The Nintendo 3DS, which was released in 2011 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, may have been discontinued in 2020, but it has managed to maintain a strong and dedicated fanbase. Despite the closure of the Wii U and 3DS eShops, which made it more challenging to purchase new games for the console, 3DS fans have persevered. According to Nintendo’s quarterly earnings results, approximately 210,000 3DS games have been sold in the past three months.
Although there has been no change in 3DS hardware sales since the last earnings update, with a total of 75.94 million units sold, software sales have seen a slight increase from 391.38 million to 391.59 million. This growth is not as significant as the surge in sales seen before the eShop closure, which resulted in a boost of 1.28 million sales, as highlighted by Axios’ Stephen Totilo on Twitter. Nevertheless, these numbers prove that the 3DS is far from dead and still maintains its popularity among certain users.
In contrast, Nintendo’s Wii U console, released in 2012, did not experience any movement in its sales figures. This doesn’t imply that no games were sold, but rather that the number of sales did not meet the threshold for reporting.
With the discontinuation of the eShop, it is likely that the recent sales mainly comprise physical copies of games available for the 3DS. Unfortunately, a number of 3DS games never received physical releases, making it difficult to legally obtain these older and rarer titles. While you can still purchase 3DS games from retailers like GameStop, Best Buy, and Target, as well as through second-hand marketplaces, finding certain titles may prove challenging. Nintendo continues to support the console’s online servers, allowing players to engage in multiplayer gaming. However, the lifespan of these servers is uncertain, as Nintendo had shut down online servers for Wii, DS, and DSi games back in 2014.
The 3DS was unveiled at E3 2010 and launched in 2011, introducing glasses-free 3D capabilities, which were primarily viewed as a novelty. In 2013, Nintendo released the Nintendo 2DS, a more affordable console without the 3D feature. Subsequently, the New Nintendo 3DS and 3DS XL were introduced, followed by the release of the New Nintendo 2DS XL in 2017, just one month after the launch of the Nintendo Switch.
As of March 31, the top-selling 3DS games by Nintendo are Mario Kart 7, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, New Super Mario Bros. 2, and Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Nintendo did not provide an updated list based on this quarter’s financial results.