The console is their cash cow now, they make money on it, software and hardware.

When a console move 14.69 millions from one game in less than three months, it shows the ecosystem is alive and healty. Mario Maker also moved a lot of games in a short time.

The 3ds is actually improving its sales (hardware). It can easily last 2 more years.

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Actually it sold 14.69 million copies in 2016 alone, this doesn't even include January so it was barely over a month which is more intense!

What makes you think they won't?

This adds more fuel to the fire that the switch will only replce nintendos home console and not their handheld. I expect more pokemon to release on 3ds and not on switch

I think they will but a lot of people here are unconvinced and are stating that Nintendo should abandon the 3DS to focus only on the Switch.

Here we have an evidence that the next Pokemon should be on the 3DS.

Pokémon Sun and Moon could barely run on the 3DS as it is, they had to strip down a lot of features because of it to the point I don't want another Pokémon game on 3DS's extremely limited hardware. Though a duel Switch and 3DS release could seem likely if they water down the 3DS version enough. Though one thing I am certain of and that's gen 7 is the last generation for the 3DS and that gen 8 will be on the Switch.

Fire Emblem Echoes was just announced not too long ago, but the 3DS is pretty outdated now

I would like to see it last till 2018, but I don't see much more after that point

It sold like a regular Pokémon game that recieved an unexpected boost (Pokémon GO + 20th anniversary), no reason to keep using the 3DS, especially given this unexpectedly big fanbase could push the sales of the new hardware greatly and it'd be a shame to end gen 7 on such limiting hardware (Sun and Moon barely run at 30fps on New 3DS)

I want a true 3DS successor in 2018...a portable only switch or handheld with 3d again and 720p

Nope. The ps3 and xbox 360 had done well as ps4/xbox one were released as well.

Nintendo need to go on and get all their development on the switch to make sure its their next success. Faltering support for the switch (like wii u) will most likely kill the system. Even if they manage to get few more good years from 3DS, this wont help them in the long run and might very likely cause big problems in just few years.

Im not sure if Nintendo could recover from 2 big failes in a row. Sure money whise they could, but people wont have any thrust in their products anymore and are more then likely switchting to Ps/xbox/Pc.
It already happend with the wii and wii u. Nintendo need to make sure to put everything they have on the switch.