For every console, and every handheld video game system, there is a “life cycle” that is maintained so that the system can attempt to reach its full potential, while also giving the creator time to make another system to replace it years down the road. Now, there is a “set” time limit as to how many years one system can be on the market, but there are indicators that it’s time to move on. Nintendo, for all its greatness, doesn’t seem to want to do this with the Nintendo 3DS.
The system came out in 2011, seven years from where we are now (from its initial release date). Yet, Nintendo not only hasn’t revealed the system’s successor, they’ve revealed that they’re going to keep support it through next year and beyond. This came via yesterdays financial briefing where they noted:
“In addition to the titles currently on sale we have announced the coming release of the titles shown here, we are even preparing new software for release in 2019 and beyond.Our plan is to continue maintaining this business by taking advantage of new titles like these,” Nintendo noted.
This move comes off as very curious, yet perfectly Nintendo. On one hand, it’s curious because to support the Nintendo 3DS through 2019 and beyond they’ll need a large library of titles. And many of the titles that are coming out this year are ports and not original ones. So hopefully we’ll get some new reveals by E3 2018. On the other hand, the 3DS does continue to sell well, it’s at 72 million sold worldwide now, and Nintendo probably sees that as a huge market to make games for. And that is technically true, however, that doesn’t mean all 72 million are still playing their 3DS.
Either way though, it’s going to be interesting to see how this develops.
