It's game over for Tetris on Nintendo 3DS

Plenty has changed in the past 25 years, but one computer game has remained the same: Tetris.

However, the arrival of 2015 will see the 1989 version of the tessellating puzzle game removed from the Nintendo eShop.

The original Game Boy version was updated in 1998 for the launch of the colour Game Boy. However, when the Nintendo 3DS console was brought out in 2011, nostalgic customers could download the first version of the beloved game.

Nintendo announced on 27 December that this would no longer be the case in the New Year, with this devastating Twitter update:

Now, if you search for 'Tetris' on the Nintendo eShop, the only result is a message saying: "Your request is being processed."

Nintendo hasn't offered a reason why the game has been removed, but tech website Techno Buffalo has reported that the decision is likely due to licensing issues: "The game’s license is now owned by Ubisoft. It would appear the new year marks the expiry of Nintendo’s time with the brand, and they don’t want to renegotiate with Ubisoft."

The small piece of good news is that those savvy gamers who have already downloaded Tetris to their 3DS consoles will be able to continue playing it.

:story: The Telegraph