Nintendo Switch Won’t “Cannibalize” 3DS Sales, Handheld Will Continue Its Own Form

In line with previous reports, some weeks ago Nintendo officially confirmed the NX to be a console/handheld hybrid known as the Nintendo Switch, leading many to believe that the system would quietly phase out the 3DS throughout the course of 2017.

That’s simply not the case, according to Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima, who told Bloomberg (via VideoGamer) that the Switch can co-exist alongside the Nintendo 3DS, and the advent of the former won’t necessarily “cannibalize” the latter.

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

Given the Big N has no intention of unveiling any new details for the Nintendo Switch until January, at which point the platform-holder will host a special Direct presentation to announce both the price and confirmed launch library, there are many questions still to be answered. One thing we do know for sure is that the new system won’t be backwards compatible with either physical 3DS or Wii U games. It’ll no doubt replace the Wii U as the company’s flagship hardware moving forward, but are you pleased to hear that the Nintendo 3DS won’t be relegated to the sidelines upon the arrival of the Switch?

Expect the Nintendo Switch to release at some point in March, when The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will headline the console’s initial launch library.