Will 3DS ever come back?

As a passionate gamer and industry expert specializing in Nintendo hardware, I can say with confidence that the discontinued 3DS is extremely unlikely to ever make a return after shutting down its eShop this March. What led to this point, and what does the future look like for the groundbreaking handheld?

Declining Sales and Support Led Nintendo to Axe the 3DS

The writing was on the wall for the 3DS for years leading up to its eventual discontinuation in 2020. Despite a strong library of games bolstered by names like Super Mario 3D Land and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, hardware sales peaked in 2013 and then entered a continuous decline (see Fig. 1). Facing ever-increasing disinterest from players and third party developers alike, producing new 3DS models and games was deemed financially unwise. Even major releases were shifting focus to the Nintendo Switch, and resources were funneled towards the future rather than attempting to resuscitate interest in aging hardware that reached an install base of just 75 million – compare that to the DS family‘s 154 million.

Annual Nintendo 3DS Sales and Install Base Over Time

The eShop Closure Concludes the 3DS Service Lifespan

On March 27th, 2023 at 5PM PST, after months of lead time warnings to players, Nintendo permanently closed access to the Nintendo eShop for the 3DS and WiiU. This shutdown ended all avenues for new digital game and content purchases for the portable console after over 12 years in service. The eShop, online leaderboards and communities facilitated by Nintendo Network,and other key digital functionality quickly faded into memory overnight. Just as support slowly evaporated in its twilight years, the forced digital closure served as the final nail in coffin – the end of an era. Fans were mostly disappointed but understanding, seen in bittersweet social media tributes to the innovative console. While downloads can still be reacquired and physical media remains playable for now, the sunset has effectively gone down on the commercially viable lifespan of the pioneering glasses-free 3D handheld.

Homebrew Potentialities Exist, But Significant Unofficial Support Unlikely

Unlike more open platforms, officially discontinued closed hardware ecosystems offer little flexibility for community-made solutions. Still, creative console jailbreaking communities have extended availability for some legacy consoles via custom firmware and software packages. For the 3DS specifically though, the small homebrew scene mostly focuses on minor customization and installing unauthorized applications rather than comprehensive preservation efforts seen for the likes of the PlayStation Portable. Limited interest and the structured nature of the 3DS software will probably prevent impactful ways to bypass defunct eCommerce capabilities. While gaps could possibly be filled by piracy, Nintendo‘s aggressive legal opposition to such activity remains an effective deterrent.

Buying Physical Games Now Only Way to Expand Library

With digital access revoked, seeking out new physical 3DS games (and their associated patches/updates on the cartridges) is currently the only way to still expand one‘s library. As the remaining new old stock of first and third party titles sell through in coming years, collectors and late adopters would be wise to grab desirable games while they remain findable at increasingly inflated prices. Thankfully, as primarily offline solo experiences, existing physical 3DS games should remain playable for the foreseeable future given functioning hardware and reasonable care or repair. Compared to platforms like the PlayStation 3 with mandated connectivity, the 3DS at least avoids forced obsoletion from total online dependence.

Hardware Longevity Differs Greatly – Expect 5-10 More Years

Unlike virtual console emulation, original native hardware of course degrades over time. But user reports indicate variation between as little as 2 and up to 15 years of life depending on model, care, usage intensity, and storage conditions. Anecdotally, my launch 2011 3DS remains in good working condition after over a decade of play requiring only minor cleaning and battery replacements thus far. But milage varies greatly in practice. One advantage over prior portables is that 3DS game data can be transferred to replacement systems using local wireless even post-eShop. But no hardware lasts forever – fans hoping to replay these games for decades to come would be served well to purchase multiple backup units and components sooner rather than later.

The 3DS Innovated Handheld Gaming for a New Decade

Despite its truncated lifespan cut short by the Nintendo Switch successor, the 3DS dramatically shook up portable gaming after the refined-but-aging template of the Nintendo DS era. After dominating world sales charts for well over 224 weeks, 3DS shipments eclipsed the 70+ million unit milestone to finish firmly positioned as the 8th best selling video game system ever. Critical darling franchises long absent returned in spectacular fashion on 3DS with large new installments or remakes, such as Animal Crossing: New Leaf, multiple Mario & Zelda blockbusters, a trio of unique Pokemon RPG journeys, Fire Emblem Awakening‘s genre saving triumph, and many more instant classics far too numerous to fully list. Nintendo also pushed boundaries with quirky risk-taking experiments only possible with glasses-free stereoscopic 3D. And for backwards compatibility, over 2,000 DS titles gained new life with enhanced visuals only possible on its heir. Despite various hardships throughout its run, the sustained excellence of its gaming pedigree solidifies the 3DS family legacy as a revolutionary handheld said to be in its own league.

Conclusion & the 3DS Legacy Moving Forward

In closing, the discontinued 3DS concluding its eCommerce capabilities in early 2023 likely signifies the final milestone in its operational lifespan for good. And while experimental hardware reverse-engineering efforts have extended niche afterlives of platforms like the Game Boy Advance, the increasing complexity of modern tech paired with security-focused companies like Nintendo makes truly replacing defunct official functionality an unlikely feat. Soon gaming history‘s fond memories cultivated on these long-beloved handhelds will be the only way to experience its impressive library. As 3DS hardware turns vintage and games join the retro collecting canon, I know the innovations pioneered and stories told will live on for generations in the hearts of gamers both young and old who grew up with the system over its colorful nine year journey. We remember when – and what memorable times they were!