You just showed the big decline from DS to 3DS. So DS isn't a fluke, it was an increase on the market before the decrease caused by smartphones.

DS + PSP >>>>>>>>>> 3DS + VITA

And now it looks like they are no longer releasing dedicated handheld consoles. Sony aren't releasing anything in that regard either.

Just like PC because of tablets?.... lol  PC shipments were on free fall till to stabilize, while many people were prejudging the death of the market... haha Now tablets face their own huge decline and pc shipment are almost the same every quarter since 2013, 75-78m, is that bad?

Declining to normality, means to return near to standards/levels prior to 7th gen and stabilize to a viable point! I don't that the hardcore handheld console audience is more than 100m

3DS sold 7.63m in 2014, 7.9m in 2015 and it seems that it will sell more than 8m this year due to the resurgence thanks to Pokemon go+Pokemon sun and moon... 

Tell me about Pokemon go effect and the record sales of  Pokemon sun and moon? What does it mean  for you? 

WII+PS3+XB360 >>>>>>> PS4+XB1+WIIU  So what? Do you like that?  Personally not, I can't come into conclusions from collating an irregularly huge gen with a more normal one...

This  is unfair comparison ( and sometimes  malevolent ) , also you have posted it so many times, enough! You will make me to quote what you answer  to those who claim that playstation is dead in Japan.  Your reasoning about that case could be used for this too, because that case chimes to considerable a extend with this case.

3DS is down compared to gba too, you could just mention this instead of the unfair ds/3d comparison, but of course the discrepancy of 3ds and gba isn't big so that doesn't float your boat.

By the way, perhaps even PS2+XB+GC >>>>>>> PS4+XB1+wiiu howbeit even that comparison is unfair because PS2 had a lot of non hardcore gamers (like wii and xbox 360 )

P.s

I'm waiting for you to celebrate together the impressive sales of 3ds for its 6th year and its huge yoy increase  in november npd! I guess you are like me, being happy for every success in the indursty? Eh?

I don't know if it's like PC, and I don't care. You're dodging the point. 3DS is just 1 console and Pokémon is just 1 game, we're talking about the whole market. You need to see the whole picture.

Prior to 7th gen, the handheld market was selling annually 15M-20M. Last year it sold 10M. This year will probably end at 7M. How much next year? 5M? 4M? Where is it going to "stabilize"? 2M? Can't you see the market is fading away?

The fact that the 3DS is Nintendo's worst selling handheld so far is not really supporting your argument. The DS was a nice upswing for a gen but it went straight back to decline with the 3DS. It's the same as their home console business. People are losing interest in both Nintendo and handhelds. The Switch is an effort to stop the console business from shrinking as much as the handheld one.

If the Switch sells less than the 3DS it will prove that point.

I wouldn't base my prediction on the first month. While I'm skeptical that the Switch will ever reach the 3DS I'm confident that it will have a pretty great launch and first year.

@Hiku:
Not sure what the point with Iphone sales was...

The arcades have been dead in the west for 25 years already because consoles were arcades at home. The arcades are banning kids coming to play their handhelds for the same reason Mc Donalds and Hesburger, and what others there is, are banning kids that come only to sit and make a mess without bringing any money in.

The social phenomenons are different in the west than they are in Japan. Japan had the hugely successful Monster Hunter, while Wii was phenonemical in the west. In Japan you meet with games (on a public space), while in the west you just meet at people's homes and someone might have the game.

It doesn't matter how many are enjoying the games, what matters is how many people are willing to pay money for your game and how are you going to get your game to people's hands, you need to fight disinterest somehow. It is not an "or" situation, but an "and". Just like home computers and consoles have co-existed for 40 years, it's more likely that mobile computers and consoles will co-exist likewise. This seems to be Nintendo's mobile strategy. For example, because of Pokemon Go, I bought Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon with a 2DS for christmas for two of my kids.

Nintendo seems to be interested in trying to solve these issues with the Switch (maybe not the games quality issue). You can play it home or on the go if you choose to, and you're able to get the games in your hands without a cost if someone has the game. Just like the DS download play or playing a multiplayer in your home with a friend (and, I did buy Triforce heroes for two of my kids because of the download play multiplayer, one is a Zelda fan because of Hyrule Warriors).

Gamecube was portable too, which is why it had the handle, it was a little hard to play in a bus or train, though (this may be why it sold so bad). Size isn't any more of an issue with the Switch than it is on any tablet, and Switch is a home console first to replace Wii U, portable console second, while not a direct replacement for 3DS. Besides, if you don't like to play Switch on a train, you can play your 3DS or your mobile phone - this isn't an issue for Nintendo, which is why you see games like Super Mario Run.

I do agree, that the smart devices are more of a threat to your "hardcore" gaming on home consoles, as the values are so similar, which is why Final Fantasy and such are seen on mobile.

It did decline sharply, but the issue is with the games. Let's face it: there are virtually no games worth playing on either Nintendo's current system. This is the opposite to Wii and DS that both had huge number of great games. 

Games do have to do a bit with it. But I remember the 3DS having a steady stream of great exclusives for some time.

Oh. Which great exclusives are we talking about? Rehashed NSMB? Rehashed Nintendogs?  Brain Training that never came? All I can remember is "everything 3D" and "rehashed 3D". I think it's decent device with a number of fun games, but nothing like the DS was. The problem is the "3D Nintendo" that, after making a fun game, takes away the fun and replaces it with 3D.