For over eight years, Nintendo loyalists have been able to access the digital marketplace of their beloved Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS devices, but sadly, all of that is coming to an imminent end. On March 31, 2021, both the Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShops will be officially shutting down, meaning no more digital downloads from the online storefronts.
In a statement from Nintendo, the company announced that the Nintendo eShop services for both the Wii U and 3DS platforms will be discontinued, citing the fact that sales had been decreasing, and that the company wanted to focus its attention on other projects.
For many who have come to rely on the digital marketplace of the Wii U and 3DS eShops, this announcement comes as a bittersweet one. The availability of the digital storefronts gave Nintendo fans access to a plethora of downloadable games and content, and it allowed those who preferred digital downloads over physical copies the opportunity to partake in the gaming world that Nintendo offered. However, this apparent end of the digital games market means that players will only be able to purchase their games in physical format such as cartridges and disks or as downloads on other Nintendo consoles.
Although the Wii U and 3DS eShops may be leaving us, there’s no need to worry — Nintendo still has plenty of digital stores and options in the works. Not only are Nintendo’s new console models, the Switch and Switch Lite, available for digital downloads and purchases, but the company is also working on a cloud-based gaming service that can be used across both mobile and PC devices.
For now, it’s time to say goodbye to the Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShops, but it’s always exciting to look forward to see what Nintendo has in store for its loyal fan base.