Nintendo has ceased production of its New Nintendo 3DS handheld system in Japan, according to the console maker's official Japanese website.

Text translated by Kotaku states that "production of all (New 3DS) models" has ended, including the two white and black color variants and the special editions.

The larger New 3DS XL doesn't appear to have been affected, with no such notice being posted on its product page.

This isn't the first time Nintendo has announced changes in its production strategy via a small note on its official website.

Earlier this year the company revealed it would be shutting down all Wii U production in Japan in the same way, signifying the end of the struggling system's lifecycle.

UPDATE: Nintendo has confirmed to Gamespot that production of the New 3DS has ended across Europe as well, effectively indicating that worldwide production has ceased since that particular version of the New 3DS only came to North America as a limited release in the first place.