The Louvre will stop renting out Nintendo 3DS audio guides in September

Engadget - May 3rd, 2025

In September 2025, the Louvre Museum will retire its Nintendo 3DS audio guides, which have been a staple since 2012, offering visitors insights into exhibits in multiple languages and providing geolocation tracking and high-resolution images. The museum plans to replace the 3DS with a new system, though details on the successor have yet to be disclosed, leaving room for speculation whether it will be a Nintendo Switch or a more traditional device.

This transition marks the end of a notable collaboration between the Louvre and Nintendo, which provided an innovative and interactive way to explore the vast museum space. The 3DS guides not only enhanced the visitor experience with detailed information and navigational help but also demonstrated an early integration of gaming technology in cultural institutions. The change reflects ongoing advancements in museum technology and may influence how cultural sites worldwide adopt tech to improve visitor engagement.

Shigeru Miyamoto Louvre Museum Nintendo 3 Ds Audio Guides Museum Technology Satoru Iwata

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.0

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a clear and accurate account of the discontinuation of Nintendo 3DS audio guides at the Louvre, supported by credible sources. It effectively communicates key information while maintaining a balanced perspective. The story is timely and relevant to discussions about technology in cultural institutions, though its public interest is somewhat niche. While the article's speculation about the replacement system adds a layer of intrigue, it introduces a slight imbalance and lacks detailed attribution. Overall, the piece is well-written and accessible, offering a concise summary of the situation with room for further exploration of potential replacements and broader implications.

Accuracy

The story is largely accurate in its factual claims, with several key points supported by credible sources. The claim about the discontinuation of Nintendo 3DS audio guides at the Louvre in September 2025 is confirmed by the Louvre's official website. The mention of these guides being replaced by a new, unspecified system is also accurate, though details about this replacement are not yet available. The article correctly states that the guides have been offered since 2012. However, the claim about the rental price of €6 is not directly verified in the sources, necessitating further confirmation. Additionally, while the language support and features like geolocation and high-resolution images are mentioned, the current functionality needs verification.

Balance

The article maintains a balanced perspective by focusing on factual reporting rather than opinion. It presents the discontinuation of the Nintendo 3DS audio guides as a straightforward news event without bias towards Nintendo or the Louvre. However, the speculation about whether the Louvre will replace the 3DS with a Switch or a traditional audio guide introduces a slight imbalance, as it leans towards conjecture rather than fact. The article could benefit from including perspectives from the Louvre or Nintendo representatives to provide a more rounded view.

Clarity

The article is clear and concise, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the main points effectively. The language is straightforward, making it easy to understand the key information about the discontinuation of the 3DS guides. The structure is well-organized, with a natural progression from the announcement to the historical context. However, the speculative question about the replacement system could be more clearly delineated from the factual content to avoid confusion.

Source quality

The article references Nintendo Everything and the Louvre's official website, which are credible sources for this story. However, it does not provide direct quotes or detailed attribution for the information, such as specific statements from museum officials or Nintendo representatives. The reliance on a secondary source like Nintendo Everything, while generally reliable, could be supplemented with additional authoritative sources to enhance credibility.

Transparency

The article is moderately transparent, providing some context about the historical use of the Nintendo 3DS at the Louvre. However, it lacks explicit details about how the information was gathered or any potential conflicts of interest. The speculation about the replacement system is presented without clear attribution, which could affect transparency. Greater disclosure of sources and methodology would improve transparency.