Key findings
- Nintendo no longer has the parts to repair the New Nintendo 3DS.
- All Nintendo 2DS models and the New Nintendo 3DS XL can still be repaired.
- The Nintendo 3DS remains a popular system.
Nintendo’s Japanese customer support announced that the company has run out of spare parts to repair the New Nintendo 3DS models and is therefore no longer offering repairs.
“Due to a shortage of parts required for repairs, we will no longer accept repairs for the New Nintendo 3DS system (KTR-001) effective August 28, 2024,” the post reads (translated by Google).
The New Nintendo 3DS is on the list of models that Nintendo can no longer repair, along with the original Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo 3DS XL. As far as we know, the New Nintendo 3DS XL and Nintendo 2DS models can still be repaired. Discontinued models can probably only be repaired through local third-party shops or with some expertise and a YouTube tutorial.
Nintendo’s last real handheld
There have been several models of the Nintendo 3DS; the original 3DS was released in 2011, followed by the 3DS XL (2012), the 2DS (2013), the New Nintendo 3DS (2014), the New Nintendo 3DS XL (2015), and finally the New Nintendo 2DS XL (2017).
The 3DS is Nintendo’s last true handheld device before the company began blurring the lines between handhelds and home consoles with the less successful Wii U and the far more successful Nintendo Switch. With all the rumors currently pointing to the development of a more powerful Nintendo Switch 2, we probably won’t see Nintendo return to dedicated handheld systems for some time.
The 3DS remains a popular system with a wealth of fantastic games released for it, including A Link Between Worlds, Pokémon Sun/Moon, and Animal Crossing: New Leaf.
The Nintendo Switch 2 will reportedly not launch until April 2025, but mass production is expected to begin soon, potentially paving the way for an official unveiling before the end of the year.
