May 11th, 2012

Aqua Blue 3DS to be phased out in Japan

85 Comments

Nintendo has confirmed that the “production for the system’s Aqua Blue color variation will be ending shortly” in Japan, meaning the variation will no longer be available in stores. There’s no reason given for the change, but considering Japan has plenty of other colours to choose from, there’s a good chance this colour was not selling well. It doesn’t mean the change will necessarily happen outside of Japan though.

  • Yanikun

    What? Why? Aqua blue is the best color. It’s the color they originally used in their ads, too, so it was pretty much the official 3DS color. Aqua blue not selling as well as cosmo freaking black? I have a hard time believing that’s true.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/16a07c1e06c4010a42f31cc4d1a0702d.png ABEzilla116

      Have you ever stopped to consider that people might have tastes that are different from yours? I don’t like the blue at all, that’s why I got Cosmo Black.

    • Mondy

      no one said the black one was out selling the blue one… i think reds in the lead

    • Green Reuben

      I chose black over blue

    • Green Reuben

      maybe it’s because they have cobalt blue

    • http://www.youtube.com/flyinglevel Nick Knack

      your forgetting japan also has metallic blue 3DS. It came out recently.

    • Delusional

      I originally wanted red since launch but got aqua blue instead of cosmo black. I finally got a red and transferred my data over from aqua blue.

    • holonboy

      If you remember, Japan got a lot more colors/models than us: Moster Hunter Tri G Model, Kingdom Hearts Model, Fire Emblem Awakening Model, plus colors that the rest of the world is still waiting for.

    • Matt

      The new darker blue is actually better, in my opinion at least.

    • http://hybrilynx.net/ Hybrilynx

      purple is the best. besides, they are probably going to make another zelda or make a metroid 3ds. you know, ones with pictures and color. maybe even aqua blue with samus on it.

    • eha081

      The 3DS hat in StreetPass Mii Plaza is aqua blue. I thought it was considered the main 3DS colour.

    • http://youtube.com/the8guys Dylan

      Its only in JAPAN its selling pretty good outside of Japan considering they have a lot more different color/themed systems than us and if u transfer data does the ambassador game go through cuz im still thinking it through if i should get another 3DS i had the cosmo black since launch :)

    • http://hybrilynx.net/ Hybrilynx

      everything should transfer. and thats the problem. i dont know why they restricted it like that. you cant transfer one thing at a time like the dsi. and the dsi is old.

  • Han Solo

    I got my aqua blue at launch, and love it. I like the white better, but both look amazing.

  • Kameron

    Thats sad, This was the first colour ever shown Iwata pulled it out. It was the first colour ever seen!!

  • http://www.moonkitty.net Brad

    Maybe they’re launching a new 3DS at E3 next month? 3DS Lite is pretty much a given. Only a matter of time.

    • Ice Climbers

      Nintendo has already said that they aren’t making any remodels of the 3DS. They have also said that a 3DS Lite wouldn’t happen because the 3DS is already “Lite”, the hardware can’t get any smaller and the screen isn’t going to get much brighter.

    • Ice Climbers

      Nintendo has said that there will NOT be any remodels of the 3DS. Plus the system is already thin and small, there’s no need for a Lite.

    • Ice Climbers

      Oops, sorry for the double comment.

    • Yanikun

      Nintendo never said there wouldn’t be a remodel, they just said that there wouldn’t be a 3DS Lite because the 3DS was already as small as they could make it.

    • http://www.youtube.com/user/darkgamer001 darkgamer001

      3DS Lite? Nah, grab a Nintendo DS Lite and place it side by with a 3DS. You’ll notice that the 3DS is already ‘Lite’. If anything, they might be interested in making an XL model

    • sawada

      maybe no 3ds lite but there is chance they release 3ds xl

    • Delusional

      +1 to 3DS XL

    • Grubenstien

      If they were going to remodel it wouldn’t you think they would have the circle pad pro built into the 3DS?

    • Atomsk

      @Grubenstien
      No I don’t think so, that would make the 3DS MUCH larger seeing as it isn’t just the stick it is the zL and zR… also the stick would be in an awkward position… (more awkward than the CPP is now)

      Also with the 3DS XL would that be possible with the way the 3D actually is?

    • http://youtube.com/the8guys Dylan

      i can see it now a world of 10x more seizures if the 3DS XL existed

    • http://youtube.com/the8guys Dylan

      that would be cool ignore my last comment even though its partly true..

    • http://www.parknation.forumotion.com IcyParks

      I could see a model with 2 circle pads, but its too early for that.

  • YAB

    Guess Cobalt Blue is it’s replacement.

    • Zack

      My thoughts exactly. But Aqua Blue was the original 3DS color, along with cosmo black of course. It doesn’t make much sense that they discontinue an original color. What I’m wondering is why does it have to be discontinued at all? If the sales for a certain color aren’t doing as well as others, is that really worth stopping the manufacturing completely? How hard is it to have more color added to the manufacturing process?

    • http://www.youtube.com/flyinglevel Nick Knack

      But whats the point of making 2 blues? lol

    • BR!4N

      Yeah, why have two blues?

    • Zack

      If there was no point on making two blues, they wouldn’t have come out with Cobalt Blue in the first place.

  • Ice Climbers

    Something tells me its because of the new Cobalt Blue 3DS. When the Metallic Rose DS Lite was released, the Coral Pink DS Lite was phased out. So I’m gonna assume the same thing is happening here. I hope this isn’t the case though.

  • http://mayker.tumblr.com Mayker

    THIS MAKES MY 3DS EVEN MORE VALUABLE!

    • Zack

      Do you live in japan? -.-

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/16a07c1e06c4010a42f31cc4d1a0702d.png ABEzilla116

      Zack, maybe he has an imported 3Ds. You don’t have to live in japan to have one…

      t( ‘~’ t)

    • person

      lol imports, yesasia and playasia anyone?

    • Zack

      Living in Japan/playing a Japanese 3DS, you know what I meant. My point was that only the Aqua Blue Japanese 3DS’s are being canceled and not many of us here have imported ones.

  • Sillstaw

    Personally? I kind of wish I had the Cobalt Blue 3DS rather than Aqua Blue. I prefer the darker color. But, since Cobalt isn’t in the US, and since I’m kind of attached to my Aqua Blue, I don’t mind enough to want to switch.

    Still kind of a weird choice to discontinue it.

    • lizzie1238

      Yeah, me too

  • x

    Aqua Blue is best color

  • Zack

    I find it weird. I don’t get why they have to discontinue it. If a color isn’t selling as well as others, it’s not like you’re losing sales and wasting money on something that people aren’t buying. It shouldn’t be that big of a deal to have one more color of dye to add to some plastic.

    Maybe if sales are slower it would make sense to slow the production of Aqua Blue 3DS’s, but unless the sales quit completely, it should still be worth manufacturing.

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/16a07c1e06c4010a42f31cc4d1a0702d.png ABEzilla116

      They do lose money on something no one buys, where did you get the idea that they don’t!? And recalling a bunch of products to re-dye them, repackage them, re ship them, takes some money.

    • uhga buga

      yup exactly what abe said whats the point in going through that whole process wasting money when you can just end the unwanted colour and give ppl a colour they want.

      Majority rules.

    • Revolution5268

      they cant keep all colors at once that’s like having many consoles to choose from. plus these new colors are hurting the aqua blue.

    • Zack

      But people are still buying the Aqua Blue… Sell off their inventory and slow the production of the color to match how fast people are buying them.

  • Ty

    Yeah, not very fond of the Aqua Blue 3DS- the top of the system has a kind of a cheap foil-like look. The Cosmo Black 3DS doesn’t have that.

    • Delusional

      What you’re seeing is actually the internal body of the aqua blue 3ds; a silver metal casing (3ds screen inside) protected by a transparent/clear aqua blue cover. The black doesn’t look much different either. Look at it from the side, you can see through the cover.

      My brother has cosmo black and I had aqua blue. I originally wanted red and now I have it.

    • Ty

      I have the Cosmo Black and it doesn’t have that foil look. It has a kind of metallic car paint type look.

    • Flight

      that reminds me of the iMac G3′s translucent casing, or whatever it was called. =P

  • someone

    for those who wish this will come out in america join http://www.facebook.com/NoaFireEmblemKakuseiPlease and like

    • http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/16a07c1e06c4010a42f31cc4d1a0702d.png ABEzilla116

      I really don’t think a fan movement will be necessary. I’m sure this game will be localized.

  • Chariblaze

    Huh.

  • Grubenstien

    If they were going to remodel it wouldn’t you think they would have the circle pad pro built in?

    • Grubenstien

      Woops wrong place.

  • lizzie1238

    I think it’s because they have another blue one in Japan now, which looks better than the Aqua Blue.

  • Total911

    The official 3DS of Satoru Iwata is being phased out? I love my Aqua Blue!

    • George

      …and ironically, it sort of is the same color as Rainbowdash…

  • KING Z

    My Aqua Blue Started Crying When I Read This….

    • George

      Why? You live in Japan? Or the fact that your 3DS is sad after its manufacturing of models like him stopped in Japan, forcing it into a deep depression causing it to commit suicide?

      Or something equally depressing?

  • ZimmerRemmiz

    I’m just waiting for an orange model, but I still love my Aqua Blue, and will now have to keep it forever, as a momento…

    • SakuMo

      This is me also. I love my Aqua, but I will definitely be picking up the orange day one. Will still probably keep my blue regardless for the sentimentality of it.

  • cm93

    hmm

  • Murchuda

    Does anyone know which color aids the game play? I am still wandering through OOT and thought perhaps a “Link Green” case would help! HI HI

  • http://Insonywetrust Syntax FTW

    looks like a pile of mess and crap anyways

    • George

      LIKE YO FACE

  • EpicLight*

    That’s pretty cool that they’re doing this. There’s a reason not to get another color variation, because the color that will be phased out will be more like vintage.

  • Ixchel

    Aw, that sucks. :( the two blues are different enough to have both imo. I would expect less production rather than just stopping but I guess the sales for it are really that bad with all the special editions and such?

  • http://naw RIVER

    Rofl, you guys are crying over your Aqua Blue 3DS’s, its only happening in frigging japan,not in the states, jeez, I highly doubt it doing well over seeing a lot people are attracted to ugly colors.

    I hope Cosmo Black isn’t phased out, but I want Ice White.

  • Kirby 64

    i’ll choose red & black over blue…….

  • Anon

    The fuck? Best colour by far.

    Only explanation I can think of is that it was TOO iconic, and they want more people to be aware of the existance of other colours.

  • Tails the Foxhound

    Hmm, maybe I’ll hold onto my Aqua Blue as a collectors item instead of trading it in if/when the color I want comes out.

  • BR!4N

    I don’t really care, it’s my least favorite color.

  • Cyclone

    i choose black seems more cooler than aqua blue

    • BR!4N

      Must… resist… grammar Nazi urge…

  • Marquis

    That’s a shame. Aqua Blue is a unique colour that really made the 3DS stand out. At least it isn’t happening anywhere else (yet), but still.

  • George

    Yay! My 3DS has moar value!

  • keaton

    aqua blue is what gave this system style. i have aqua blue. soon it will be rare!

  • Franco

    In my case i bought the cosmo black because i bought it when it was released in U.S. for $250, but i really REALLY love the white color, if I could trade my 3ds for a white one i’d do it even though it has virtual console games, because i don’t use them a lot

  • http://Nintendoworlds.com TurboPikachu

    It’s a damn shame to see that so few people like Aqua Blue.

    I like the new Cobalt Blue just fine, but I really love the blue-green, ocean-like hue from the Aqua Blue, especially when it’s closed and it’s in the sunlight, because it looks like reflected water.
    Aqua Blue alone was one of the reasons I bought a 3DS at launch, because I already liked it more than any DS/lite/i/XL color currently available. I still like it better than the other 3DS colors; Cosmo Black, Flare Red, Metallic Rose, Ice White, or purple….

    There’s only one color I’d like better than Aqua Blue, and that would be a translucent Gold or Silver.
    But even then, I think I’m gonna want to stick with my Aqua Blue throughout the 3DS’s lifespan.

    • George

      ^This.

  • OmegaPit

    So, not sure f it will happen in other countries?

    If it happens to the us, does thy mean the blue could one day be a collector’s item?

  • vampyren

    strange indeed, i think this is the best color as well.

  • NinjaFart

    im guessing cobalt blue’s gonna replace it