Reggie Fils-Aimé Discusses The Cancellation & Sales Of The NES Classic Edition

Nintendo of America’s president Reggie Fils-Aimé recently spoke with Time about the NES Classic Edition. Points addressed in the interview include the 8-bit throwback’s performance at retail as well as a more elaborate explanation for its discontinuation.

REGGIE FILS-AIMÉ ON THE NES CLASSIC EDITION

The Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition launched last November, and it was a historic device for Nintendo; it was Nintendo’s first plug-and-play, and it re-released 30 of the most iconic titles from yesteryear, allowing old-timers and newcomers alike to appreciate classics from Nintendo’s heyday.

In total, the system sold 2.3 million units, which is a significant amount. When asked, Fils-Aimé maintained that there’s “no plans to produce more NES Classic Edition systems for NOA regions.” As previously noted, the NES Classic Edition was meant to be a novelty in Nintendo’s roster, not another longterm pillar. Additionally, Nintendo produced more units than they anticipated in response to the demand.

A popular stocking stuffer, the NES Classic Edition remains a challenge to find in stores (Image: Nintendo)

However, the longtime Nintendo representative did offer a more elaborate reasoning behind the discontinuation of the console:

“Even with that extraordinary level of performance, we understand that people are frustrated about not being able to find the system, and for that we really do apologize. But from our perspective, it’s important to recognize where our future is and the key areas that we need to drive. We’ve got a lot going on right now and we don’t have unlimited resources.”

Notably, Nintendo’s latest console, the Switch, has enjoyed a prosperous life thus far, and Nintendo just unveiled another revision of the Nintendo 2DS handheld. Furthermore, while currently unconfirmed, Nintendo is supposedly gearing up for a direct successor to the NES Classic Edition modeled after the Super Nintendo.

Still, speaking as a fan, it’s kind of disappointing how the NES replica will go out of print before it could meet the demand for it. Personally, I’ve yet to see one in stores, and now I probably never will.