Is Nintendo simply not making the new 3DS XL anymore? I have not seen any since...Thanksgiving? Yeah, I see a 2DS here and there, but I have no interest in the budget handheld- it plays newer games like Pokemon Sun and Moon at a lower framerate during battles etc... Is the reason that there are essentially...no new 3ds handhelds in stock...pretty much anywhere (save for resellers pushing way over retail worth) because Nintendo doesn't want something to get close to Nintendo Switch pricepoint (w/ a better game library) to hinder possible Switch pre-orders and purchases? Maybe I'm overthinking this.

I think they probably lowered the production of the 3DS to make a lot of Switchs so Nintendo can avoid the Wii stock problem. Selling out is great for news stories but actually selling those units probably makes more money.

I'm starting to think this is an American problem. Here in the UK, everywhere seems in stock of New 3DS's (just not the special versions with Pokemon characters on or whatever). I only ever hear about this from people in the US.

Also, I don't see why they would cease development or stop selling them as competition to the Switch because if they were going to do that, then they'd have stopped publishing games for the 3DS - and they announced 2 new Fire Emblem titles coming to the New 3DS just last week.