3DS and Wii U eShops are Shutting Down
Nintendo is putting an end to the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShops. Sometime in “late March,” any digital-only games will basically stop existing on those platforms. Seeing any storefront go down is genuinely terrible as there is a host of games many will never have access to again.
The shutdown is a multi-step process that goes like this:
- May 23, 2022: It will no longer be possible to add funds using a credit card to a 3DS/Wii U eShop account.
- August 29, 2022: It will no longer be possible to use an eShop card to add funds. However, it will still be possible to redeem download codes.
- Late March 2023: It will no longer be possible to make purchases, download demos or themes, redeem a download code, or add funds.
At least we are getting a notice, and those interested can act accordingly.
Thankfully, users will still be able to download and play content they already own. They will just be unable to purchase new content.
A now-deleted statement from Nintendo about how Nintendo Online is good enough for classic games read like this:
“We think this is an effective way to make classic content easily available to a broad range of players. Within these libraries, new and longtime players can not only find games they remember or have heard about, but other fun games they might not have thought to see out otherwise.”
I can’t say I agree with Nintendo here. Them dropping random games every few months is not a replacement for being able to purchase a seemingly endless amount of classic games.
What do you think of eShops shutting down? Do you think Nintendo Online is good enough for classic games? Let us know in the comments below!