Nintendo President Reveals Nintendo Switch Will Not Replace 3DS

Nintendo recently unveiled more details about their upcoming video game console, the Nintendo Switch. Just last week Nintendo held their Switch presentation which went over a few more details that the initial console unveil trailer left out. Now that we know this console will be capable of portable gaming, there’s concern as to if this console will end up replacing the Nintendo 3DS. Before the rumors and speculation pieces spread too far, Nintendo of America president, Reggie Fils-Amie, spoke out in hopes to end the countless questions regarding their portable handheld system.

According to the Nintendo of America president, the Nintendo Switch is a home console at heart that has the added benefit of being portable. This statement was given to the Wired during an interview regarding their upcoming console.

Reggie Fils-Amie doesn’t see the Nintendo Switch as a console to make the Nintendo 3DS obsolete. In fact, there’s already a number of video game titles confirmed to be launching throughout 2017 for the portable gaming handheld. However, outside of video game releases, there are some differences between the two consoles that makes it unique for various gamers.

“3DS has a long life in front of it. We’ve already announced games that will be launching in the first couple quarters of this year. There are a number of big games coming. And in our view, the Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo Switch are going to live side-by-side. You’re going to be meeting different price points, you’re going to be meeting different types of consumers, you’re going to have the newest, freshest content available on Nintendo Switch, you’ve got a thousand-game library available on Nintendo 3DS, plus some key new ones coming. They’re going to coexist just fine. We’ve done this before, managing two different systems.

I think there’s a sense that Nintendo Switch is a portable device. It is portable. But at its heart, it’s a home console that you can take with you on the go.”

It seems that the Nintendo 3DS isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. With the console release heading this March, we’re interested in seeing just what Nintendo ends up doing for their next dedicated handheld console will consist of.