Users will no longer be able to make purchases on the 3DS and Wii U eShops after late March 2023, Nintendo announced yesterday (16 February 2022). This also includes downloads of free software such as demos.
On their UK Twitter account, the company posted a link to a support article detailing the specifics of the decision. Prior to March 2023, “related services will cease to function”: 29 August 2022 will see players no longer having the ability to add funds to their accounts on both the 3DS and Wii U eShops using Nintendo eShop cards. Users can still redeem download codes until late March 2023, however.
Nintendo of America’s Twitter account linked to an article on Nintendo of America’s own support website, giving an additional date: after 23 May 2022, users in the US will not be able to use credit cards to add funds to their accounts. The 3DS and Wii U eShops in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand already removed credit card support in September 2019, and last month in Japan, so this additional date does not apply for these regions.
“We thank you for supporting Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.”
Nintendo UK’s support article also explains that users can merge funds between their Nintendo Network ID and their Nintendo Account, used with the 3DS/Wii U eShops and the Switch eShop respectively, to make purchases on all three platforms. Following late March 2023, these funds will only be usable on the Switch’s eShop.
The ability to redownload already purchased games and DLC, receive software updates, and play online on the Wii U and 3DS will remain after March 2023.
This news comes almost exactly three years after the closure of the Wii Shop Channel. This was also a gradual process, with users losing the ability to add points to purchase games from 26 March 2018 onwards. The shop eventually closed on 31 January 2019.
The decision to close the eShops on these consoles does of course suggest an eventual end to Nintendo’s support, but with online play still being an option on 3DS and Wii U beyond March 2023 and “for the foreseeable future”, players will still be able to enjoy their already purchased games with others for some time to come.
Words by Mia Chitty
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