eShop for Wii U and 3DS Being Discontinued in March 2023

[Nester the Lark]

Nintendo will be discontinuing the eShops for both the Wii U and 3DS in North America and Europe in March 2023. It will still be possible to re-download purchased software and updates, and online play will still be functional.

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.

NoA's depressing FAQ:

Why is this happening?
This is part of the natural lifecycle for any product line as it becomes less used by consumers over time.

Why are you announcing this now?
We are providing this notice more than a year in advance of the end of purchases so users will have plenty of time to prepare.

Are any other services or functions of Wii U or the Nintendo 3DS family of systems going to be discontinued, such as online play?
There are no plans to make any further changes at this time.

How long will it still be possible to redownload previously purchased content in Nintendo eShop for Wii U or the Nintendo 3DS family of systems? How long will those systems still support online play?
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.

There are still Nintendo eShop Cards at retailers that show the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS logos. What will happen to them?
- These cards will continue to be at retail while supplies last.
- All Nintendo eShop Cards can be used to add funds to a Nintendo Account balance for use on the Nintendo Switch
- This can be done via Nintendo eShop on the system itself.

If someone visits Nintendo eShop and wants to download something on Wii U or the Nintendo 3DS family systems after late March 2023, what will they able to do?
- On both platforms, users will still be able to:
-- Redownload content they own
-- Download existing software updates

- On both platforms, users will not be able to:
-- Purchase any content
--- On Nintendo 3DS, this includes paid content, plays and passes in software such as StreetPass Mii Plaza, Theme Shop, Nintendo Badge Arcade and Pokémon Bank.
--- On Wii U, this includes passes in software such as Wii Sports Club.

-- Download demos
-- Download free-to-start software
-- Redeem a download code
-- Add funds to their Nintendo eShop balance

- On Nintendo 3DS family systems, users will still be able to:
-- Download a small number of free themes from Theme Shop

[nocturnal YL]

This is the case in Japan too. The Japanese notice pointed out that:

- For games that involve the download process as part of the game's flow (such as Fire Emblem Fates), these have to be initiated before the eShop discontinues.

- The ability to re-download games will eventually end.

[Spud]

I can't quite articulate it, but I feel like the 3DS line still fills a niche that the Switch doesn't. Thinking about it I can't name something aside from the two screens that it can do that switch can't but still I feel sad knowing the final nail in the coffin has been hammered in for that product line.

Maybe I'm just still pining for connected play like the gamecube/gameboy advance.

[Johans Nidorino]

I arranged this list of still-available American 3DS / Wii U VC titles that were not released on their original platforms in America:

Nintendo 3DS

• Recca
• Sky Kid (for Famicom)
• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
• The Mysterious Murasame Castle

Wii U

• Battle Lode Runner
• Bomberman '94 (for TurboGrafx-16)
• Bomberman: Panic Bomber
• Break In
• Digital Champ: Battle Boxing
• EarthBound Beginnings
• Final Soldier
• Gradius (for TurboGrafx-16)
• Kuru Kuru Kururin
• Lords of Thunder
• Necromancer
• Pac-Land (for Famicom)
• Salamander
• Sin and Punishment
• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
• Ufouria: The Saga
• Vs. Excitebike (for Famicom Disk System)

[nocturnal YL]

While we're on the topic of Wii U VC games, I'd like to highlight two titles with unique changes.

Game & Watch Gallery 4 — Originally unreleased in Japan despite a Japanese version was internally completed. The Japanese version is available in the Japanese eShop. Also, to make up for the lack of multiplayer support in VC, 20 of the collectable stars obtainable by playing 2P modes of Donkey Kong 3 and Boxing are simply given by default in this version.

Super Mario Advance 4 — The original GBA version requires the e-Reader (Card e-Reader+ in Japan) to unlock extra courses. These are included in the VC release. There are 38 courses made available this way, but Super Mario Advance 4 can only store up to 32 courses, so the VC version is better even if you have the complete set of cards.

[Johans Nidorino]

The Game Boy Pokémon games on 3DS VC (Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal) also have some notable collection value. Pokémon you catch there and then transfer via Pokémon Bank (free software after March 2023) get rare, inheritable Hidden Abilities. And, as their GB releases were incompatible with GBA successors, this is the only way you can have a monster travel from generation I up to the current generation VIII.

Feb 21, 2022 9:31:03 GMT -5 Spud said:

Thinking about it I can't name something aside from the two screens that it can do that switch can't but still I feel sad knowing the final nail in the coffin has been hammered in for that product line.

The cameras, StreetPass, the overall feel that it was a sequel system, and it being so much more portable. Also more customizable on the inside and outside. Really more toy-like.

[Evie ❤✿]

Some of the games on Japanese Wii U and Nintendo 3DS e-Shop are worth a lot of money physically, are subject to manipulation by overseas sellers, or are otherwise just valuable to have before the stores close down (for reasons such as them being exclusive to the Game Boy/SFC Nintendo Power service).

For example,

*Sutte Hakkun (Super Famicom)
*Hajimari no Mori (Super Famicom)
*Heisei Shin Onigashima (Super Famicom)
*Balloon Fight GB (Game Boy Color)
*Wrecking Crew '98 (Super Famicom)
*Many other games on the NinDB lists in general (Famicom, Super Famicom, Game Boy, Advance, Nintendo DS)


If you like them and have a Japanese Wii U or 3DS, it's a good idea to grab those before they're gone to save some money.

There are various others which may still be available to download, such as the free-to-start Yakuman Houou and Real Dasshutsu Game x Nintendo 3DS: Chou Hakai Keikaku Kara no Dasshutsu as well.

[Da Robot]

Reminder!

It's now March 2023, the 3DS and Wii U eShop close on March 27th.

I'm been waiting for this final month to mass purchase, so I could get MyNintendo Gold coins and hopefully be able to use them if I ever get a Switch (or an upgraded Switch) in the next 12 months before they expire.

Worth mentioning
- DSiWare games have never gone on sale
- Any Nintendo published 3DS/Wii U games have never gone on sale since the Switch launched
- Indies might be the only thing worth waiting for the final week, for any possible discounts
- Then again, some indies now have sales with end dates being the 27th
- Don't forget about DLC for any games you do buy (Smash Bros, Fire Emblem, Zelda, 3rd parties, indie)
- The 3DS theme shop also closes this month, so get what ever themes you want (free or paid) now
- Get any free to play games/demos you want now (Pokemon SuMo demo gets you Ash Greninja)
- Smash Bros Controller app exists if you don't own the 3DS game and want to use it as a controller for the Wii U
- Download Pokemon Bank (free) and I think that you will have to buy Pokemon Transporter within it frustratingly
- Capcom has Megaman game collections (Mega Man X, Battle Network) on other platforms, so you may not need to purchase on 3DS/Wii U if you want
- Remember GB/GBC and GBA now exist on NSO
- Look up reviews of games to even see if they are worth buying or not

[Da Robot]

ONE WEEK LEFT

Remember to buy games, DLC and add money to your Nintendo account NOW if you haven't already, there are "limits" to how much money that can be added to ones account per day.