That’s it – it’s official. Nintendo has finally closed down the WiiU and 3DS eShops, following up on a promise to do so that was made almost a year ago. It’s a sad farewell for the millions of Nintendo fans that found many hours of entertainment in two of the most innovative consoles to ever see the light of day.
In 2021, the last brand-new titles for both the 3DS and the WiiU were released, marking an end of physical products for both consoles. Now, the digital storefronts have been closed down, effectively retiring two iconic gaming platforms that emerged from the heart of Nintendo.
The WiiU and 3DS eShops Are No More
Despite the WiiU being a commercial failure of sorts for Nintendo, it was an innovative enough console that offered up many quirks. That sentiment can’t be echoed for the Nintendo 3DS, which was one of the best-selling handheld consoles of all time and proved to be an overwhelming success for Nintendo throughout its entire lifecycle.
Now, with the closure of the WiiU and 3DS eShops, both of these platforms are effectively retired, laid to rest by Nintendo and mourned by millions of fans worldwide.
However, there are a few things that should be stressed.
Firstly, the closure only impacts new purchases, and anything that you’ve already bought can be downloaded as normal – whether that be games or downloadable content. So, if you were fortunate enough to make a whole host of digital purchases, you can still access them.
That’s good news for The Completionist, who recently uploaded a video to YouTube explaining how he’d spent $23,000 buying out the entire WiiU and 3DS storefronts.
Also, any outstanding balance of Nintendo eShop credits can be ported across to Nintendo Switch via the account merging service that the firm provides – as long as you actually have a Switch, that is. It was explained that you have until March 2024 to do that, though – so, no rush.
Are you heartbroken over the loss of the WiiU and 3DS eShops? Did you pick up any last-minute purchases ahead of the storefronts going offline?
For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of Valve’s comments aimed at those waiting for a CS2 beta key.
