NES Classic Edition To Be Discontinued; Last Shipments Go Out This Month

It wasn't supposed to be a long-term product, Nintendo said.

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The NES Classic Edition from Nintendo, plagued by supply issues during its short life span, is being discontinued after only a six-month run, Nintendo of America has revealed. The last shipments will be going to retailers this month.

“Throughout April, NOA territories will receive the last shipments of Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition systems for this year," Nintendo said in a statement to IGN. "We encourage anyone interested in obtaining this system to check with retail outlets regarding availability. We understand that it has been difficult for many consumers to find a system, and for that we apologize. We have paid close attention to consumer feedback, and we greatly appreciate the incredible level of consumer interest and support for this product.”

Whether this applies only to North America or is indeed worldwide is unclear. But a representative explained to IGN that the product was never meant for a long run. “NES Classic Edition wasn’t intended to be an ongoing, long-term product. However, due to high demand, we did add extra shipments to our original plans."

While the move is a bit of a surprise, Nintendo might be planning something new to replace the unit. The statement specifically says last shipments are going out "for this year." It was incredibly popular, hence the supply shortages, but it was easily hackable and became an emulator for hundreds of games. Knowing how Nintendo feels about emulation in general, it may have a better solution in mind.

Either way. grab your NES Classic if and while you can. Otherwise, expect to pay even more exorbitant price on eBay down the road. 

Contributing Editor
From The Chatty
  • reply
    April 13, 2017 12:01 PM

    John Keefer posted a new article, NES Classic Edition To Be Discontinued; Last Shipments Go Out This Month

    • reply
      April 13, 2017 12:02 PM

      Well, that was quick...

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      April 13, 2017 12:04 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 13, 2017 12:05 PM

      [deleted]

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        April 13, 2017 6:36 PM

        Is there any evidence that they artificially construct supply to drive demand?

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      April 13, 2017 12:06 PM

      [deleted]

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        April 13, 2017 12:13 PM

        This is the reason. I can't see what purpose they have for discontinuing it without some corporate ass reason.

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        April 13, 2017 1:43 PM

        Starting in 3 months they will release 2-3 titles a month, at $10 a pop lol

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      April 13, 2017 12:06 PM

      Lol, wtf

    • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
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      April 13, 2017 12:11 PM

      The fuck? I hope this means they're pulling out all the stops on the Switch VC.

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      April 13, 2017 12:19 PM

      Eh they missed the window on it anyway, and I suspect they just thought it would be a one off thing. Wonder if it was made in the same factory(ies) as the switch...

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      April 13, 2017 12:21 PM

      [deleted]

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        April 13, 2017 2:12 PM

        Same here. I guess people get irrational for nostalgia. I have every game on that thing,plus about 300 more on a disc. Rarely play it ,just like I would rarely play this thing.

        Everything like this is cool for about 45 minutes,then it just gets shoved on a shelf to collect dust.

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        April 13, 2017 10:55 PM

        i think it's mostly for normies with nostalgia, not really us. either way someone wants them since you cant buy them anywhere since they were released

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      April 13, 2017 12:26 PM

      What the fuck?! Goddamnit Nintendo, I just want my baby NES! >:(

      • reply
        April 13, 2017 12:27 PM

        Nintendo wants you to buy a Switch instead

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          April 13, 2017 12:30 PM

          I don't like handhelds!

          • reply
            April 13, 2017 12:31 PM

            Good thing it docks and will hopefully have a great virtual console lineup!

            • reply
              April 13, 2017 12:40 PM

              100 million Wii owners say "haha"
              65 million 3DS owners say "haha"
              13 million Wii U owners say "haha"

              2+ million Switch owners say what's a virtual console?

              A famous white wizard has a saying about hope that is apropos right now.

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              April 13, 2017 12:42 PM

              I don't do handhelds even with a TV dock.

      • reply
        April 13, 2017 12:32 PM

        Have no fear friend, for 200 Fucking Dollars you can own one of the 35 that some shithead in Chattanooga Tennessee scalped right now on Ebay! :^)

    • reply
      April 13, 2017 12:27 PM

      Fucking Nintendo

    • reply
      April 13, 2017 12:29 PM

      I have a sweet Retro Pie that trounces the mini NES. However, should I but one and sell it down the road since this will be discontinued?

      • reply
        April 13, 2017 12:46 PM

        I just saw that one, so insane.

    • reply
      April 13, 2017 12:33 PM

      lol I returned mine to Amazon less than a week ago...

    • reply
      April 13, 2017 12:35 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 13, 2017 12:36 PM

      In before they proclaim that " that everyone who wanted one has bought theirs so there's no need to keep making them"

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        April 13, 2017 12:42 PM

        I have been reassured by many Stock Allocation Professionals on this very site that Nintendo does not like having excess stock, they know what they are doing, the product will be be available once demand does down, blah blah blah.

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        April 13, 2017 1:04 PM

        Yeah we'd be able to walk into any store I remember being told lol.

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        April 13, 2017 3:37 PM

        [deleted]

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      April 13, 2017 12:43 PM

      I still need to get a 2nd controller for mine. But man it sucks they are ending production when so many people still want them.

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      April 13, 2017 12:44 PM

      All I want is to play NES, SNES, and Gameboy games on my Switch please. Thank you.

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        April 13, 2017 12:46 PM

        [deleted]

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        April 13, 2017 12:58 PM

        I want a unified digital game library allowing me to play all of my Wii and WiiU content along with VC stuff from the 3DS and New 3DS. Nothing crazy, just whatever I've already bought should be available to play (other than DS games, I guess) :(

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        April 13, 2017 1:17 PM

        I said this a while back- if Nintendo could somehow just cram their entire library into virtual console, I would be more likely to buy a switch. 1 device for all Nintendo things would be amazing.

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          April 13, 2017 2:45 PM

          I still think they could do some kind of subscription service to their entire 1st party library and make bank.

    • reply
      April 13, 2017 12:45 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 13, 2017 12:46 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 13, 2017 12:46 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 13, 2017 1:04 PM

      Wait for the Switch sales to start dropping and the SNES Classic will magically appear.

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        April 13, 2017 10:57 PM

        preorders sold out before they're announced

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      April 13, 2017 1:20 PM

      [deleted]

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        April 13, 2017 4:03 PM

        That's impossible, because shacknews users told me that thing couldn't be cracked.

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      April 13, 2017 1:26 PM

      O_O

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      April 13, 2017 1:28 PM

      I wish someone would buy Nintendo, keep the content and hardware folks, fire management and anyone in manufacturing and supply chain areas. Someone with a huge consumer electronics division. Or manages supply chain well. Heck, even Walmart execs and distribution execs would do better with the Nintendo software and hardware team than the current Nintendo execs.

      • reply
        April 13, 2017 6:39 PM

        I think somebody buying Nintendo would be possibly the worst single thing for the game industry... but I do wish a Shaolin Slap Ninja would just go the Nintendo offices and just slap all the execs a couple times and drop a note which says "that's for the Nintendo Classic... bitches"

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          April 13, 2017 7:08 PM

          only if you take out every single person who works in distribution, supply chain, and inventory. and I want their heads put on stake along route 66

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        April 13, 2017 8:04 PM

        [deleted]

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      April 13, 2017 1:30 PM

      Because clearly demand is so low.

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      April 13, 2017 1:36 PM

      I assume the whole thing was a strategic move to gin up demand for emulation on the Switch. Couldn't get an NES Classic? Play all your favorite games on the Switch for just $2.99 each!

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        April 13, 2017 1:39 PM

        50% markup on the software not including the hardware costs. At least I'll only get what I really wanted from that lineup. Of course, that's assuming the lineup actually gets on the VC.

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        April 13, 2017 1:50 PM

        $2.99 would be cheap considering NES games for for $5 minimum on the Wii U VC.

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      April 13, 2017 1:43 PM

      Just leaving this here for the tags: https://all3dp.com/raspberry-pi-nintendo-nes-case/

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        April 13, 2017 3:02 PM

        Nice. I'm going to upgrade mine.

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      April 13, 2017 1:56 PM

      Nintendo gonna Nintendo.

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      April 13, 2017 1:58 PM

      [deleted]

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      April 13, 2017 2:48 PM

      [deleted]

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        April 13, 2017 6:22 PM

        Now THAT I would buy if they make enough of them for me to get one.

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      April 13, 2017 3:29 PM

      Welp, here's a link to my retropie shopping list @ amazon. No excuse to wait now:
      https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/333DDRLND2JOO/ref=cm_wl_list_o_0?

    • reply
      April 13, 2017 5:54 PM

      What the fuck Nintendo? Super succesful product, canceled. wtf...

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      April 13, 2017 6:21 PM

      Can not make too much money, taxes are expensive!

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      April 13, 2017 6:36 PM

      What the fuck Nintendo... I was trying to be patient and wait until they are finally NOT $150 on ebay. I refuse to pay a cent over retail. But for $60, I think it's a good deal. The ass hats on ebay are driving up the prices because as soon as they hit stores they buy 30 of them so nobody can get them for retail prices now.

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      April 13, 2017 6:40 PM

      Only Nintendo would turn down millions of dollars like that. People try their entire lives to come with a product with the kind of demand this thing has... and Nintendo... "nah... we don't feel like it".

      It's messed up.

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      April 13, 2017 8:11 PM

      Haha well this is quite a move.

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      April 14, 2017 7:19 AM

      Next up Famicom Classic edition at 20% higher price

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