Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShop to close next year

Nintendo announces that after a year, the company will be shutting down Nintendo Online Store for game console system and Nintendo 3DS system family.

As of late March 2023, purchases will no longer be available, according to the company. Additionally, as this date approaches, related services will cease to function.

This means that starting May 23, 2022, it will no longer be possible to use a credit card to top up accounts in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U or Nintendo 3DS series systems.

As of August 29, 2022, it will no longer be possible to top up Nintendo eShop accounts on these systems with a Nintendo eShop Card. However, download codes can still be redeemed until late March 2023.

Users who link their Nintendo Network ID wallet for Wii U and 3DS with their Nintendo Account wallet for Switch can use the shared balance to purchase content on any of these systems until late March 2023. The balance can only be used to purchase Nintendo Switch content.

But don’t worry: Even after late March 2023, it’s still possible to redownload games and DLC, receive software updates, and play online for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS series systems for the foreseeable future. So, this is good news.

Nintendo said shutting down the eShop for these systems is part of “the natural life cycle of any product line” as consumers use it less and less over time.

The Wii U, the successor to the popular Wii, was released in late 2012. It went on to sell 13.6 million units.

The 3DS was released in 2011, followed by the 3DS XL and 3DS LL in 2012. More than 75.9 million 3DS series systems were sold during their lifetime.