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Will Nintendo Make a New DS? What Its Latest Answer Really Says

Nintendo says it has nothing specific to share about DS or 3DS software on Switch 2. That answer does not confirm—or rule out—a future DS-style handheld.

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Nintendo has not announced a new DS. In a June 2026 shareholder Q&A, company president Shuntaro Furukawa said Nintendo had “nothing specific” to share about DS or 3DS software, while saying it is exploring ways to make older games playable on current hardware. That leaves a future DS-style device possible, but gives no promise, product details, or launch date.

What Nintendo actually said

The question at Nintendo’s 2026 shareholder meeting was whether DS or 3DS software would become playable on Nintendo Switch 2. It was not a question about manufacturing another DS handheld. Furukawa’s answer, reproduced in an investor Q&A report updated July 3, 2026, was: “At this time, there is nothing specific we can share about Nintendo DS or Nintendo 3DS software.”

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He added that Nintendo is working to make games it released in the past playable on current hardware, and that, “Taking technical challenges and other factors into account, we would like to continue exploring a variety of possibilities going forward.” The statement signals ongoing consideration of older games, not a confirmed DS port, emulator, accessory, or new handheld. Read the reported investor Q&A.

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Does that mean Nintendo might make another DS?

It does not rule one out, but it does not establish that Nintendo plans to make one. Furukawa was addressing software compatibility on Switch 2, not a separate DS-family product. Nintendo did not name a new device or provide specifications, price, or a release window in that answer.

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“Exploring possibilities” is deliberately broad. It could refer to different ways of bringing older games to current hardware; the statement does not identify which options Nintendo is considering. A future DS-like handheld remains a possibility, not an announced plan.

Why DS and 3DS compatibility is not automatic

Nintendo’s explanation of its past compatibility decisions shows why moving games between generations can depend on hardware design. In an official developer interview dated April 2, 2025, Nintendo said the 3DS could play DS games because it contained DS hardware. Nintendo described a different approach for Switch 2 compatibility: it does not contain Switch hardware, so the company pursued another technical solution.

Nintendo developer Takuhiro Dohta said it was difficult to achieve the same level of compatibility on Switch 2 because its hardware design approach differed from earlier compatible consoles. Developer Tatsuya Sasaki put the distinction plainly: “Nintendo 3DS contained Nintendo DS hardware and Wii U contained Wii hardware. However, Switch 2 doesn’t contain any Switch hardware.” That history explains a compatibility challenge; it does not prove DS games can never be adapted for newer systems.

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Nintendo’s developer interview on Switch 2 compatibility

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What Nintendo’s current platform focus tells us—and what it doesn’t

Nintendo announced Switch 2 as the successor to Switch in January 2025. The company said it plays Switch 2 games as well as physical and digital Nintendo Switch games, while noting that some Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible. See Nintendo’s Switch 2 announcement.

Nintendo’s February 2026 financial presentation provides context for its current platform business: it said Switch 2 consumer sell-through exceeded 15 million units in the six months after its June 2025 launch, and that cumulative Switch sales had surpassed DS, making Switch Nintendo’s highest-selling hardware. Those results give Nintendo a substantial audience and business reason to build around the Switch family. That is a reasonable inference from the figures, not a stated reason the company will never make another handheld.

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  • Ready to take on the world? With Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can connect wirelessly, chat with friends while you play and compete with Nintendo DS owners across the globe. All you need to play is a Nintendo DS and a Wi-Fi-ready game
  • Twin ultra bright LCD screens that combine crisp, punchy colors, along with touch-screen technology on the lower screen
  • Powerful dual processors bring 3D graphics to life with lightning-fast rendering

The presentation also reported 17.37 million Switch 2 hardware sales for its stated reporting period. That hardware-sales measure is distinct from consumer sell-through and covers a different period, so the figures should not be treated as interchangeable. Nintendo’s February 2026 financial-results material.

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How to play DS games now

If you want to play original DS software today, existing Nintendo DS hardware is the direct physical-product route. Look for an existing or used system rather than a newly announced model, and check the particular unit and game before buying.

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  • DS Lite doesn't just play DS games – it also features an additional port for Game Boy Advance Game Paks
  • Get up to 19 hours continuous gameplay on one charge
  • Ready to take on the world? With Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can connect wirelessly, chat with friends while you play and compete with Nintendo DS owners across the globe. All you need to play is a Nintendo DS and a Wi-Fi-ready game
  • Twin ultra bright LCD screens that combine crisp, punchy colors, along with touch-screen technology on the lower screen
  • Powerful dual processors bring 3D graphics to life with lightning-fast rendering
  • Condition: Inspect the screens, hinges, buttons, cartridge slot, and stylus; ask whether the system has been tested.
  • Power: Confirm the battery holds a charge and whether a compatible charger is included.
  • Region: Check regional details for the specific console and game you intend to use, rather than assuming every combination will work.
  • Model: Verify which DS-family model is being sold and whether its features suit the games you want to play.

Bottom line on a new Nintendo DS

Nintendo’s latest answer leaves the door open to future ways of playing older games, but it does not announce a new DS or confirm DS/3DS software for Switch 2. Treat any claims about a launch date, specifications, or a confirmed device as speculation unless Nintendo makes a specific announcement.

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$114.94

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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