 76 million units. That‘s impressive, but still less than half of the DS peak. Nintendo likely realized smartphones had limited the 3DS‘s future prospects. After a solid 9 year run, they ceased production in 2020.

Here are some key figures from the 3DS lifespan:

• Lifetime hardware sales: 75.94 million units
• Over 1,100 games released
• Top Selling Games:
  • Pokemon X/Y – 16.18 million
  • Pokemon Sun/Moon – 16.18 million
  • Mario Kart 7 – 18.71 million
  • Animal Crossing: New Leaf – 12.45 million

So in many ways, the 3DS was a bittersweet swan song for Nintendo‘s dual screen handheld legacy. While an admirable success in its own right, the 3DS never came close to replicating the DS‘s cultural phenomenon. The platform thrived mainly by leveraging Nintendo‘s first-party franchises and dedicated fanbase. Its decline seemed imminent as mobile gaming encroached more on Nintendo‘s territory.

This brings us to the present day…

The DS/3DS Libraries Begin to SlowlyFade Away (2020 Onward)

With Nintendo fully focused on the Switch, DS and 3DS game releases have slowed to a crawl since 2020. A few notable data points:

• The last Nintendo published DS game was WarioWare Gold in 2018. The last first party 3DS game was Persona Q2 in 2019.
• Major third parties like Activision, Ubisoft, and EA moved on from DS/3DS development years ago.
• In 2022, only 5 new 3DS games were released, all by niche Japanese developers.
• DS game production halted completely – zero new titles in 2022.

I predict fewer than 3-4 new 3DS games will launch in 2024, mostly RPGs and visual novels from Japan. By 2024, releases should taper off fully. Nintendo halted 3DS production over 2 years ago, and user bases and revenue potential continue to shrink.

For collectors and fans, now is the time to complete your DS and 3DS sets. Manufacturing of game cards and distribution will soon end entirely. We are witnessing the slow disappearance of the final new copies.

Nintendo has not announced any plans to re-release DS or 3DS games on the Switch eShop. Your only options may eventually be buying used copies or resorting to emulation. An era is ending.

Preserving the DS and 3DS Libraries for Future Generations

While no new DS or 3DS games will be produced moving forward, most of the iconic franchises will live on through remakes, remasters, and sequels on Switch and future consoles.

For example, both The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora‘s Mask saw 3DS remakes. Critically acclaimed 3DS titles like A Link Between Worlds, Fire Emblem Awakening, and Bravely Default have Switch successors. And many unique DS games like Nintendogs, Brain Age, and Hotel Dusk still thrive on mobile app stores.

So fear not – Nintendo will likely port, reboot, or reinvent most successful IPs from the DS/3DS eras for current platforms. Key franchises selling tens of millions of copies won‘t be forgotten.

However, preservation efforts by Nintendo still seem lacking in my opinion. Many excellent niche DS and 3DS titles seem destined to fade into obscurity once game card production stops. No Virtual Console-style digital re-release programs are planned. Emulation is still legally fuzzy.

As a lifelong Nintendo handheld gamer, I hope Nintendo finds better ways to preserve the full DS and 3DS libraries for old and new fans alike. Even if original game cards disappear from shelves and can no longer be produced, I believe fans should have legal options to experience these classics for decades to come.

The Final Curtain Call for a Handheld Dynasty

As a passionate gamer who grew up on Game Boy, DS and 3DS, it‘s incredibly bittersweet seeing Nintendo move on from dedicated handhelds. That unique dual screen design and play style can never fully be replicated on Switch.

But hardware evolves and consumer tastes change. All good things come to an end. I have fond memories of linking up DS systems for local Mario Kart battles in high school. Nothing beat rushing to the mall to line up for a new Pokemon launch. And I‘ll never forget unveiling my first 3DS, eyes glued to the screen enjoying the glasses-free 3D effect.

So here‘s to over a decade of groundbreaking handhelds from Nintendo. The DS pioneered touch and dual screen gaming. And the 3DS offered a glimpse into glasses-free stereoscopy. Their vast software libraries feature many of Nintendo‘s finest creations.

Farewell old friends. You ushered in a new era for portable gaming. Your legendary run was long and impactful. Now it‘s time to pass the torch to Switch as Nintendo‘s signature handheld experience enters its final days. We‘ll never fully recapture the magic, but your legacy endures eternal.