What Happened to Nintendo DS Games?

When it was released in 2004, the Nintendo DS became one of the most popular handheld gaming consoles of all time. But after a decade of success, production for the console and its games stopped in 2014. So, what happened? Why did Nintendo stop making DS games? Let’s take a look at the factors that led to the end of an era.

The Rise of Smartphones

The biggest factor in Nintendo’s decision to stop making DS games was undoubtedly the rise of smartphones and their associated app stores. The advent of these devices meant that consumers could purchase an array of mobile games for a fraction of the cost (or even for free) that they would pay for a dedicated video game console like the Nintendo DS. Since most people already had smartphones, there was no need to purchase yet another device just to play games. Plus, many developers found it easier and more profitable to develop apps than traditional video games since they required less effort and resources to make.

Lackluster Sales

Another major factor in Nintendo’s decision was lackluster sales figures for its newer models such as the 3DS and 2DS systems. Despite attempts by Nintendo to keep up with trends such as augmented reality (AR) gaming, sales simply weren’t enough to justify continued development on those platforms.