The company reports this in a statement. Games you already own will still be available for download.
In March 2023, online stores for video game consoles Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will close. However, the phasing out starts earlier, so writes nintendo† For example, as of May 23, 2022, you will no longer be able to deposit money with a credit card to your Nintendo eShop account on the Wii U or the 3DS game systems. From August 29, 2022 you will no longer be able to use eShop Cards, the prepaid vouchers, in the online stores. However, you will still be able to make existing funds in your account, and that until March 23, 2023.
Nintendo does promise that the servers will not be completely taken off the air next year. Users of the systems who have bought a whole library of games should still be able to download the games again when needed.
Both systems are somewhat older, so this step is not really unexpected. The portable 3DS has been around for eleven years and the Wii U, the successor to the incredibly popular Wii console, has been around for ten years. In that sense, the closure mainly affects users who love the classic Nintendo games. In the 3DS and Wii U online store you could buy many of the retro classics made for older Nintendo systems and play as much as you wanted. This is more difficult with newer systems. For example, to play NES titles on the newer Switch console you need a monthly subscription.
In March 2023, online stores for video game consoles Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will close. However, the phase-out starts earlier, Nintendo writes. For example, as of May 23, 2022, you will no longer be able to deposit money with a credit card to your Nintendo eShop account on the Wii U or the 3DS game systems. From August 29, 2022 you will no longer be able to use eShop Cards, the prepaid vouchers, in the online stores. However, you will still be able to use up existing funds on your account, and that until March 23, 2023. Nintendo does promise that the servers will not be completely taken off the air next year. Users of the systems who have bought a whole library of games should still be able to download the games again when needed. Both systems are somewhat older, so this step is not really unexpected. The portable 3DS has been around for eleven years and the Wii U, the successor to the incredibly popular Wii console, has been around for ten years. In that sense, the closure mainly affects users who love the classic Nintendo games. In the 3DS and Wii U online store you could buy many of the retro classics made for older Nintendo systems and play as much as you wanted. This is more difficult with newer systems. For example, to play NES titles on the newer Switch console you need a monthly subscription.
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