Okay, this is wild. So, you know how you buy something and think, “Hey, I’m gonna keep this forever”? That’s what this gamer thought when they snagged a brand-new, sealed Nintendo 3DS case. You’d expect it to last, right? But, plot twist: it crumbled into dust. Like, poof, gone. Imagine opening a box and finding a pile of what looks like cookie crumbs instead of your shiny case. Weird, right?
Here’s the thing — Nintendo stuff is usually tough. I mean, who hasn’t dropped their DS at least once without it breaking? Slap a case on it, and you’re golden. Or so we thought. But now, folks might want to peek at their old cases. Just in case. (Pun not intended… or maybe it was?)
Oh, and there was this dude, Randolph Co (saw it on NintendoSoup), who kept a Dragon Quest 8 case tucked away, all pristine and whatnot. Sealed up nice, should’ve been fine, right? But nope. Inside it looked like someone crumbled up a pastry. Weirdest thing? The box was fine, no weird smells or anything. But the case? Total goner. It was supposed to be decked out with cute blue, green, and brown slimes. Now? Nada. All color just… evaporated. Poof again!
So, what happened? No official answer, but let’s nerd out a bit: it was made of TPU — a plastic that breaks down over time. Like, designed to be eco-friendly, which is cool but also, “Hey, where’s my case?” It’s meant to last about 3–5 years. This one? From 2015. Doing the math, yeah, it’s way past due for a breakdown.
Biodegradable stuff is trendy, right? Good for the planet and all. Still, sad when your collectible turns to dust bunnies. Guess they thought folks wouldn’t be 3DS-ing for more than a few years. Yeah, right. Some cases might be safe, though. Not all were made with that, thank goodness. With the 3DS launching back in 2011, who knows how many more might crumble?
Honestly, makes you think twice about the stuff you stash away, huh?
