As Nintendo ventures further into the Switch 2 era, a chapter closes on their legacy handheld gaming devices. The company is officially ceasing repair services for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Even after discontinuing the various 3DS models, Nintendo continued to offer repair support in Japan. However, these services have gradually been phased out over time. The New Nintendo 2DS XL enjoyed the longest support, but its time has also come to an end.
“Due to a depletion of necessary components, repair services for the New Nintendo 2DS XL concluded on September 4, 2025,” Nintendo announced in a statement (originally reported by VGC). “Repair services have also been discontinued for all other consoles in the Nintendo 3DS range.”
With this announcement, the Nintendo 3DS era effectively draws to a close. Nintendo no longer possesses the parts required to repair units submitted to their Japanese service centers. Support for the original 3DS handheld ended in August 2024, with parts for the standard Nintendo 2DS becoming unavailable soon afterward.
Notably, the eShops for both the 3DS and Wii U consoles were shut down by Nintendo back in 2023, and Wii U repair support ceased last year. While online play is no longer functional on the 3DS, its library still contains a fantastic assortment of games available on physical cartridges.
The 3DS proved to be a successful platform for Nintendo, selling 75.9 million units worldwide throughout its lifespan. As an evolution of the immensely popular Nintendo DS, it featured a distinctive 3D screen. Later models, rebranded as 2DS, eliminated this feature altogether. At one point, Nintendo even offered a slate-style 2DS model without the clamshell design, specifically aimed at younger players.
In other news, the Nintendo Switch 2 appears to be off to a strong start. The Switch 2’s sales are significantly outpacing those of the original Switch in the US, with 2 million units sold as of August 27. Worldwide, the Switch 2 achieved over 6 million units sold in the initial seven weeks following its release, despite its relatively higher price point.