Update: The discontinuation of the 3DS eShop and Wii U eShop will take place worldwide on March 2023.
Nintendo has announced the discontinuation of the 3DS and Wii U eShop as of “late” March 2023.
While you’ll still be able to redownload games and DLC, receive software updates and continue to play online beyond this date, purchases will no longer be possible.
Credit cards can no longer be used to add funds as of 23rd May 2022 and Nintendo eShop card funds can no longer be added to eShop accounts as of 29th August 2022. However, download codes can still be redeemed until March 2023.
Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of Nintendo’s official support page:
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. Furthermore, as this date draws closer, related services will cease to function:
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.
Users who link their Nintendo Network ID wallet (used with Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems) with their Nintendo Account wallet (used with the Nintendo Switch family of systems) can use the shared balance to purchase content on any of these systems until late March 2023. After that, the balance can only be used to purchase content for the Nintendo Switch family of systems.
No changes are planned for Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch family of systems.
The changes to Nintendo eShop on Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems will simultaneously take effect in software on these platforms where it is possible to make purchases, such as StreetPass Mii Plaza, Theme Shop and Nintendo Badge Arcade.
Even after late March 2023, and for the foreseeable future, it will still be possible to redownload games and DLC, receive software updates and enjoy online play on Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
To mark the end of the eShop on the 3DS and Wii U, Nintendo has launched a ‘My Memories’ website, where you can look back on your gaming history with these systems.
We thank you for supporting Nintendo eShop on Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. While we hope that you will continue to enjoy using these systems, we have taken this opportunity to prepare a website where you can look back on your time with them via various play statistics.
You can also read a comprehensive FAQ over on Nintendo’s official support page.
Nintendo previously removed credit card support from the 3DS eShop in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. And Japan ended purchases last month.
How do you feel about the 3DS and Wii U digital stores ending purchases? Leave a comment down below.