Did the 3DS Sell Well?

The Nintendo 3DS did sell well, with lifetime unit sales of over 75 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling handheld consoles of all time, although it did not quite reach the same level of success as its predecessor, the Nintendo DS. With games sales of over 388 million units, the 3DS was still a commercial success, helping Nintendo navigate the challenges of the Wii U era.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Did the 3DS outsell the DS? No, the 3DS sold about half of its predecessor, with the DS selling over 154 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time.
2. Was the 3DS sold at a loss? Initially, the 3DS was sold for a profit, but after a price cut due to slow hardware sales, Nintendo sold the 3DS at a loss for a period.
3. Why was the 3DS cancelled? The 3DS was discontinued due to slow sales at launch, partly because of a high asking price and a lackluster initial game lineup.

Sales and Performance

4. How many 3DS units were sold worldwide? As of September 2023, the Nintendo 3DS had sold 75.95 million units across the world.
5. How many games were sold for the 3DS? Over 388 million games were sold for the 3DS, making it a successful handheld console.
6. Is the 3DS more powerful than the DS? Yes, the 3DS is a more powerful system than the Nintendo DS, with improved performance and enhanced 3D capabilities.

Comparison with Other Consoles

7. Is the 3DS weaker than the Wii? Yes, the 3DS has two slower cores compared to the Wii’s single but more powerful core, and their GPUs are very different.
8. Was the 3DS as powerful as the GameCube? Yes, the 3DS is several times faster and has more memory and a faster graphics processor than the GameCube.

Gaming and Compatibility

9. Can a 3DS play DS games? Yes, the 3DS can play most Nintendo DS games, except those that use the GBA Slot.
10. Is the New 3DS faster than the old 3DS? Yes, the New 3DS offers a 50% overall improvement in performance compared to the old 3DS.

Nintendo’s Product Lineup and Support

11. Is Nintendo done making DS games? Yes, Nintendo has announced that they are done making games for the 3DS, focusing on the Nintendo Switch instead.
12. Will there be a 4DS? There is no official announcement from Nintendo about a 4DS, but the company is always working on new hardware and software projects.
13. Can a 4DS play 3DS games? No, Nintendo 3DS Game Cards can only be played on a Nintendo 3DS family system.

Availability and Support

14. Are 3DS consoles still being made? No, the manufacturing of the Nintendo 3DS family of systems has ended, and the eShop for Wii U and 3DS was closed on March 27, 2023.
15. Do they still sell Wii U consoles? No, Nintendo formally announced the end of Wii U production on January 31, 2017, and the ability to purchase content through the Nintendo eShop was discontinued on March 27, 2023.