What does DS stand for Nintendo?
Christopher Ramos
Updated on May 21, 2026
The previous family of
handheld game consoles
Handheld game consoles are portable video game consoles with a built-in screen and game controls and the ability to play multiple and separate video games.
› List_of_handheld_game_consoles
What does DSi and DS stand for?
It's a known fact that the the DS in Nintendo DS stands for “Developer's System” and “Dual Screen.” But what does the “i” in DSi stand for? According to a Nintendo representative, the “i” has two meanings. First, it is symbolic for “I” – As in, the DSi is your own, personal system.Is DS and 3DS same?
In 2011, Nintendo launched the Nintendo 3DS system, which is a brand new handheld console, with unique Nintendo 3DS games. Note that games made for the other Nintendo DS systems can still be played on the Nintendo 3DS, however.Is a DS or switch better?
With over seven years of game releases, the Nintendo 3DS has a far, far larger library than the Nintendo Switch. It has major Mario and Zelda games, a smattering of major Pokémon games, and much more. The Switch, however, is far more powerful.Do DS still exist?
The console's demise has long been expected. Last year, the company said it no longer planned to make any new first-party games for the system. It means the original Nintendo DS retains the title of being the bestselling mobile console.What does Nintendo DS stand for?
Can you put DS games in a switch?
And it's not. You can't play Nintendo DS games on the newer console in official terms. The fact is DS games, and Switch games have different cartridges. In other words, even though the Switch could technically run any game in the DS family, the Switch has no cartridge slot for DS titles.Why did the 3DS fail?
The 3DS arrived to a changed gaming environment and suffered because of it. It struggled with an identity crisis - Another reason the 3DS struggled against the smartphone market, was because it never made itself clear, either to consumers, or developers, why, or how it was different from a phone.What came after Wii?
The Wii U was the successor to the Wii and Nintendo's answer to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It is the first Nintendo console to support high-definition graphics, and is primarily controlled using the touchscreen-enabled Wii U GamePad.Is a Nintendo Switch and DS the same?
The Switch has the unique benefit of coming with local multiplayer, as you and a friend can prop the system up on a table and use each Joy-Con as a stand-alone controller. The 3DS, on the other hand, is a dedicated handheld with a dual-screen design that lets you use touch and stylus controls for many titles.Which Nintendo should you buy?
Buying OptionsMost people should buy the full-size Nintendo Switch, mainly because it works in both handheld and docked mode, whereas the smaller Switch Lite is exclusively handheld. It's also cheaper than the Switch OLED Model.