New Nintendo President “Considering Various Possibilities” for 3DS Successor

Shuntaro Furukawa officially took over as Nintendo’s new president this week and discussed his company’s latest objectives, which include growing the smartphone game business and selling more Switch consoles. While the mobile niche may be filled by either of these platforms, Furukawa suggests that Nintendo hasn’t ruled out a sequel to the 3DS, which may already be in the works.

He said that “though it’s been around much longer, the 3DS has certain advantages over the Switch such as ease of purchase and the like.” Furukawa also commented on a possible successor, saying that Nintendo is “considering various possibilities.” However, the statement alone doesn’t make it clear how serious the company is when it comes to exploring a new dedicated portable device that follows in 3DS’ footsteps.

Serious business.

I can only hope they do NOT push another 3DS-like device. From where I sit it doesn't make sense in the current market.

First, it devalues the Switch's ecosystem. If nothing else, Nintendo should care about this. The Switch's "big" feature is its possible portability and frankly its Tegra hardware is basically a portable device anyway! Its priced at what... $299 these days? So to sell a 3DS successor it would need to come in under that amount, so $199 at the most...and provide new hardware better than existing New 3DS without upstaging the Switch itself? Next, it would split the developer interest and workload. Right now if they want to develop for a Nintendo system the Switch handles both the "mobile" and "home" console niches at least to some degree. Giving devs another platform that may or may not be compatible or similar seems like muddying the water. So even from the idea of strengthening the Switch itself , I can't see the value of continuing with another 3DS style item.

Second, its myopic in ignoring the mobile Android (and iOS) markets. Nintendo has already seen some success with products for mobile OSes. I personally think the best thing they can do is to focus on these instead. I'm not even a huge fan of the Switch (or consoles at all, as proprietary platforms. I would have rather bought a Switch with Android as the core of its OS, allowing me both "Android stuff" and "Nintendo stuff" on the same device without having to risk a ban by hacking in homebrew functions ), but for the sake of it the Switch is a "tablet" / "home" gaming device. Something in the 3DS size bracket is definite in the "mobile phone" area. Most mobile phones and devices today are at least as power if not moreso than the Switch and definitely the 3DS and we already have them on our person. Why should anyone have to buy yet another proprietary, purpose-built piece of kit and carry it around with them, when they have a perfectly good device already!? Some may say "controls", but there are a number of opportunities - including for Nintendo themselves - to provide mobile gamepads for those titles that are not best touch-styled. There are already many mini-gamepads and phone-holders that connect inexpensively via Bluetooth an/or USB (ie see: 8bitdo for cheap options of decent quality) . Nintendo already sells JoyCons a la carte and they could easily write Android drivers for them, if they're not already easy to pair via bluetooth which they very well may be. I've heard some say "people may not want to carry around a controller" and to that it seems rather hypocritical when a device like the 3DS is larger than most controllers! Except to validate the need for Nintendo's top to bottom platform control neurotics, I don't see any reason not to simply make titles for the Android space instead.

So no matter which "side", I can't see a good justification for this.

Just make a cheaper and smaller portable Switch-Mini on a smaller process node without detachable joycons. With reduced bezels you could likely even keep the same screen size in the smaller form factor. It's a no brainer to keep the ecosystem the same across both devices, especially with how well the Switch is doing.

Xaeos said:

The Switch's "big" feature is its possible portability

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You can't really stick a Switch in your jeans pocket, though.

I'd love something like a 3DS with a more powerful CPU. It's not as if you can get the kind of games they put on the 3DS on phones. I want FFT A3, for example. Only maybe with a slightly-less-cheesy storyline.

Xaeos said:

I can only hope they do NOT push another 3DS-like device. From where I sit it doesn't make sense in the current market.

First, it devalues the Switch's ecosystem. If nothing else, Nintendo should care about this. The Switch's "big" feature is its possible portability and frankly its Tegra hardware is basically a portable device anyway!

Click to expand...

The switch is portable using the same flawed logic that any computer with a handle is portable, even if it's the size of a large suitcase and weighs 30 pounds.

The switch is under powered as a console.

As a portable it's too large (with too many separate parts), and too fragile. This is especially true for younger kids.
The DS/3DS clamshell design is much better. More compact and the screens are protected when closed.

Some games would work on a phone, but many need the dedicated buttons on the 3DS.

This is just how weird Nintendo is. Ironically, when the DS came out, it was not intended to replace the GameBoy. They said the same thing with the Switch, they claimed it was not a replacement for the 3DS. They even refused to say when the end of life was for the WII U, before ultimately admitting it was done.

nutzo said:

The switch is portable using the same flawed logic that any computer with a handle is portable, even if it's the size of a large suitcase and weighs 30 pounds.

The switch is under powered as a console.

As a portable it's too large (with too many separate parts), and too fragile. This is especially true for younger kids.
The DS/3DS clamshell design is much better. More compact and the screens are protected when closed.

Some games would work on a phone, but many need the dedicated buttons on the 3DS.

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I'd classify the switch as a mobile console; it's ideal to take with you on holidays, short trips, and even commuting if you are guaranteed a seat for more than ten minutes. Unfortunately, commuting with some changeovers and in Japan-style packed subways, not so much ^_^; in that case, the DS form factor is indeed much more convenient. I'm thinking that Nintendo may go for a smaller, clamshell version of the switch as a DS replacement, close in time to an updated version of the switch itself.

It is interesting to consider, but the Switch does seem to be the successor to the 3DS. I mean it isn't exactly all that portable, but it is clearly designed to be used as a handheld unit. Had it been designed purely as a home console it likely wouldn't need to cost as much and likely could have been faster.

And with traditionally mobile console oriented Pokemon making a debut on the Switch in 2019, I think that more or less seals the deal. That game has been a huge seller of Gameboy/DS systems since the 90s. I'm not saying another Nintendo console would automatically flop, but it would certainly be more difficult to compete without Pokemon. Traditionally the main Mario & Zelda games were on the home console, and the main Pokemon on the mobile. Now they've all converged on the Switch.

I would have liked a proper 3DS successor and a proper home console personally. Free online like the 3DS had would have been great in a more portable, cheaper package. An optional HDMI / charging dock for said 3DS successor would have been great, and the Switch could have been a traditional home console with more power. Seeing as any proper 3DS successor will come out a few years from now, the performance gap between it and the Switch will be negligible. I feels like it would be splitting hairs, especially with Nintendo games going to phones now.

Gawd damnit Nintendo, we don't need a successor to the 3DS. The Switch is the successor to both that and the Wii U. Home console and portable console have merged into an interesting hybrid, and they should focus on that.

Flogger23m said:

I would have liked a proper 3DS successor and a proper home console personally.

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Yeah well, there's a lot of things we'd all like from Nintendo, but they always do their own shit regardless of what makes sense or what longtime fans want. I'm done even trying to guess, and I no longer expect anything or hope for anything. I just wait and see what they produce, and hope they don't fuck shit up.

I wouldn't mind an exclusively portable Switch-based hardware. Give it a clamshell controller design ala original Nvidia Shield.

This is dumb. Sadly, this is what Nintendo does more often than not.

They already said originally when the Switch was announced that the 3DS wouldn't be abandoned. That has all but happened as evidenced by the abysmal release lineup since the Switch came out.

Now they are saying the Switch won't replace the 3DS...LOL. So yeah, let's fragment the market yet again for some arbitrary reason.

I guess the Switch isn't exactly a "pocket" handheld, but the 3DS XL was getting pretty large itself.

They just need to make a "Switch Mini" or some sort of OLED foldable screen version of the Switch, and call it good.

My understanding was the switch was supposed to combine both markets... Isn't it doing that???

Nintendo just needs to make a cellphone and call it good.

Hopefully with some battery life. The battery in my aging DS outlasts a 3DS 3 times over.

Just release a cost effective, kid-friendly version of the Switch at a reduced pricepoint.

Say, 20-30% smaller, no detachable joycons, no included tv cradle (but still compatible), all in a clamshell design of some kind etc etc

I'd imagine this could be done at a $200 price point.

Don't get me wrong, I love my 2DS but I literally only use it on a plane, bus rides to/from Austin, and if I'm going to the DMV or whatever..

I guess many here don't play both.? i do. The 3ds can have a successor no problem.
It just needs more ds-ness.
First i am sure the 3d screen are better now.. if they are, that is a meaningful update there. Yes i know many will jump and say the 3d is a gimmick but its a good feature if it was better with better viewing angles and such.. it needs polishing for sure.. if it cant be made better due to limit of the tech yes it should be dropped 100%.
To me the 3ds and the ds, plays different.. different than mobile, different than the switch. Not too sure how to describe it to be honest, but a well made game for the ds/3ds with its features in mind plays great and uniquely. Part of the deal is taking advantage of both screens properly.
I agree price differential is an issue.
The new handheld can have some key updates: better screens, better cpu/gpus, longer battery life.. it should keep backwards compatible.. thing is too the switch when updated will depart further in power from the theoretical future ds.
Nintendo is having success with mobile because they seem to understand it well enough and the games they make are specifically for mobile devices ... These devices might be powerful and whatever, but they are limited in input, and that kills it in many ways.
I am glad Nintendo keeps trying different ways to interact with games... And that they have a demanding game development philosophy... Sometimes these choices costs them dearly, other times it doesn't.

I think if it was up to some here Nintendo would be the same as every other in all aspects.