Regardless of how popular the handheld is, Japanese game stores (including Nintendo's online store) won't be carrying the 3DS XL for very much longer.
The 3DS is pretty popular, for a while the 3DS and 3DS XL sales combined topped the charts. Recently though, the sales for the standard 3DS/XL have dropped.
The standard 3DS/XL simply aren't selling as well as the recently released New 3DS/XL. On Nintendo's official Japanese 3DS hardware page a message stating the coming end of production was added above the various colors that the original 3DS XL comes in. This means that the 3DS XL is nearing the end of its life cycle in Japan and is to be replaced by the New 3DS XL.
The New 3DS XL brings new processors, a second circle pad and ZL and ZR buttons.
No word on when the New 3DS will make its way to North America.
[CVG]
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