After a remarkable partnership that lasted over a decade, the Louvre is set to retire its innovative audio tour service in September 2025. This unique collaboration with Nintendo, first announced in December 2011, allowed art enthusiasts to experience the museum like never before, using Nintendo 3DS handhelds to enhance their visit.
Beginning in 2012, visitors were equipped with 5,000 Nintendo 3DS devices enriched with specialized software, effectively transforming traditional audio guides into an interactive adventure. The experience expanded the following year with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre, which provided an impressive 30 hours of audio commentary, along with stunning visual elements including 3D renderings and photographs of the exhibits.
Thanks to GPS transmitters strategically placed throughout the museum, guests could delve deeper into the art around them, guided by their rental 3DS units. For those unable to visit the Louvre in person, Nintendo even made the audio guide available on the 3DS eShop. The initiative was celebrated through an Iwata Asks Q&A featuring insights from Nintendo’s legends, Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata, as they showcased the 3DS guide in an exclusive Nintendo Direct video.
However, as the 3DS era fades into history and Nintendo shifts its focus towards the now-iconic Switch and its upcoming successor, the Louvre has confirmed the conclusion of this beloved service. In a statement on their official website, they announced, “The New Nintendo 3DS console audio guides will go out of operation in September 2025,” while hinting at an upcoming replacement system. The prospect of continuing collaboration with Nintendo remains speculative; could we see an integration with the Switch or perhaps the highly anticipated Switch 2?
The Switch 2 is just around the corner, launching on June 5th, and tech enthusiasts are already buzzing about its capabilities. To put it in perspective, the new console will be roughly 16 times lighter than the Mona Lisa—talk about a lightweight gaming experience!
