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| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Release Year =Mar 27, 2011  
| Release Year =Mar 27, 2011  
| Product Type =Portable gaming console  
| Product Type =Handheld gaming console  
| In Production =No  
| In Production =No  
| Official Website =Nintendo.com
| Official Website =https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-3DS-Family/Nintendo-3DS-Family-94560.html
| Logo =QuestionMark.svg  
| Logo =Nintendo 3DS logo.svg.png
}}{{StubNotice}}
}}
The [[Nintendo]] 3DS is a portable console manufactured and distributed by [[Nintendo]]. It is the continuation of its predecessor, the [[Nintendo]] DS, and has seen multiple notable revisions, defined by its manufacturer as the "Nintendo 3DS Family".
The '''[[wikipedia:Nintendo_3DS|Nintendo 3DS]]''' is a handheld game console manufactured and distributed by '''[[Nintendo]]'''. It is the successor to the Nintendo DS. The Nintendo 3DS had five revisions: the Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 2DS and New Nintendo 2DS XL. Collectively, they are referred to as the "Nintendo 3DS family".


==Consumer impact summary==
==Consumer impact summary==


*User Freedom: Due to hacking communities, the entire console family can be hacked to be used by the consumer without any restrictions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=3DS Hacks Guide |url=https://3ds.hacks.guide/ |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=3ds.hacks.guide}}</ref>
====Freedom====
*User Privacy: Console is discontinued; Some games require a connection to the, now discontinued, servers, but are supported by 3rd party services like Pretendo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pretendo Network |url=https://pretendo.network/ |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=}}</ref>
Due to efforts of the modding community, custom firmware can be installed on every retail version of Nintendo 3DS Family of consoles. With the use of custom firmware, many home brew apps can be used to restore the lost functionality of the online services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=3DS Hacks Guide |url=https://3ds.hacks.guide/ |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=3ds.hacks.guide}}</ref>
*Business model: Focused on games that can either be purchased physically or digitally, some special editions made.
**Many games that used Online Services are still playable but players will not be able to 100% complete the game. For example: Animal Crossing New Leaf will lose Dream Towns and some exclusive items on the island gift shop.
*Market Control: Not applicable.
====Privacy====
As of 2020, the 3DS line of consoles has been discontinued. Many games require a connection to the now discontinued Nintendo Network servers, but are supported by 3rd party services like Pretendo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pretendo Network |url=https://pretendo.network/ |access-date=May 10, 2025 |website=}}</ref> Information relating to Nintendo Network accounts included name, email, birthday, Mii, and gender.
 
====Business model====
Focused on games that can either be purchased physically or digitally, with some special editions being made. Special editions of consoles were also made.
====Market control====
In 2016, the 3DS gaming platform was worth $2.6 billion in gaming market, with similar handheld consoles such as the PS Vita only making $1 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/games/sony-dominates-console-market-with-57-share-worldwide|title=Sony dominates console market with 57% share worldwide|first=Dean|last=Takahashi|date=2017-03-16|work=VentureBeat|access-date=2025-06-17}}</ref>


==Incidents==
==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
===Closure of eShop (March 2023)===
 
===Closure of eShop and other online services (April 2024)===
{{Main|Storefront shutdown#Wii U/3DS eShops (2012–2023)}}
{{Main|Storefront shutdown#Wii U/3DS eShops (2012–2023)}}
On March 27, 2023 Nintendo shut down the [[Wii U]] and [[3DS]] eShops.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 2023 |title=Notice of End of Purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DUpdate April 2023 |url=https://www.nintendo.com/au/support/articles/wii-u-and-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Support}}</ref> These shutdowns have caused hundreds of games to become impossible to obtain new copies of and for some, additionally, play. Some of which include Mario Kart 7, Super Mario Maker, Pokémon Picross, and more.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Mar 2023 |title=These are the 1,000 digital-only 3DS and Wii U games disappearing next week |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/analysis-digital-only-wii-u-3ds-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.videogameschronicle.com}}</ref> As of now, over 1,000 digitally exclusive games can only be obtained through unofficial means, and a subset requires additional modification to run.
On April 8, 2024 Nintendo shut down the [[Wii U]] and 3DS eShops.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=Apr 2023 |title=Notice of End of Purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DUpdate April 2023 |url=https://www.nintendo.com/au/support/articles/wii-u-and-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Support}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nintendo |date=8 April 2024 |title=Announcement of Discontinuation of Online Services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63227/~/announcement-of-discontinuation-of-online-services-for-nintendo-3ds-and-wii-u |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Nintendo Support}}</ref>  2 years prior, consumers could no-longer load funds onto an account to make purchases, and purchases in general were discontinued in March of 2023.<ref name=":0" /> With the closure of the eShops, roughly 2,000 games became unavailable for download. This includes roughly 450 digital only Wii U games, 600 digital only 3DS games, 100 Wii U games that are also available physically, as well as 300 3DS games that are also available physically and 530 virtual console games. Some of these games include Mario Kart 7, Super Mario Maker, Pokémon, Picross 3D, and more.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 Mar 2023 |title=These are the 1,000 digital-only 3DS and Wii U games disappearing next week |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/features/analysis-digital-only-wii-u-3ds-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2025 |website=www.videogameschronicle.com}}</ref> As of now, over 1,000 digitally exclusive games can no longer be purchased and are not available on another console. It should be noted that of the 530 virtual console games, about 230 of them are available on Nintendo Switch Online service, exclusively underneath a subscription.
 
Currently, the only services that remain accessible for consumers are the Pokémon Bank,{{Citation needed}} specifically its Poké Transporter, which allows users to one-way transfer Pokémon caught in previous generations to more modern releases. This service however, requires paying for a subscription to be capable of using Pokémon Home.{{Citation needed}}


===Faulty New Nintendo 2DS XL models===
===Faulty New Nintendo 2DS XL models===
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==See also==
==See also==
{{Placeholder box|Link to relevant theme articles or products with similar incidents.}}
*[[Sony]]
 


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:3DS}}

Latest revision as of 03:05, 18 June 2025

Nintendo 3DS
Basic Information
Release Year Mar 27, 2011
Product Type Handheld gaming console
In Production No
Official Website https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-3DS-Family/Nintendo-3DS-Family-94560.html

The Nintendo 3DS is a handheld game console manufactured and distributed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Nintendo DS. The Nintendo 3DS had five revisions: the Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 2DS and New Nintendo 2DS XL. Collectively, they are referred to as the "Nintendo 3DS family".

Consumer impact summary[edit | edit source]

Freedom[edit | edit source]

Due to efforts of the modding community, custom firmware can be installed on every retail version of Nintendo 3DS Family of consoles. With the use of custom firmware, many home brew apps can be used to restore the lost functionality of the online services.[1]

    • Many games that used Online Services are still playable but players will not be able to 100% complete the game. For example: Animal Crossing New Leaf will lose Dream Towns and some exclusive items on the island gift shop.

Privacy[edit | edit source]

As of 2020, the 3DS line of consoles has been discontinued. Many games require a connection to the now discontinued Nintendo Network servers, but are supported by 3rd party services like Pretendo.[2] Information relating to Nintendo Network accounts included name, email, birthday, Mii, and gender.

Business model[edit | edit source]

Focused on games that can either be purchased physically or digitally, with some special editions being made. Special editions of consoles were also made.

Market control[edit | edit source]

In 2016, the 3DS gaming platform was worth $2.6 billion in gaming market, with similar handheld consoles such as the PS Vita only making $1 billion.[3]

Incidents[edit | edit source]

This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Nintendo 3DS category.

Closure of eShop and other online services (April 2024)[edit | edit source]

Main article: Storefront shutdown#Wii U/3DS eShops (2012–2023)

On April 8, 2024 Nintendo shut down the Wii U and 3DS eShops.[4][5] 2 years prior, consumers could no-longer load funds onto an account to make purchases, and purchases in general were discontinued in March of 2023.[4] With the closure of the eShops, roughly 2,000 games became unavailable for download. This includes roughly 450 digital only Wii U games, 600 digital only 3DS games, 100 Wii U games that are also available physically, as well as 300 3DS games that are also available physically and 530 virtual console games. Some of these games include Mario Kart 7, Super Mario Maker, Pokémon, Picross 3D, and more.[6] As of now, over 1,000 digitally exclusive games can no longer be purchased and are not available on another console. It should be noted that of the 530 virtual console games, about 230 of them are available on Nintendo Switch Online service, exclusively underneath a subscription.

Currently, the only services that remain accessible for consumers are the Pokémon Bank,[citation needed] specifically its Poké Transporter, which allows users to one-way transfer Pokémon caught in previous generations to more modern releases. This service however, requires paying for a subscription to be capable of using Pokémon Home.[citation needed]

Faulty New Nintendo 2DS XL models[edit | edit source]

Editor's notice: This section is intentionally left incomplete, and data is currently being collected about this via the Nintendo Homebrew Discord community. Please contact them if you need to verify this information.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL (N2DSXL) is the final console revision of the 3DS line, releasing in July of 2017. Unlike previous models, the console is built with cheaper materials, risking a shorter lifespan of the console.

Via Nintendo Homebrew Discord:

Reasons to avoid the "New" 2DS XL model:

  • Designed to be a budget console, so parts and overall build quality are cheap
  • Hinge is both flimsy and very thin, meaning it cracks/breaks easily
  • Known to have bad ICs, meaning very high rates of FCRAM and NAND failures
  • Is liable to turn to dust when attempting to do repairs. (not an exaggeration)

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "3DS Hacks Guide". 3ds.hacks.guide. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  2. "Pretendo Network". Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  3. Takahashi, Dean (2017-03-16). "Sony dominates console market with 57% share worldwide". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Notice of End of Purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DUpdate April 2023". Nintendo Support. Apr 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. Nintendo (8 April 2024). "Announcement of Discontinuation of Online Services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software". Nintendo Support. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  6. "These are the 1,000 digital-only 3DS and Wii U games disappearing next week". www.videogameschronicle.com. 22 Mar 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)