eShop Arcade Bunny helps you buy games, yay
Paradigm: Nintendo Life

It's been over a decade (or nigh a decade in Wii U'due south case), but it's finally happening: Nintendo is closing down the Wii U and 3DS eShops, meaning that shortly y'all will no longer be able to buy digital games on either platform.

Of course, this modify won't accept place until March 2023, which means there's even so fourth dimension for yous to catch all the downloadable games you tin can fit in your digital arms and run. But with credit menu payment support catastrophe sooner on May 23rd, 2022, and Nintendo eShop cards ceasing to redeem from August 29th, 2022, we want to make sure that you become those games in fourth dimension, and don't run across any lack-of-fund-related mishaps.

Nosotros've as well got guides to exactly which games y'all should be panic-buying earlier they all run out like toilet newspaper in 2020. Hither's our list of the Best 3DS eShop exclusives for starters, and we'll give you the Wii U one when it'southward ready.

Hither's everything you need to know nigh the 3DS and Wii U eShop closures, all in 1 handy place!

3DS and Wii U eShop Closure Guide - When, How, WHY?!?!

When does the Wii U eShop close?

The Wii U eShop closure volition happen some fourth dimension in tardily March, 2023.

When does the 3DS eShop close?

The 3DS eShop closure will too happen some time in late March, 2023. We don't yet know if it'south the same day as the Wii U closure, although information technology would seem likely.

What does the eShop closing mean?

Broadly, it means that you won't be able to buy or download new games on the 3DS or Wii U eShop subsequently March 2023, and you lot as well won't be able to purchase in-game content, download demos or free-to-play software, redeem download codes, or add funds to your account on 3DS or Wii U.

Yous will be able to redownload purchased content after the March 2023 cut-off for an for an undisclosed amount of time.

Can I still add together funds to purchase games?

Yep, but merely until May 23rd, twenty 22 if y'all're using a credit card, and only until Baronial 29th, 2022 if you accept bought an eShop menu. (In fact, this has been the instance in the Great britain and Europe since September 2019, and so this change will simply impact 3DS and Wii U users elsewhere.)

Notwithstanding! Currently, if your Nintendo Network ID (used on 3DS and Wii U) is linked with your Nintendo Account (used on Switch), your eShop funds are shared beyond the Nintendo Switch eShop and the 3DS/Wii U eShops.

This will be the case until March 2023, then you lot'll still be able to add together funds by doing it on the Switch, but only if your Nintendo Accounts are linked.

You can read more about how to link your accounts past clicking here.

WHY is this happening?

Here's Nintendo's statement on the subject:

"This is part of the natural lifecycle for whatsoever product line as it becomes less used by consumers over time. We are providing this notice more than a yr in accelerate of the cease of purchases so users will accept plenty of time to prepare."

Does this affect the Nintendo Switch eShop?

No, the Nintendo Switch eShop volition still piece of work simply fine. Who knows, information technology might run fifty-fifty improve at present that Nintendo has more free servers, merely permit's not count our eShop chickens earlier they've hatched.

But no. Realistically, no effect whatsoever on the Switch eShop.

Can I still redownload games?

Every bit long every bit yous already ain a game on the 3DS or Wii U, you'll be able to redownload it from the eShop "for the foreseeable future".

That means that redownloading volition notwithstanding be possible afterwards March 2023, but we don't know how long for.

What almost online play?

Good news: Online play will too still be available "for the foreseeable future" for whatever titles y'all already own, by March 2023.

Once again, we don't know exactly how long.

Tin can I yet download software updates?

Software updates will be made available "for the foreseeable future" every bit well.

Can I however download gratuitous software?

Complimentary software, including "free-to-showtime" software like Nintendo Badge Arcade, volition be available for download until March 2023. After that, it disappears with the rest of the games.

What nigh the Virtual Console?

Sadly, the Virtual Consoles — which housed more than 530 classic games, available to purchase and download — volition exist no more than after March 2023.

Nintendo's FAQ on the subject of the eShop closures initially addressed this, but the details were soon removed from the page. Here'southward what they originally said (you can likewise click hither to access the archived page yourself):

In one case it is no longer possible to purchase software in Nintendo eShop on Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, many archetype games for past platforms will cease to exist available for purchase anywhere. Will you make classic games available to own another way? If not, then why? Doesn't Nintendo have an obligation to preserve its classic games past continually making them bachelor for buy?

Across our Nintendo Switch Online membership plans, over 130 archetype games are currently available in growing libraries for various legacy systems. The games are often enhanced with new features such as online play.

We call back this is an effective way to make classic content hands available to a wide range of players. Within these libraries, new and longtime players tin non only find games they remember or accept heard about, simply other fun games they might not accept thought to seek out otherwise.

We currently take no plans to offering classic content in other means.

What does it mean that they removed this section from the FAQ? We can't say. We can hope that the Virtual Panel will render some day, merely for now, it'south just a hope.

Nintendo's stance is that the Nintendo Switch Online service will replace the Virtual Panel, but with no Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Male child Advance, DS, and Wii games available on Nintendo Switch Online, it'll accept a long time to grab upwards.

Will this touch concrete games?

No, concrete games will notwithstanding work just fine. As long equally y'all're taking skillful care of them.

Can I still buy Nintendo eShop cards that say they're for Wii U/3DS? Will they work on Switch?

If yous visit a shop that still sells eShop cards for the Wii U and 3DS, you can still purchase them — they'll work just fine on the Nintendo Switch, and y'all'll be able to input the codes on the Switch eShop.

Can I however purchase in-game content?

Afterwards March 2023, yous will not be able to purchase in-game content, including:

  • Anything from Nintendo Badge Arcade
  • The StreetPass Mii Plaza DLC games
  • Any themes from the 3DS theme shop
  • An annual laissez passer for Pokémon Banking concern
  • Passes and DLC for Wii Sports Guild's various sports

Pokémon Banking company will, however, become a gratis service after March 2023, so yous probably shouldn't be paying for it anyhow.

Tin can I redeem game download codes?

You'll exist able to redeem download codes until March 2023.

Tin I still download and buy 3DS themes?

Yeah and no. You won't be able to buy any new ones after March 2023, just you will be able to download "a modest number of gratis themes".

Which means you should pick up all the wicked SEGA-themed ones ASAP.

So, in summary: It's happening, you've got a yr to get all the games, and so you'll be out of time. FOREVER. All digital media is fleeting and we're all slowly crawling towards the grave, buy video games while you can. And preferably, purchase them physically — because who knows when they'll be cruelly ripped from you.

If yous've got any further questions, feel complimentary to leave them in the comments and we'll practise our best to address them.