The Nintendo 2DS is a handheld game console made by Nintendo. It was announced on August 28, 2013, and released in North America, Europe, and Australia on October 12, 2013. The Nintendo 2DS is a simpler version of the Nintendo 3DS. It has the same hardware and works with games made for the Nintendo DS and 3DS. However, it does not have the 3DS's special 3D screen that does not require glasses, and it has a flat design instead of a foldable one. Reggie Fils-Aimé, a former leader at Nintendo of America, said the 2DS was mainly meant for younger players, such as those under seven years old, because using the 3D feature on the 3DS might affect eye health.
People had different opinions about the Nintendo 2DS. Some praised Nintendo for offering it at a lower price than the 3DS, but others criticized it for being less advanced, such as having a less attractive design, lower sound quality, and shorter battery life. However, some critics thought the 2DS was easier to hold and more durable than the 3DS, which was helpful for its target audience. Some also believed the lack of 3D support showed that Nintendo thought the 3D feature was not useful, but Nintendo later said they still planned to use 3D technology in the future. The Nintendo 2DS was no longer sold in Japan after 2018 and in other countries after 2020. Soon after, the New Nintendo 2DS XL was discontinued, marking the end of the 3DS family of consoles.
History
Nintendo officially announced the 2DS on August 28, 2013, through a press release. Before the official announcement, members of the press had the opportunity to try the device privately. According to Reggie Fils-Aimé, president of Nintendo of America, the Nintendo 2DS was designed for younger users, especially those under seven years old. Nintendo had previously advised that children under seven should not use the 3D features on the 3DS due to possible effects on eye health.
Nintendo aimed to create a model that would be "new, unique, different, and [bring] more people into this category that we love." Part of this goal was achieved by offering the 2DS at a lower price than the 3DS. In the United States, the 2DS sold for $129.99 at launch, compared to $169.99 for the standard 3DS. By May 2016, the U.S. price was reduced further to $79.99.
The Nintendo 2DS was released in North America, Europe, and Australia on October 12, 2013, the same day as Pokémon X and Y. In North America, the device was available in black models with blue or red bezels. In Europe and Australia, it was offered in white with red bezels or black with blue bezels. Matching red and blue carrying cases were also released at the same time. After the 2DS launch, Nintendo of America began to stop selling the original 3DS model, leaving the 2DS and 3DS XL as the only models available in North America.
A "Sea Green" version with a white body and mint green accents was released in North America on June 6, 2014, to match the release of Tomodachi Life. "Crystal Red" and "Crystal Blue" versions with translucent front covers were released in Europe and North America in November 2014 for Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. In North America, the translucent models sold for $100, compared to the standard $129.99 price. On August 20, 2015, the U.S. price was permanently set to $100, and units were bundled with coupons for a digital copy of Mario Kart 7.
In December 2015, Nintendo announced the 2DS would be released in Japan on February 27, 2016, alongside the Virtual Console release of the original Game Boy Pokémon games. The Japanese version came in translucent red, green, blue, and yellow models with colored buttons. Each model was bundled with the corresponding Pokémon game, a special Home Menu theme, a poster, and a code to obtain Mew or other Pokémon.
On May 11, 2016, Nintendo announced the U.S. price would drop to $79.99, effective May 20, 2016. On September 15, 2016, the 2DS was sold as standalone bundles in Japan in blue, black, red, lavender, and pink colors. On October 5, 2016, Nintendo released updated versions of the Mario Kart 7 2DS bundles for the U.S. market ("Crimson Red 2" and "Electric Blue 2"), featuring red or blue bodies with black bezels.
A new model, the New Nintendo 2DS XL (called New Nintendo 2DS LL in Japan), was released in Japan and Korea on July 13, 2017, Australia and New Zealand on July 15, 2017, and North America and Europe on July 28, 2017. For North America, the "Black/Turquoise" version was available, while the "White/Orange" version was sold in Japan, South Korea, and PAL regions. A Japan-exclusive Dragon Quest XI limited edition was also released. Later, the "White/Orange" variant became available in North America, along with "Lavender/White" and "Black/Green" models (Japan-exclusive) and Poké Ball and Pikachu versions for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
In July 2018, a "Hylian Shield" variant was released as a GameStop exclusive in North America, bundled with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. This was accompanied by an Animal Crossing: New Leaf variant for Europe and Japan, and red/black Mario Kart 7 and Minecraft Creeper styles for Europe. The Minecraft Creeper variant was also sold in Australia and Japan. A month later, in August 2018, Nintendo announced a "Purple/Silver" version to be released in September 2018. All future shipments of the "Black/Turquoise," "White/Orange," and "Purple/Silver" models would include a pre-installed copy of Mario Kart 7.
As of September 17, 2020, the New Nintendo 2DS XL and all remaining models in the Nintendo 3DS family were discontinued by Nintendo.
Hardware
The Nintendo 2DS has hardware similar to the Nintendo 3DS, including the same GPU, CPU, and memory. It can play games made for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS. However, there are some differences. Unlike the 3DS, which has two screens—one with a touchscreen and one that can show 3D images without special glasses—the 2DS has only one touchscreen that does not display 3D images. The 2DS still has two cameras for taking 3D photos, though it only has one internal speaker instead of two. Stereo sound can still be heard through the headphone jack.
The 2DS has a different design from the DS and 3DS. It has a flat, tablet-like shape instead of a clamshell. Its buttons are in the center of the device, and the shoulder buttons are curved and thicker than those on the 3DS. The 2DS uses a switch to turn it off instead of closing a lid, and it controls wireless settings through a software option instead of a hardware switch.
The 2DS uses the same 1300mAh battery as the regular Nintendo 3DS. Even though it does not have the 3DS’s automatic brightness feature, Nintendo said the 2DS has slightly longer battery life. It can play 3 to 5.5 hours of 3DS games or 5 to 9 hours of DS games on a single charge.
Software and services
The system software of the Nintendo 2DS is mostly the same as the 3DS, with only small changes to match its different hardware design. It works with all games made for the 3DS (but only in 2D mode) and DS games (except those that need the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot). It also has online features like Nintendo Network for playing games with others online, Nintendo eShop to buy and download games, and SpotPass and StreetPass.
Reception
The Nintendo 2DS received mixed reactions when it was first announced. Kotaku suggested that the 2DS might attract a specific group of buyers who would not otherwise purchase a Nintendo 3DS, and noted that the absence of 3D support could signal reduced interest in 3D technology. USA Today pointed out that some games designed for 3D might be harder to play without this feature. CNET described the console as a sign that Nintendo believed 3D was not essential and called it a "tactical mistake." NBC News referred to the 2DS as a "peculiar choice" for gamers who preferred the Nintendo DS line and worried it might take focus away from the less successful Nintendo Wii U.
Some technology writers commented on the 2DS's appearance. CNET said it looked less attractive than other Nintendo models, though some reviewers found it comfortable to hold. USA Today called it "surprisingly comfortable," and Kotaku noted that despite its bulky look, it was pleasant to hold with one hand. The publication also mentioned that the buttons were easy to reach and placed on the top of the console, which helped players focus on the upper screen. Overall, Kotaku praised the build quality. GamesIndustry described the controls as more comfortable than earlier models and noted that the 2DS had a thick shell instead of the thin design of the 3DS. This lack of a hinge made the console more durable. The publication compared the design to a mix of a Game Boy, a Wii U GamePad, and a DS. USA Today and CNET both expressed concerns about protecting the screens since the 2DS did not have a clamshell cover.
Kyle Orland of Ars Technica noted that Nintendo missed a chance to create a full-screen gaming tablet using the 2DS's design. He believed this could have allowed future games and apps to use the entire screen area, which he estimated to be about the size of a 5-inch phablet. This design could also have supported backward compatibility with games made for the 3DS and DS and improved the ability to bring smartphone games to the platform. However, Orland warned that introducing such a product might confuse Nintendo's existing 3DS users. Three years after the 2DS's release, Nintendo launched the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid gaming tablet with detachable controllers and support for a television.
Wired called it a "smart move" for Nintendo to redesign the 3DS to reduce costs, suggesting the 2DS could be sold at a lower price with higher profits.
The Nintendo 2DS received mixed reviews. While its price and size were generally seen as good, its appearance and battery life were often criticized. The Telegraph noted that the lack of hinges made the console more durable and that its rounded shape made it suitable for children. However, the publication criticized the single speaker, which provided lower sound quality than earlier models, and the battery life, which was the same as the original 3DS. It praised the brighter screens and wider viewing angles, even though they were smaller than those on the 3DS XL. Eurogamer said the 2DS was not aimed at experienced players or current 3DS owners and criticized the outdated resistive touchscreen, mono speaker, and battery life. However, it noted that the 2DS was more comfortable to hold than the 3DS and 3DS XL. Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls believed the 2DS would help Nintendo expand its market and increase third-party publisher support.
After the 2DS launched, Nintendo said that the release of Sonic Lost World would help boost sales, calling it a "must play" title. In October 2013, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata admitted the 2DS had low awareness among potential buyers and that some people thought it was too large and heavy. However, he said the system was well received by those who purchased it. Despite the lack of 3D support, Iwata stated that Nintendo would continue to support 3D technology and sell the 3DS and 3DS XL. Eiji Aonuma, producer of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, mentioned that the game had minor changes during development due to the 2DS's lack of 3D.
Sales of the Nintendo 2DS increased significantly in the United Kingdom three weeks after its launch when retailers lowered its price. The system was originally priced at around £110, but stores like Argos, Amazon, and Tesco reduced the price to under £100 during the school half-term. This led to a 64% increase in sales compared to the previous week, making the 2DS the UK's best-selling console for the month. In the third quarter of 2013, GameStop reported that worldwide hardware sales grew by 15.3%, largely due to strong sales of the 2DS and 3DS.