The Nintendo Switch may be a hybrid machine that plays in both TV and handheld modes, but that doesn’t mean the 3DS it on its way to the relevance junkyard. According to an interview with the Telegraph, Shinya Takahashi, the general manager of planning and entertainment at Nintendo, says the company sees the 3DS as the best way to get new players introduced to and invested in videogames.
When speaking to the Telegraph, Takahashi said, “Certainly I think 3DS from a price perspective is quite a bit lower, and it’s a system we’ve released a very large library for. So I think from that perspective it’ a very good system for kids to have as their first system.” He suggested the affordability and large library makes for a much better entry-point for children, rather than suggesting that market will fit in with early adopters at the launch of a new piece of hardware. “We still see a lot of potential for 3DS in that area. And with that in mind we’re thinking of games to release for 3DS not just in 2017, but in 2018 as well.”
The 3DS is already being used for interesting purposes now, such as several ports of Wii U games like the very family-friendly Yoshi’s Wooly World . Even Switch games, such as Fire Emblem Warriors , will come to the older platform. I can see downgraded ports and smaller titles, such as mascot platformers, hanging around on the 3DS for a while, especially while parents figure out the Switch’s role in a family setting.
Source: Telegraph