Nintendo are shutting down the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS consoles, removing the ability to purchase digital games, download game demos or free content and more. Even before then, changes are coming to how you’re able to buy any games or DLC that you want on these systems.
However, Nintendo note that you will continue to be able to redownload games and DLC, receive software updates and play online games for the “foreseeable future” after this point. Obviously nothing is changing for the Nintendo Switch.
So, here’s the timeline of what’s happening
- As of May 23, 2022, it will no longer be possible to use a credit card to add funds to an account in Nintendo eShop on Wii U or the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- As of August 29, 2022, it will no longer be possible to use a Nintendo eShop Card to add funds to an account in Nintendo eShop on Wii U or the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. However, it will still be possible to redeem download codes until late March 2023.
- As of late March 2023, it will no longer be possible to make purchases in Nintendo eShop for the Wii U system and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. It will also no longer be possible to download free content, including game demos.
In response to this, The Pokémon Company has announced that the paid Pokémon Bank system that lets you transfer Pokémon between games and across platforms will be made free to use for a period after the closure of the 3DS eShop. How long for? Nobody knows right now.
It’s no real surprise that Nintendo is making this move at this time. The Nintendo Wii U was a flop for Nintendo and was surpassed by the Nintendo Switch in less than a year, with Nintendo getting into the habit of porting all the interesting Wii U titles to the new system. Shutting off the 3DS feels a little more surprising, as Nintendo doubled down on the system with first party games still releasing into early 2019. Then again, the console first released in 2011 and Nintendo discontinued the platform in 2020.
Nintendo has previously shut down the DSiWare shop for the Nintendo DSi in 2017 and the Wii Shop Channel for the Nintendo Wii in 2019. Not only that, but they’ve closed down online gaming in the past, such as the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection used on the Wii and DS, and the Miiverse that was a core part of the Wii U and 3DS’ quirky social efforts.
They’re not alone in trying to do this, with Sony announcing the closure of the PS3 and PS Vita digital stores last year, only to backtrack after people complained really loudly.
All of this is another reminder of the impermanence of digital purchases on games consoles, and thoroughly disheartening to see at a time where digital sales are taking a bigger and bigger proportion of sales. As console manufacturers see engagement with older consoles drop, the amount of purchases and profits coming from them decreasing, they eventually see a point at which they want or need to move on from supporting those systems. One side of this is technical, as older frameworks for these systems could expose insecurities in servers, and the cost to continue to update the system becomes prohibitive compared to the profits. Removing the ability to purchase new content is a simple way to cut off that potential avenue of attack.
Source: Nintendo
