We have bad news for the owners of the original model of Nintendo 3DS. As of today, the company has taken the decision of dropping its technical support for the console, meaning that they will no longer accept any device to be repaired. The decision comes as Nintendo is moving onto not only a new generation of consoles with Nintendo Switch, but also a new line of 3DS devices with the launch of the New Nintendo 2DS XL.
The information comes from the company’s official Nintendo Support website, which states that the policy of “Repairing your Nintendo 3DS Family System” now only applies to New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 3DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS.
A new note in the Information section says that the company no longer offers factory repairs for the original Nintendo 3DS system, but that newer models like the Nintendo 3DS XL and Nintendo 2DS are still covered by their service. In case users are not sure of which model they own, they suggest checking the serial number on the back of the console. If that number begins with the letters CW, then the device is an original Nintendo 3DS system, which will no longer be repaired by through official channels.
The company also offers a solution to those who can’t repair their original 3DS but they don’t want to upgrade to a newer model, which is this section on their website where they suggest other sources that may offer used consoles to buy.
Since the release of the original 3DS in 2011, Nintendo has been regularly releasing new models that added certain graphic upgrades or variations of the physical appearance of the console. The latest model, New Nintendo 2DS XL, has a very similar appearance to the regular models, only that this gets rid of the 3D feature in order to offer a move convenient price. With this release, Nintendo is reinforcing their support for their previous handheld console, even when the more advanced Nintendo Switch is already available.
