Nintendo has abruptly decided to end North American production of the NES Classic, one of their most popular items in years, the company said today.
In a statement to IGN, Nintendo confirmed that it will no longer produce new mini-NES systems in North America—at least in 2017:
Throughout April, NOA territories will receive the last shipments of Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition systems for this year. 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.
A representative for Nintendo added to IGN: “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.”
The NES Classic, an adorable miniature computer with an NES-styled shell that plays 30 different classic NES games, has been one of the most popular limited edition items in recent memory, leading to widespread supply shortages. Scalpers have made a fortune buying up NES Classics and marking up prices on eBay, and this decision will no doubt exacerbate that problem.
Given the widespread excitement, interest, and sales of the NES Classic, it only makes sense for Nintendo to stop selling it.