
Especially by this point in time, the original model of the 3DS is certainly beginning to show its age. Though the console has played host to dozens of must-play games over the past few years, it's telling that Nintendo saw a need to put out a sort of stop-gap with the New 3DS. Some especially complex games – such as the latest Monster Hunter games or Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS – have even had to resort to soft resetting the console in order to free up resources, at the cost of features like Miiverse and the internet browser.
Pokémon X and Y didn't suck up quite as much power as those games, but the engine certainly had a tendency to chug along, particularly with 3D enabled. Now, with the Pokémon Sun and Moon demo available, it's been noted that older 3DS models resort to that soft reboot in order to run the application. It stands to reason, then, that the full release will do the same. Not entirely surprising, but still a point to keep in mind for those of you who enjoy putting screenshots in your Play Journal.
What do you think? Have you upgraded to a New 3DS yet? Will this change your mind? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 68
I've gone this long with my old 3ds, I'm not giving in now. The NeXt hardware from nintendo I buy will be the NX.
I'm so happy I have the New 3DS. I hope the final version plays in 3D.
"Online functions" = Miiverse?
For a minute there I thought it was something important. My kids aren't going to care about Miiverse posting but if there was no multpilayer at all then we'd have a pronlem.
@rjejr No internet browser either.
@JHDK Right there with you, I'm still using the Aqua Blue 3DS that I bought at midnight on launch day!
Hmm... New 3DS or save for an NX...
I wish the New 3DS (normal size) was $150 standard. The Super Mario 3D Land bundle is $150, but I already have Super Mario 3D Land.
Monster Hunter Generations also have a soft reboot when you exit out o the game on my black 3DS XL
This is not worth getting a New 3DS ... imma wait till NX
@JHDK same still using my black 3ds xl
"The Pokémon Sun and Moon Demo Limits Online Functions on Old 3DS Models"
I may need to reread the article, but what "online functions" are you referring to?
@AVahne
The home menu related ones. Miiverse, Internet browser, maybe spotpass?
I could care less about miiverse and the Internet browser! So what if it soft resets! No big deal! In fact if the SNES VC on old 3ds shut down everything else just to run that'd be fine by me! So really who cares!
As long as the PSS (or equivalent) still works, it's something that people can deal with.
bummer
@MitchVogel We've had three 3DS in our house since the Christmas after launch, and I'm pretty sure none of them have ever used the web browser. It is good on the Wii U, watching Nintendo DIrects on the TV while I comment in the live feed on NL is great, even for Sony events, but w/ all the internet connected devices in our house, 3DS web browser is even less interesting than Miiverse.
Thanks for the clarification though. Neither of my kids ever wanted a New 3DS XL, they said it was too big to carry around all the time. And it's kind of too late now for the smaller New 3DS w/ NX right around the corner somewhere and the NES Mini for Christmas.
Not entirely surprising, but still a point to keep in mind for those of you who enjoy putting screenshots in your Play Journal.
If Y and Omega Ruby are anything to go by, I doubt you'll be able to do that anyways. Maybe you can put screenshots in the Screenshot Album, but I never tried using that feature in previous games, so I don't know.
My 3DS is older XL size with Pink and White color.
I'm perfect with my 3DS XL Pikachu edition, next one will be the NX if it exist...
I still playing in the first original 3DS and works very good the demo! ^.^
Well, I'm glad it's not affecting online functions of the game after all (as far as we know).
I would have been happy to upgrade if they had made more than a handful of red and blue bundles. Never found it anywhere.
@Yorumi Big time. More complex models and animations than Gen 6. During the totem battle, the framerate had a pretty substantial drop when the ally Pokemon was called in.
Nope. Still not upgrading. All that money just to use a poor internet browser or an insanely generic social networking system? No thanks.
The only real drive for me to upgrade is for Xenoblade Chronicles or the extra thumb stick for Monster Hunter. Otherwise, I'm more than content with my Cobalt Blue original 3DS.
@whiffy5 Sadly, from what I've been hearing, there will be no 3D other than with the item finder. That's really sad for me since I'm one of the few people out there who uses 3D whenever it's available. It truly is more immersive in addition to making the screen resolution higher.
Kind of a clickbait article title there Mitch. I was almost worried that it would be relating to in-game features such as the PSS, trading ect.
Nobody really uses the internet browser and missing the Miiverse won't be much of a problem since it's so clunky and laggy regardless.
Meh I don't really need browser access on my 3ds anyway. If I want to browse the internet I'll just use my phone.
Miiverse isn't any great loss either.
I don't see why people haven't bought a New 3DS already, more and more games are getting uncompatible with the old 3DS.
Not a big deal, though hopefully this means we can take screenshots for New 3DS owners.
Until I read the comments here, I was thinking that I had missed some online functions in the actual demo itself. The title is confusing.
@Ninten-san If you don't have a New Nintendo 3DS yet...

Meh, Miiverse on 3DS is so slow and clunky that it's not a big loss. Now if battling and trading were not possible on the OG 3DS for Sun and Moon, that'd be a different story.
I love my New 3DS, imported an Australian model before it made its way over here.
Even with the NX on it's way I am still tempted to go to a XL as it's way easier on the eyes.
Really looking forward to the full release of Sun/ Moon!
@Ninten-san
Tell you what, you give me the money and I'll go and buy a N3DS
I have a New 3DS, but it still sucks for anyone owning the original models. These are the things that make console upgrades feel forced. And I don't mean actual console upgrades, like DS-to-3DS or Wii-to-WiiU, I mean forcing users to buy redesigns.
Seeing as the Gen 6 games don't let you post screenshots to Miiverse, I'm not sure it'll be possible with Sun/Moon, even for New 3DS owners.
@Waann Considering the PokeViewer, I wouldn't be surprised if they are adding Miiverse support to some extent... although it might still be limited.
@doctorzzim I take it you self edited that profanity out? If you did, thanks. If you didn't... watch it!
Ninty haven't really made the New 3DS worth buying. And the naming of it is just bizarre anyway as it isn't even "new" anymore (although Chris Pranger did fill us in on why it was called that).
If all it's affecting is Miiverse and the Internet browser, I ain't about to shell out for something new. Sorry Ninty.
Ninty haven't really made the New 3DS worth buying. And the naming of it is just bizarre anyway as it isn't even "new" anymore (although Chris Pranger did fill us in on why it was called that).
If all it's affecting is Miiverse and the Internet browser, I ain't about to shell out for something new. Sorry Ninty.
Not a big deal, but it makes it harder to restart legendary battles when you run out of pokeballs or if they faint.
Shame Game Freak still don't know how to program a game properly for the 3DS.
Upgraded a year ago, and then bough the FE Special Edition. So I'm clear here!
@allav866 What's wrong with you? Gosh, stop being so salty, I just don't understand why people don't buy a New 3DS. You'll buy the NX, so, why not buy the New 3DS too? It's not that expensive.
@shaneoh Sigh... It's not that expensive.
@MitchVogel I had an original 3DS but the game card slot broke, so I decided to get a New 3DS this year. I probably wouldn't have if my old 3DS was still fully functional, but I'm glad for the extra power.
I was also thinking if Sun and Moon were New 3DS exclusive, they could potentially be system sellers. (But Nintendo probably decided not to that because the sales they gained wouldn't be as much as sales from the original 3DS owners that they lost.)
@JHDK Precisely my thoughts.
I'm not buying new 3ds. My still runs great and plays what I want it to. I might upgrade my storage though. The basic 2 gigs is a bit cramped.
@Ninten-san
So you will cover the cost for me then as it's "not that expensive?" See, my problem is that I have a mortgage as well as bills, food, petrol and a pile of other expenses. Not to mention that there is Christmas coming up, as well as birthdays spread throughout the year. I owe my parents a couple of hundred, which I hope to start paying off before the end of the year. I'm thankful that I haven't fallen into the trap of having a credit card, it would leave me destitute, but careful budgeting keeps me out of the sights of the repo men. I've actually got $5 in my wallet, it's not often I've got a note left over, I suppose it could cover 1/50th of a N3DS.
@JHDK you and me both buddy!
I had a feeling this would happen and while it doesn't affect me as I've had a New 3DS XL since launch. It does seem that those who don't have the New 3DS will have a worse experience with the full game. The question is how far, more like Smash / Monster Hunter or more like Hyrule Warriors Legends.
@shaneoh OK, I didn't know that.
If only I had $200 to throw around...
Got mine at launch, looking back I'm glad I've got it.
I don't think I will upgrade my 3DS just for one more game, especially if NX is less than six months away.
I own a New 3DS XL, and it is 100% not worth the upgrade unless you have a mitigating reason. I got my N3DSXL when my wife got more interested in 3DS games and gave her my old one (effectively to be a dedicated Animal Crossing machine, haha). It's nice to have, and I like it for the SNES VC and a handful of performance boosts on things like Stretchmo and Hyrule Warriors Legends, which I've played more than any other 3DS game except Pokemon Y. I've gotten my money's worth, but I couldn't recommend upgrading without a strong reason to give up the old version.
@G-Boy Dude, calm your nips. I was just meming. I don't sincerely think you should buy a New 3DS purely for the sake of upgrading from the original version; I only bought one so I could give my sister my old one.
Real smart announcing those 2DS bundles Nintendo....
@G-Boy Sigh... you are basing that in your own experience. Here in Mexico they are quite expensive and you can't trade your original 3DS for one by paying the difference like in other countries. Besides, the upgrade is so little, that unless you are a massive super nintendo or (insert name of one of the...10 N3DS exclusive games here) fan, there's little reason to get one.
Vague and somewhat misleading article though I know it wasn't intentional. I, like a few others, thought you meant battling, trading, etc. would be disabled. That's usually what I think when I see Pokemon and online features in the same sentence.
But nevertheless, that's a relief. Miiverse and the Internet browser will not be missed by me.
@allav866 OK, sorry, it's hard sometimes to know if people are serious or not on the internet.
@roy130390 You can play SNES games on the go (I don't have a SNES), the screen is bigger, you can change the speed of videos in the browser (which I think is pretty fun), you can play Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, amiibos are easier to use, the A/B/X/Y buttons has the same color scheme as the SNES, and you can change cover plates. Those changes are the reason why the New 3DS was worth it for me.
@G-Boy As I told you, there are only 2 significant changes: playing SNES games and a few (really few) exclusives. The other features like the color scheme in the buttons or changing the speed of the videos ( I have a computer for that) are insignificant changes for most people, so unless they are really hardcore SNES fans or really want the exclusives and have the money to spend there's little reason to "upgrade".
For new users, I'd really recommend it, but not so much for owners of older models.
This still hasn't convinced me to upgrade. I never use Miiverse on my 3DS (and rarely on my Wii U), and I've never even opened the internet browser on my system.
I'll still be sticking with my standard red 3DS.
whilst ive been a bit tempted in the past to upgrade there is no inclination to do at the moment with NX around the corner. I may consider it if the NX doesn't turn out to be portable or isn't compatible with the 3ds library of games.
@Yorumi Not that I have noticed. I have an old 3DS and while it has troubles running games like Gurumin 3D it has no problems with Pokemon Sun/Moon. Demo runs like butter.
I was also a bit scared reading that title, but as long as we have multiplayer, I'm fine. Never use Miiverse either way.
New 3DS has been tempting since SNES virtual console but I've managed to stay strong. Next console I'll buy will be NX.
Take it's the same for the 2ds too then? (Had a similar issue playing MH Generations on there)
Not that I mind anyway though as I generally play my ds/3ds games on there nowadays (prefer it to the n3ds).
The title is way too misleading. I thought it meant Classic 3ds owners wouldn´t be able to use online features like battling and trading. Not being able to use the browser is a minor annoyance but one i can live with.
I purchased a new 3DS XL a while back , 3DS is my all-time favorite system I think the updates justify the upgrade if you want and can afford it I'm certainly glad I was able to get one .
I don't normally say this but that article title is horribly misleading clickbait.
Limiting miiverse function isn't the same as limiting the games online features, your article title clearly gives the wrong impression.
Shameful.
Cool that this isn't anything worthwhile. I haven't upgraded because literally the only thing enticing me is playing SNES Pilotwings on a portable, and I probably won't now that NX is on the horizon.
Who knows, though. If it's NOT a portable/hybrid thing I might go ahead and get an N3DS, but it's going to take more than no Miiverse on Pokemon, some feature-stripped SNES titles, the occasional Unity game, and a Wii port to convince me.
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