3DS was even behind its times when it was released. It is an extremely dated hardware with okay-ish library, it is nowhere near as good as DS for me. Nintendo finally have a strong handheld that can give us open world experiences on the go. They should let that thing die and focus solely on Switch if they want it to succeed.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Can The 3DS and Switch Coexist Together?
- Thread starter ryushe
- Start date
Obviously with so many 3DS sold Nintendo can't let it go immediately. It will also be a nice backup plan in the unlikely event the Switch should bomb.
However Nintendo has to plan a gradual dismissal of the 3DS or it will somehow compete with the Switch for portable console.
However the price of the Switch has to go down a bit before it can completely replace the 3DS. IMHO.
However Nintendo has to plan a gradual dismissal of the 3DS or it will somehow compete with the Switch for portable console.
However the price of the Switch has to go down a bit before it can completely replace the 3DS. IMHO.
sixteen-bit
Member
I think so. Nintendo needs a low-cost entry level system like they've always had since the game boy.
Yes but no. Right now there are more 3DS games coming that Switch games. Just like with Wii U, it's just one, or the other. I'm even afraid of seeing too much 3DS games in E3 and just a few Switch games, leaving Switch as a secondary Nintendo console until they drop support to 3DS.
I think Nintendo will give support to 3DS this year, and after 2018, all Nintendo games will be Switch only. Only few third party titles will reach 3DS. It's a natural step in the end.
However, if Nintendo wants Switch to do well, 3DS should begin its retirement. I like my 3DS, it has great games, but I rather play on a TV screen that portably. I wish I could have played many 3DS games in my TV. Someday...
I think Nintendo will give support to 3DS this year, and after 2018, all Nintendo games will be Switch only. Only few third party titles will reach 3DS. It's a natural step in the end.
However, if Nintendo wants Switch to do well, 3DS should begin its retirement. I like my 3DS, it has great games, but I rather play on a TV screen that portably. I wish I could have played many 3DS games in my TV. Someday...
Remember what happened to the Game Boy once the NDS was introduced as a supposed 3rd pillar. I think the 3DS will survive until 2020 (survive as in, a few good games will still be made for it), after that, it's gonne.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
The switch is way way too expensive though unless it has a 3DS style price cut it won't even come within breathing room of the lower priced 3DS SKUS. Probably be at least half way into it's lifetime before it's within comparable costs. So yeah your largely right but I think 3DS may surive a bit past that due to sharing absolutely no library with the switch.
herbchamberz
Member
They certainly won't release a new model of the 3DS - that much is for sure. But until the 3DS ecosystem is no longer profitable, Nintendo is going to milk it for every last cent.
Are there really more 3DS games coming up than Switch games? Looking at the thread of upcoming Switch titles, there's quite a few Switch games on the slate right now. I think the odds of the 3DS getting more games/focus than the newer console at the E3 before its first Christmas is pretty slim.
It matters because the games they publish and when they are released are different. So the pipelines look different. As I do not live in America, I do not know NoA's release schedule. I do however know what Japan's schedule looks like. There is Mario Sports, FE Echoes, and FE Warriors (new 3DS only). Maybe unnamed Pikmin, and Stars.
Do you have more games to add to this list? Because it looks a bit on the slim side, one could say it looks like they have reduced support for the 3DS compared to previous years.
I doubt the existence of Stars all together. It is going on 9 years since GF employed the third game strategy, what makes you think they will go back to it?
Gai Murakumo
Member
They can co-exist at least for a little while until the Switch can be more easily available and the library of the Switch is more substantial. After that I can see the 3DS slowly dying off.
It is switch mini, you don't need separate joy con or dock. It's to serve the pure purpose of being handheld machine.
BassForever
Member
Let smaller teams work on 3ds titles and 3rd parties round out the 3ds library for the next year or so. Nintendo games should either be cross gen like fe warriors (and likely pokemon stars) or switch only.
Glass Shark
Banned
It makes sense for them to release some more games and cash in while people are making the transition to Switch, but eventually they need to get everyone on a single platform. If the next mainline Pokémon game comes out on the 3DS, they fucked up.
The question was whether Nintendo still supports the 3DS. The correct answer is yes. I don't understand why that's difficult to grasp.
Yes, there will be more games added to that list. Reggie has said this and it just makes sense.
3DS won't go anywhere until Switch reaches mass market price. That will take time. That's just how business works.
balladofwindfishes
Member
I think the Switch needs to come down in price a bit more before it can truly take over the 3DS.
Nintendo has always had a cheap alternative to their main consoles as an entry level system for their games. I don't really see that changing much, unless they start going really heavy into mobile.
Nintendo has always had a cheap alternative to their main consoles as an entry level system for their games. I don't really see that changing much, unless they start going really heavy into mobile.
The 3DS has such a large install base that it will keep going through momentum. The real question is if they're going to make a 3DS successor (in addition to the Switch) and if the Switch and that will be able to coexist.
I'm not sure they would be able to coexist (or that Nintendo will make a "4DS"), but we will have to see how the Switch does over the next few months to really know.
I'm not sure they would be able to coexist (or that Nintendo will make a "4DS"), but we will have to see how the Switch does over the next few months to really know.
Nostremitus
Member
I say let the 3ds rest. Move everything to Switch.
That is not an argument. Every console (beside wiiU) has a very large base when the successor arrives.
3DS will not die overnight, but people buying it now are just not interesting from a wallet perspective.
Taliban Stan
Member
Maybe not the 3DS, but I think the 2DS could stick around for a very long time. It's the super cheap option where games can still sell console numbers but have costs that are much much smaller. I think that will be attractive for devs and a nice super cheap option for consumers for as long as Nintendo is willing to support it.
I only single out 2DS because 3DS is still priced high enough to where I could see someone being like "might as well as spend a bit more and get the Switch". 2DS is $80. I don't think the person going in to buy a $80 system walks out convinced to buy a $300 one as often as the person going in willing to spend $200 does.
Switch could cannibalize the 3DS but I think 2DS is so cheap it's in a different ballpark aiming at a totally different crowd. Different story if the 3DS was like $100 though.
I only single out 2DS because 3DS is still priced high enough to where I could see someone being like "might as well as spend a bit more and get the Switch". 2DS is $80. I don't think the person going in to buy a $80 system walks out convinced to buy a $300 one as often as the person going in willing to spend $200 does.
Switch could cannibalize the 3DS but I think 2DS is so cheap it's in a different ballpark aiming at a totally different crowd. Different story if the 3DS was like $100 though.
While saying something and doing something are different and that distinction should be known, I will concede and take your and Reggie's word on the matter. Nintendo will continue to support 3DS in perpetuity, they will take a few months off from releasing games, then come back swinging big in late summer/early fall.
I look forward to hearing more about all these 3DS games in development by Nintendo* at E3.
*Localization efforts by NoA do not count as new games.
"Can the GBA and NDS exist together?" -Eventually the answer was: Nope.
I don't think the 3DS/2DS will have a place once the Switch takes off, perhaps there will be a more portable Switch Mini without the dock(but still possibility to dock) and a lower price point at some point though.
I don't think the 3DS/2DS will have a place once the Switch takes off, perhaps there will be a more portable Switch Mini without the dock(but still possibility to dock) and a lower price point at some point though.
Localization efforts are still efforts but I get what you mean. It won't just be localization efforts. I expect a big push with another hardware revision and exclusive games, some of them by Nintendo.
socksfelloff
Member
They can co exist for a while just like every other generation leap. The 3ds is already quite long in the tooth though so the real question is will they make another in the DS line to compliment the switch?
Domcorleone
Member
Do we know if Nintendo has any plans to port over 3DS games to the Switch?
I bought it mainly in hopes of that happening (and for Zelda of course)
I bought it mainly in hopes of that happening (and for Zelda of course)
Maybe they could but I absolutely don't want them to. The 3DS needs to die so that the Switch can make true on its promise/potential to combine console and handheld libraries.
Also, Switch has outstanding handheld hardware. Except for the dual screen and 3D, anything you can create on the old-ass 3DS you can do as good or potentially a lot better on Switch.
Also, Switch has outstanding handheld hardware. Except for the dual screen and 3D, anything you can create on the old-ass 3DS you can do as good or potentially a lot better on Switch.
They will coexist for a while, mainly because of third party projects. Of course we have Pikmin, FE Echoes, FE Warriors and Ever Oasis, but beyond that I don't see much more internal support (and these are mainly collaborations). NCL has moved its resources to Switch, but NOA and NOE, with late localizations of Miitopia, MH, DQ, and the recently announced remakes of Atlus, could give the impression that they are still working on 3DS when that isn' the case anymore for the majority of the development teams.
Buggy Loop
Member
As soon as the 3DS games that were on the conveyor belt are out, they should stop supporting 3DS completely. The concept of Switch is exciting for having BOTH portable and console libraries from Nintendo in one neat package (finally). Imagining nintendo going out of it's way to compete with it's new concept with another portable is ridiculous.
Of course they will not outright say that they are done with 3DS and sending the message to not buy the platform, especially with many 3rd parties having a project on it.
Of course they will not outright say that they are done with 3DS and sending the message to not buy the platform, especially with many 3rd parties having a project on it.
The Greek Freak
Member
No.
If the 3ds continues to get many games all it is doing is taking away from the switch.
Still sell it to budget conscious people, but the Switch is a failure if the next unannounced pokemon/fire emblem/handheld Mario etc isn't for the Switch.
The whole point of the system is to have all of Nintendo's games in one place.
If the 3ds continues to get many games all it is doing is taking away from the switch.
Still sell it to budget conscious people, but the Switch is a failure if the next unannounced pokemon/fire emblem/handheld Mario etc isn't for the Switch.
The whole point of the system is to have all of Nintendo's games in one place.
240p is all the p's I need.
It's the perfect little system for VC emulation due to its pixel layout. But yea, other than that, I think it's time to sunset the little guy and allow all 1st party development to focus on Switch. I'm not saying they should kill current projects or anything, but they should not be releasing anything on 3DS after Q1 2018.
Glass Shark
Banned
Honestly I think the continued existence of the 3DS is kind of a moot point when you consider how hard it is to find them, at least in the US. I haven't seen a significant quantity of them in stock in months. Pretty much the only Nintendo hardware I've seen since November is the 2DS.
DrROBschiz
Member
3DS needed to be retired like 5 years ago
But I digress
Clearly having a cheap entry level portable is still making them monsy so it will stay that way as long as this remains true
But I digress
Clearly having a cheap entry level portable is still making them monsy so it will stay that way as long as this remains true
Diprosalic
Banned
that makes sense.
if you own a switch you are not the target demo for the 3ds anymore.
Beer Monkey
Member
Sigh. I just realized that the 3DS will be the last great truly portable game system ever. Nothing will be pocket ready from here on out other than phones.
Spieler Eins
Member
Fullpriced SD games and any year after 2015 can't coexist. Apart from Pokemon season, western hw sales have long stalled too (i.e. certain NPD leaks suggesting 3DS not doing too much hotter than WiiU in certain months already a couple of years ago).
Suburban Thug
Member
Glasses free 3D tech was behind the times in the early 2010's? LOL
And the library is very good, even compared to the DS.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
No they haven't 3DS had the best sales in the west for many years last year. Fact of the matter is if the switch didn't exist the 3DS would be more than capable of sustaining itself for a another two years considering it had a year on year growth last year.
thepenguin55
Member
The Switch is a near perfect gaming solution for me. I've been playing it equally as a traditional console and as a portable, and love the flexibility of being able to do both. I haven't touched my 3DS since I got my Switch.
I don't plan on buying anymore 3DS games. The only thing that would lure me back to my 3DS is if the Switch has a major drought of games over the next 2 years, which doesn't seem likely with the good indie support.
As a handheld/portable device, I've found the Switch to be much more comfortable to hold for extended sessions compared to my 3DS. I also experience a lot less eye strain.
I don't plan on buying anymore 3DS games. The only thing that would lure me back to my 3DS is if the Switch has a major drought of games over the next 2 years, which doesn't seem likely with the good indie support.
As a handheld/portable device, I've found the Switch to be much more comfortable to hold for extended sessions compared to my 3DS. I also experience a lot less eye strain.