Happy Gamer’s Day? Today is the last day that you can use the Nintendo eShop cards for 3DS and Wii U
Today is the last day you can use prepaid eShop cards to add funds to the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U digital stores.
Nintendo has already removed credit card support from North American console stores (Europe removed the functionality in 2019), and after today (Aug 29), it will no longer be possible to use eShop cards.
Once the functionality is shut down, players will have no way to add backgrounds directly through their 3DS or Wii U, and will have to do so through the Switch.
This is the latest stage in Nintendo’s plan to completely remove the 3DS and Wii U eShops on March 27, 2023. After that date, players won’t be able to purchase digital games, even with their existing balances.
If players want to top up their 3DS or Wii U balance after today, they will still be able to link their Nintendo Network ID wallet (used with Wii U and 3DS) with their Nintendo Account wallet (used with Switch) to create a shared balance.
This means players can top up their Switch balance and then use that shared balance to buy Wii U and 3DS games until March 27 of next year.
However, after that date, any remaining balance can only be used on the Switch eShop.
Nintendo’s decision
Earlier this year, Nintendo assured that while no more transactions (including downloading free demos and content) will be possible after March 27 next year, the online service will not be shut down entirely.
Nintendo commented the following at the time
“Even after March 27, 2023, and for the foreseeable future, it will still be possible to re-download games and DLC, receive software updates, and enjoy online play on Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.”
Some of the more notable Wii U download exclusives that will be gone forever include Affordable Space Adventures, Amiibo Tap: Nintendo’s Greatest Bits, Chasing Aurora, Dr Luigi, The Letter, Mini Mario & Friends: Amiibo Challenge, Pokémon Rumble U, Pushmo World (Pullblox World in Europe) and Shut the Box.
On 3DS, the list of games that will disappear is even longer. These include 3D-enhanced re-releases of a number of classic games, including Nintendo’s 3D Classic range, which offered stereoscopic versions of games such as Excitebike, Kid Icarus, and Kirby’s Adventure.
Finally, the closure of the Wii U and 3DS eShops will also mean the termination of the final systems to support the Virtual Console service. Once this happens, the only retro games provided by Nintendo will be the ones available in the various Switch Online apps.
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