The Louvre terminates its partnership with Nintendo 3DS museum guide program after more than ten years.

In 2012, an unexpected partnership was formed between the Louvre Museum and Nintendo. The tech giant loaned 5,000 Nintendo 3DS consoles to the museum, marking the beginning of a unique and innovative museum guide system.

The 3DS consoles, released in 2011, were equipped with a multimedia library of over 700 works, including images, videos, and 3D models. They also featured more than 30 hours of audio commentary, providing visitors with immersive and informative tours.

As part of the partnership, the Louvre released a guide as a stand-alone game cartridge, allowing visitors to rent the 3DS consoles for a few euros. The consoles used geolocation to create personalised tours for users within the museum, enhancing the visitor experience.

However, the use of Nintendo 3DS consoles as museum guides came to an end in 2023. With the advent of smartphones, they became the object of choice for most users seeking information about artworks or exhibitions. Still, it's worth noting that at the time of the partnership's launch, smartphones were not yet ubiquitous.

Nintendo stopped producing the 3DS console entirely in 2020, which likely played a role in the decision to discontinue the service. The responsibility for this decision since 2021 lies with the Louvre Museum's management, as they have not announced a replacement for the 3DS guide system as of the current date.

This partnership between the Louvre and Nintendo marked a significant step in the integration of technology and art, offering visitors a new and engaging way to explore the museum's vast collection. Though the era of the 3DS museum guide has come to a close, it remains a fascinating chapter in the history of museum technology.

The Louvre terminates its partnership with Nintendo 3DS museum guide program after more than ten years.