Nintendo Won't Discontinue 3DS, Talks Switch VR Possibilities

One of the most interesting elements of the Nintendo Switch--at least based on what we know so far--is that it's a console/mobile hybrid that you can play at home or on the go.

Nintendo already has an on-the-go device in the form of the Nintendo 3DS, so you might think that business could be negatively impacted by the Switch. Not so, according to Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima.

Asked directly by Bloomberg, "Will you discontinue the 3DS?" Kimishima pointed out that 3DS hardware sales are still improving. The launch of the Switch, though it could have some impact on 3DS sales, won't kill the 3DS, Kimishima said.

"Thanks to our software, the 3DS hardware is still growing," he said. "So that business still has momentum. And certainly rather than being cannibalized by the Switch, we think the 3DS can continue in its own form."

Indeed, Nintendo reported just this week that it sold 2.7 million 3DS units during the last quarter, an increase compared to the same period last year. Additionally, Nintendo said Pokemon Sun and Moon are the "best pre-selling games in Nintendo history."

About the Switch in general, Kimishima said, "We didn't just want a successor to the Wii U or the 3DS. So our original concept was, 'What kind of new experience can we create?' And what we showed this time was an object that's both stationary and one you can take outside to play with anyone you want."

Also in the interview, Kimishima was asked if the Switch will have VR capabilities. It sounds like it won't at launch in March 2017, though Kimishima said nothing is ruled out for the future.

"If you asked as if this might be possible in the future, certainly we can't say no," he said. "In terms of how it can be used for gaming, it's something we must consider. It depends on the system specifications. I can't say that we have no interest in VR because VR offers new ways of playing, but that depends on what kind of software can be played. But what kind of software works, that's only something you only know once you actually experience it. And our games are ones that are usually played for a long time."

Read the full Bloomberg interview here.

For lots more on the Nintendo Switch, check out GameSpot's recent coverage in the links below.

News:

• Nintendo Switch: Reveal Trailer and All the New Details
• New Mario Game Teased for Nintendo Switch
• Nintendo Switch Development Partners Include Skyrim, Resident Evil, Dark Souls Devs, and More
• Xbox Boss Reacts to Nintendo Switch Announcement
• Nintendo Switch's Amiibo Support Confirmed
• Skyrim Not Confirmed for Nintendo Switch, Despite Appearing in Video Reveal
• Nintendo Switch Could "Redefine" Gaming, Ubisoft Says
• The Nintendo Switch Dock Is "Not the Main Console"
• Nintendo Switch Price, Hardware Specs May Not be Revealed This Year
• Nintendo Stock Value Drops 6.5 Percent After Switch Reveal, Some Analysts Doubt Its Appeal
• Nintendo Switch Trailer Becomes Most Popular Video on NoA's YouTube Account
• Nintendo Switch Is Not Backwards Compatible With Physical 3DS or Wii U Games
• Nintendo Switch Price, System Specs, and Launch Lineup Coming in January
• Nintendo President Teases Switch Add-Ons and Further Reveals
• New Nintendo Switch Report Talks Resolution and Touchscreen

Features:

• Nintendo New Switch Console: Our Biggest Unanswered Questions
• How Accurate Were the Rumors About Nintendo Switch
• How Much Should Nintendo Switch Cost? -- GameSpot Q&A
• Analyzing the Nintendo Switch's Tegra Processor