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No new Nintendo DS has been announced. In a June 2026 shareholder Q&A, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said the company had nothing specific to share about DS or 3DS software, while saying it is working to make past Nintendo games playable on current hardware and will keep exploring possibilities. That leaves a future DS-style device possible, but it is not an announced plan.
What Nintendo actually said
The shareholder question was whether DS or 3DS software would become playable on Nintendo Switch 2. It was not a question about whether Nintendo would manufacture a new DS handheld. Furukawa’s answer, reproduced in a Nintendo Life report updated July 3, 2026, was: “At this time, there is nothing specific we can share about Nintendo DS or Nintendo 3DS software.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Nintendo DS Lite Console Handheld System Black (Renewed) | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Nintendo DS Lite Console Handheld System Enamel Navy / Refurbished | $129.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Nintendo DS Lite Polar White (Renewed) [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31j3rrzt2tL._SL160_.jpg)
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Nintendo DS Lite Polar White (Renewed) [video game] | $109.91 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt/Black (Renewed) [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41YXfQ3-DeL._SL160_.jpg)
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Nintendo DS Lite Cobalt/Black (Renewed) [video game] | $125.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Nintendo DS Lite - Metallic Rose | $114.94 | Buy on Amazon |
He added that Nintendo is working to make past games playable on current hardware, and that it wants to “continue exploring a variety of possibilities” while taking technical challenges and other factors into account. This is a general statement of ongoing work—not confirmation of DS game releases, an emulator, a special accessory, or new hardware.
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Could Nintendo bring back a DS-style handheld?
It could, but Nintendo’s answer does not say that it will. No product name, specifications, price, launch window, or commitment to a new DS appeared in the cited Q&A. Because the question concerned software on Switch 2, the response also does not directly settle whether Nintendo might someday make a separate handheld with DS-like features.
#1 Best Overall
- The DS Lite system is a region free device, it can plays all Nintendo DS Lite games and Gameboy Advance Games
That distinction matters: making old games available on an existing system and designing a new handheld are different decisions. “Exploring possibilities” leaves room for options, but it should not be read as a promise or a signal that a launch is coming.
Why DS games present a compatibility challenge
The 3DS included DS hardware
Nintendo developers have explained that the 3DS could play DS games because the 3DS contained DS hardware. Nintendo cited a similar arrangement for Wii games on Wii U: the newer console included hardware from its predecessor. In an April 2, 2025 developer interview, Takuhiro Dohta said it was difficult to achieve the same level of compatibility with Switch 2 because its hardware design approach was different.
Switch 2 uses a different compatibility approach
Developer Tatsuya Sasaki put the distinction plainly: “Switch 2 doesn’t contain any Switch hardware.” Nintendo’s explanation shows that backward compatibility depends on each console’s design and the technical choices made for it. It does not prove that DS games can never be adapted for Switch 2 or another future system; it explains why compatibility is not automatic.
DS games were designed for two screens
The original DS experience centers on two screens, with touch input on the lower screen. A future way to play those games would need to account for how that layout and input work on different hardware. That is a practical design issue, not evidence that Nintendo has chosen any particular solution.
Rank #3
- 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
Why Nintendo is focused on Switch 2 now
Nintendo announced Switch 2 as the successor to Switch on January 16, 2025, and launched it in June 2025. Nintendo said the console plays Switch 2 games as well as physical and digital Switch games, while noting that some Switch games may not be supported or fully compatible.
Nintendo’s February 2026 financial-results presentation said Switch 2 consumer sell-through exceeded 15 million units during its first six months. Nintendo defines sell-through as purchases by individual consumers, including direct sales. The same presentation reported 17.37 million Switch 2 hardware sales for its stated reporting period; that hardware-sales measure and period are distinct from the six-month consumer sell-through figure.
Rank #4
- 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
The presentation also said cumulative Switch sales had surpassed DS, making Switch Nintendo’s highest-selling hardware. These figures help explain why Nintendo has substantial reason to build around the current Switch family and its audience. They do not establish that Nintendo has ruled out a future handheld.
What you can do if you want to play DS games now
The direct physical-product option is existing Nintendo DS hardware, typically found used. Before buying, check the console’s condition, the region of the hardware and games, and whether a charger is included. Confirm that the buttons, screens, touch input, and game-card slot work; check the battery’s condition if the seller can provide that information. Availability and condition vary by listing, so there is no single current price or standard package to rely on.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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
What is known—and what is not
| Question | What the available statement establishes |
|---|---|
| Has Nintendo announced a new DS? | No. The June 2026 Q&A did not announce new DS hardware. |
| Are DS or 3DS games confirmed for Switch 2? | No. Furukawa said there was nothing specific to share about DS or 3DS software. |
| Is Nintendo working to make older games playable on current hardware? | Yes. Furukawa said Nintendo is working toward that general goal, without naming a DS solution. |
| Does Nintendo’s explanation rule out future DS compatibility? | No. It describes the design difference between earlier hardware arrangements and Switch 2; it is not a statement that all adaptations are impossible. |
| Has Nintendo ruled out making another handheld? | No such ruling appears in the cited Q&A. The answer addressed DS/3DS software on Switch 2, not a future standalone device. |
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.
