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Nintendo said the NES Classic was designed as a limited holiday product, not a console it planned to keep making indefinitely. Demand was far greater than expected, so Nintendo added shipments and extended the run; the company also cited other priorities and limited resources. The initial April 2017 announcement described April as the last shipments “for this year,” but Nintendo later confirmed production had stopped and then announced a 2018 resumption.
Why did Nintendo discontinue the NES Classic?
Nintendo’s stated explanation was that the NES Classic Edition was never meant to be a permanent, long-running product. In an April 2017 statement reported by TechCrunch, Nintendo of America said it “wasn’t intended to be an ongoing, long-term product.” The company added that it had increased shipments beyond its original plans because demand was high.
Reggie Fils-Aimé, then president of Nintendo of America, gave more context in an interview with TIME on April 28, 2017. He said Nintendo had originally planned the system for the previous holiday season, had not anticipated the scale of the response, and extended production to serve more buyers. He also pointed to Nintendo’s other priorities and finite resources: the company had “a lot going on” and did not have unlimited resources.
Those comments establish Nintendo’s public explanation, not the full content of its internal deliberations. They do not establish that Nintendo engineered scarcity, discontinued the system specifically to drive Switch purchases, or transferred a production line to another product.
#1 Best Overall
- The system comes bundled with: an HDMI cable
- an AC adapter
- one NES Classic Controller
- and all 30 games, installed and ready-to-play.
- E10+ w/ Mild Violence
What happened, and when?
| Date | What Nintendo said or did |
|---|---|
| November 10–11, 2016 | Nintendo’s official launch schedule lists the Family Computer Mini in Japan for November 10, and the NES Classic Edition in the United States and Nintendo Classic Mini in Europe for November 11. See Nintendo’s launch schedule. |
| April 13, 2017 | Nintendo of America said April would bring the final North American shipments “for this year.” It acknowledged that consumers had struggled to find the system and said the product was not intended to be a long-term offering. TechCrunch’s report. |
| April 18, 2017 | Nintendo confirmed that it had stopped manufacturing the European Nintendo Classic Mini version. The company said it would announce any production resumption on its official website. Eurogamer’s report. |
| April 28, 2017 | Fils-Aimé described the original holiday-season plan, unexpected demand, additional shipments, and Nintendo’s limited resources. He also reported 2.3 million global sell-in units. TIME’s interview. |
| October 2017 | Nintendo’s financial briefing said production would resume in 2018. Nintendo’s October 2017 briefing. |
The distinction matters: April’s “final shipments for this year” announcement was not the last word on the console’s production. Nintendo later confirmed a global manufacturing stop, then announced a 2018 production return. The NES Classic did not remain in continuous production, but it did return after the initial discontinuation announcement.
Does 2.3 million units mean Nintendo met demand?
No. The 2.3 million figure Fils-Aimé gave TIME was worldwide sell-in—units shipped into the retail channel—not a measure of units purchased by consumers, and not evidence that everyone who wanted one could find one. Nintendo’s own statement acknowledged difficulty finding the console, while Fils-Aimé said demand had exceeded expectations.
Rank #2
- Portable, easy to use, and ideal for travel.
What was the NES Classic Edition?
The NES Classic Edition was a compact, plug-and-play system with games preloaded. Nintendo support says it connects to a standard HDMI input, is not region-locked, and uses USB Type-A to micro-B power. Power comes from a 5V/1A USB adapter or a powered USB port. See Nintendo’s support information.
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The NES Classic is a discontinued console. A listing may be for a used system or collectible rather than new official stock at its original price; availability and seller details can change. Before buying, check the listing’s condition, seller, region, asking price, and whether it includes the controller and required cables or power accessories.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Nintendo Entertainment System NES Classic Edition- Game Console With Controller Included [video game]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51uMa673kuL._SL160_.jpg)
- Mini Classic Edition: The NES Classic Edition is portable, easy to use, and ideal for travel, with different display modes to choose from.
- Includes: The original look and feel of the Nintendo Classic Edition, redesigned miniature version, smaller, sleeker, and preloaded with 30 innovative games, HDMI cable, AC adapter, and the NES Classic Mini Controller.
- 30 Preloaded Games – Some of their action games include Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, PAC-Man, Dr. Mario, Mega Man, Final Fantasy and much more.
- Compatibility: Compatible with Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro. The video game controller can also be used in NES Virtual Console games on Wii or Wii U console by connecting it with a Wii remote controller.
- Four Suspend Slots Per Game: No more worries about unfinished games, with the Nintendo NES save your game with Suspend Points and pick up right where you left off. Simply press the reset button while playing to return to the Home menu and save your progress to a slot.
Rank #4
- Nintendo NES console Classic Mini European version with 30 built-in games.
- Installed Games: Balloon Fight - Bubble Bobble - Castlevania - Castlevania II: Simon's Quest - Donkey Kong - Donkey Kong Jr. - Double Dragon II: The Revenge - Dr. Mario - Excitebike - Final Fantasy - Galaga - Ghosts Goblins - Gradius
- Ice Climber - Kid Icarus - Kirby's Adventure - Mario Bros. - Mega Man 2 - Metroid - Ninja Gaiden - Punch-Out !! Featuring Mr. Dream - StarTropics - SUPER C - Super Mario Bros. - Super Mario Bros. 2 - Super Mario Bros. 3 - Tecmo Bowl - The Legend of Zelda - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
- Includes 1 joystick Nintendo Mini Classic: NES (Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro Wii compatible), 1 HDMI Cable, 1 USB power cable (to power the console, the USB cable must be connected to an AC adapter not included)
- Does not include: Commemorative poster, USB plug.
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.
