Nintendo Wii U and 3DS eShop Closure

[ExperiencersInternational]

Summary

On March 27th 2023, at roughly 5am UTC, the Nintendo eShop for 3DS and Wii U systems will have closed. Users will be able to redownload content but can't buy anything whether it's paid or free after this date. There will be no legal way to obtain various DSiWare, Wii, Wii U, 3DS, DS, TurboGrafx-16, Game Gear and MSX games on a Nintendo platform from this date.

 

Correction: Closes at 12am UTC on the 28th. Page is pretty obscure by the looks of it, will be quoted and linked.

 

Quotes

Quote

@NinStatusBot@mas.to on Mastodon (and Twitter) [do not refer to this now]:

 

[Maintenance Scheduled]

 

Maintenance has been scheduled for "Nintendo eShop" on 27 Mar from 05:00 UTC to 07:00 UTC.

 

#Maintenance #NintendoSwitch #WiiU #Nintendo3DS

Quote

Nintendo Life Q&A on eShop closure:

 

Can I still download free software?

 

Free software, including "free-to-start" software like Nintendo Badge Arcade, will be available for download until March 2023. After that, it disappears with the rest of the games.

Quote

Nintendo of America eShop Discontinuation Page (3DS):

 

As of March 27, 2023, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time, it will no longer be possible to make purchases in Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. It will also no longer be possible to download free content, including game demos.

 

My thoughts

It's the end of an era, and it's appalling how Nintendo sees that this is somehow okay. We will also be losing a number of virtual console games to this, and the only way to legally obtain retro games if you haven't obtained them already will be through a subscription, which means you do not own it. I didn't include this in the summary, but Nintendo also stopped My Nintendo rewards for 3DS 2 days early at 8am on the 25th.

 

Sources

Closure time references due to maintenance information [do not refer to this, inaccurate information]: https://mas.to/@NinStatusBot/110075889021268675 / https://www.nintendo.co.jp/netinfo/en_GB/index.html (Nintendo Maintenance Page, in English (UK) using BST time zone)

Nintendo Life Q&A (note that some information is outdated): https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/when-does-the-3ds-and-wii-u-eshop-close-nintendo-eshop-closure-guide

Closure time on NOA support page: https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/58358/~/service-discontinuation%3A-nintendo-eshop-for-nintendo-3ds

Edited March 27, 2023 by ExperiencersInternational
Clarification over VC games on Nintendo platforms, and closure time information changes

[thrasher_565]

good info

 

 

ya at some point people will get sick of subscriptions and buying physical will go up. nothing is safe. even steam...

 

people want be able to sub to everything so they will have to pick.

 

atlest Nintendo has offline play mostly i think? but i still think consoles is large dead. handhelds will do ok. xbox has already gone online and Sony most likely will fallow. well the price atm for a gaming system the consoles are better.

Edited March 25, 2023 by thrasher_565

[ExperiencersInternational]

3 minutes ago, thrasher_565 said:

good info

 

 

This video was already mentioned on I believe Monday's TechLinked episode.

 

My stance on this is pretty mixed, since I appreciate it, but we're essentially telling Nintendo Co. Ltd that this behaviour is alright and the guy really didn't need to waste all his money (for the 3DS at least, I don't know of any preservation projects) since hShop on the 3DS contains a large amount of what has been offered on the eShop.

[thrasher_565]

1 minute ago, ExperiencersInternational said:

This video was already mentioned on I believe Monday's TechLinked episode.

 

My stance on this is pretty mixed, since I appreciate it, but we're essentially telling Nintendo Co. Ltd that this behaviour is alright and the guy really didn't need to waste all his money (for the 3DS at least, I don't know of any preservation projects) since hShop on the 3DS contains a large amount of what has been offered on the eShop.

he did to to archive it in case we need to do hacks to get the game. its sad that that's what we have to do but there no other options.

[ExperiencersInternational]

9 minutes ago, thrasher_565 said:

atlest Nintendo has offline play mostly i think?

Pretendo Network (https://pretendo.network) is a project reverse engineering the 3DS and Wii U's online system, for when Nintendo shuts the online servers completely.

 

Although, some games are only playable on Pretendo right now, since Splatoon and Mario Kart 8's online got pulled on March 3rd. I don't know whether Pretendo can do stuff about this, likely possible, but Nintendo Badge Arcade is also glitchy, Nintendo hasn't been updating certain parts of the application.

 

For the Wii and DS, refer to Wiimmfi (although it's a bit annoying to try and set up on a DS).

[thrasher_565]

there a good reason to shut down not that they hate moeny... but if they make a new mario kart game people would just play the old one when the new one is not as good. and this is happaning to all games and the mad remakes (thow people be asking for remakes for years...) not all remakes are good... like mario 64 on switch patched the stairs glich... mine is steal sealed because of this reason. ya there's some hd added its no were near as good as what emulation can do but people talked about why nintendo cant compete with emulation. but they offer vary little. in 2023 we should be able to make any key to any button period for example.

 

last hack i did was wii home brew but never got it to work right so for now ill buy the cd games and emulate the other 64 and down. was thinking on an everdrive but there hard to find and costly but you can play room hacks thow... so will see.

[bcredeur97]

The Wii U really should have done better. It's kinda sad that it didn't do well

[Techstorm970]

1 hour ago, bcredeur97 said:

The Wii U really should have done better. It's kinda sad that it didn't do well

The games released with the console were underwhelming and the GamePad was really awkward.  Plenty of good games released after the fact, but Nintendo's consoles are primarily driven by Nintendo's own titles.  When those are decoupled, it doesn't go well; we saw this with the GameCube, too, though that flop wasn't as bad.

 

I loved playing Pikmin 3 and 007 Legends on it.

[Eaglerino]

3 hours ago, Techstorm970 said:

The games released with the console were underwhelming and the GamePad was really awkward.  Plenty of good games released after the fact, but Nintendo's consoles are primarily driven by Nintendo's own titles.  When those are decoupled, it doesn't go well; we saw this with the GameCube, too, though that flop wasn't as bad.

 

I loved playing Pikmin 3 and 007 Legends on it.

They also advertised it as what looked like an add on for the Wii for like 2 years, and named it the Wii U, which made people think it belonged to the Wii. I remember telling my friends I bet their next system would be a hybrid console/handheld because the gamepad was close to that, even though it disconnected easily and the battery didn't last very long and it was heavy. Then the switch came out and Nintendo made up for it

[WhitetailAni]

8 hours ago, bcredeur97 said:

The Wii U really should have done better. It's kinda sad that it didn't do well

There's a lot of factors that go into it. CeaveGaming made a video on it - I can't find it, but the gist was:

1. The marketing of the Wii U wasn't great, a lot of people thought the Wii U was just the GamePad and the GamePad was an accessory to the Wii.

2. The GamePad in of itself was kinda weird, and you had to have a Wii U console for it to work (no portability)

3. Nintendo started cracking down on uploading of any footage of Nintendo videos right around the Wii U launch, meaning very few videos were uploaded of games from it, and people played games on other consoles instead. No videos of it on YT = no free marketing and advertising.

 

tl;dr Nintendo shot themselves in both feet and for good measure, a hand too.

[ExperiencersInternational]

15 hours ago, FakeKGB said:

There's a lot of factors that go into it. CeaveGaming made a video on it - I can't find it, but the gist was:

1. The marketing of the Wii U wasn't great, a lot of people thought the Wii U was just the GamePad and the GamePad was an accessory to the Wii.

2. The GamePad in of itself was kinda weird, and you had to have a Wii U console for it to work (no portability)

3. Nintendo started cracking down on uploading of any footage of Nintendo videos right around the Wii U launch, meaning very few videos were uploaded of games from it, and people played games on other consoles instead. No videos of it on YT = no free marketing and advertising.

 

tl;dr Nintendo shot themselves in both feet and for good measure, a hand too.

Nintendo at that time also had a program that you had to sign up to actually use their music.

 

I want to say I did sign up but I think you had to give Nintendo payment information, and I don't think I did lol.

[ExperiencersInternational]

On 3/25/2023 at 4:59 PM, ExperiencersInternational said:

Summary

On March 27th 2023, at roughly 5am UTC, the Nintendo eShop for 3DS and Wii U systems will have closed. Users will be able to redownload content but can't buy anything whether it's paid or free after this date. There will be no legal way to obtain various DSiWare, Wii, Wii U, 3DS, DS, TurboGrafx-16, Game Gear and MSX games on a Nintendo platform from this date.

 

Correction: Closes at 12am UTC on the 28th. Page is pretty obscure by the looks of it, will be quoted and linked.

 

Quotes

 

My thoughts

It's the end of an era, and it's appalling how Nintendo sees that this is somehow okay. We will also be losing a number of virtual console games to this, and the only way to legally obtain retro games if you haven't obtained them already will be through a subscription, which means you do not own it. I didn't include this in the summary, but Nintendo also stopped My Nintendo rewards for 3DS 2 days early at 8am on the 25th.

 

Sources

Closure time references due to maintenance information [do not refer to this, inaccurate information]: https://mas.to/@NinStatusBot/110075889021268675 / https://www.nintendo.co.jp/netinfo/en_GB/index.html (Nintendo Maintenance Page, in English (UK) using BST time zone)

Nintendo Life Q&A (note that some information is outdated): https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/when-does-the-3ds-and-wii-u-eshop-close-nintendo-eshop-closure-guide

Closure time on NOA support page: https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/58358/~/service-discontinuation%3A-nintendo-eshop-for-nintendo-3ds

Update: eShop still open rn but you can no longer redeem download codes

[ExperiencersInternational]

It's now over. In the North American 3DS shop, the only game related option is Nintendo Selects, and the Theme Shop has 2 free themes available to download.

 

It's sad to see it go.

[Brooksie359]

On 3/25/2023 at 12:01 PM, thrasher_565 said:

good info

 

 

ya at some point people will get sick of subscriptions and buying physical will go up. nothing is safe. even steam...

 

people want be able to sub to everything so they will have to pick.

 

atlest Nintendo has offline play mostly i think? but i still think consoles is large dead. handhelds will do ok. xbox has already gone online and Sony most likely will fallow. well the price atm for a gaming system the consoles are better.

I mean alot of consoles still require you to download part or all of the game even if you buy a "physical" copy. I know I had that happen when I lived in a place where the only internet available was 10 mbs so I was pretty upset as I had bought a physical copy precisely so I could avoid having to download anything as it would take forever. Little did I know that the game would require a download that took I think 5 to 6 hours to complete. 

[thrasher_565]

6 minutes ago, Brooksie359 said:

I mean alot of consoles still require you to download part or all of the game even if you buy a "physical" copy. I know I had that happen when I lived in a place where the only internet available was 10 mbs so I was pretty upset as I had bought a physical copy precisely so I could avoid having to download anything as it would take forever. Little did I know that the game would require a download that took I think 5 to 6 hours to complete. 

dosent the switch game not need the internet? or depends on game? i no people that dont have internet for w/e reason and play switch?

 

i no that's the case for like all pc games. i remember buying halflife2 and put the cd in and took me to the website to then just download it...

 

i had slow internet once and downloading was impossible... so i no...

Edited March 28, 2023 by thrasher_565

[Brooksie359]

1 hour ago, thrasher_565 said:

dosent the switch game not need the internet? or depends on game? i no people that dont have internet for w/e reason and play switch?

 

i no that's the case for like all pc games. i remember buying halflife2 and put the cd in and took me to the website to then just download it...

 

i had slow internet once and downloading was impossible... so i no...

I believe the switch has physical SD sorta card with games on it. I am more referencing the other consoles. Not sure about playstation but I know Xbox did require me to download a bunch of stuff so I could play forza which was super disappointing.

[thrasher_565]

1 minute ago, Brooksie359 said:

I believe the switch has physical SD sorta card with games on it. I am more referencing the other consoles. Not sure about playstation but I know Xbox did require me to download a bunch of stuff so I could play forza which was super disappointing.

ya i dont much about games these days so leave that question to some that knows more i guess. when i first got my switch i got a 512gb sd card for it and was like ill just upload the game to that and play it instead of having to insert the game and well dose not work like that. if i want that i have to buy it digitally witch i dont like for nintdeo games as i like to sell it if need be.

 

physical games are mostly dead witch is sad thow i under sand it. oh well plenty of older games still to play haha just got all the tony hawks games...

 

ya both the ps5 and box w/e that call it both have drives but xbox has there online thing for pcs now so no need to buy an xbox to play thow games thow there still good value got game vs building a pc... kinda sad too.

[Brooksie359]

1 hour ago, thrasher_565 said:

ya i dont much about games these days so leave that question to some that knows more i guess. when i first got my switch i got a 512gb sd card for it and was like ill just upload the game to that and play it instead of having to insert the game and well dose not work like that. if i want that i have to buy it digitally witch i dont like for nintdeo games as i like to sell it if need be.

 

physical games are mostly dead witch is sad thow i under sand it. oh well plenty of older games still to play haha just got all the tony hawks games...

 

ya both the ps5 and box w/e that call it both have drives but xbox has there online thing for pcs now so no need to buy an xbox to play thow games thow there still good value got game vs building a pc... kinda sad too.

Honestly that is the one up side of pc is that older games can still be played vs the consoles where backwards compatibility isn't always the greatest. I know some say steam will end eventually but I kinda doubt that will happen any time soon. They just have such a large market share and they make too much money to reasonably think they would shutdown. 

[ExperiencersInternational]

7 hours ago, Brooksie359 said:

I mean alot of consoles still require you to download part or all of the game even if you buy a "physical" copy. I know I had that happen when I lived in a place where the only internet available was 10 mbs so I was pretty upset as I had bought a physical copy precisely so I could avoid having to download anything as it would take forever. Little did I know that the game would require a download that took I think 5 to 6 hours to complete. 

Thankfully, it's generally either you only have to download updates, or you have to download all of it with Nintendo platforms.

 

I used to have a 11mbps connection and it was definitely painful, and I literally have only one provider that offers fibre.

[ExperiencersInternational]

4 hours ago, Brooksie359 said:

I believe the switch has physical SD sorta card with games on it. I am more referencing the other consoles. Not sure about playstation but I know Xbox did require me to download a bunch of stuff so I could play forza which was super disappointing.

We also have cloud games on Switch because it's underpowered lol

[Brooksie359]

4 hours ago, ExperiencersInternational said:

Thankfully, it's generally either you only have to download updates, or you have to download all of it with Nintendo platforms.

 

I used to have a 11mbps connection and it was definitely painful, and I literally have only one provider that offers fibre.

At the time I wish any providers gave over 10 mbs. I was willing to pay more for faster internet there was just nobody that offered more. I guess that is what happens when you live in rural areas. Now I live near a big city so I have 680 mbs which honestly is probably overkill but it's not super expensive so why not?

[ExperiencersInternational]

On 3/28/2023 at 1:54 PM, Brooksie359 said:

At the time I wish any providers gave over 10 mbs. I was willing to pay more for faster internet there was just nobody that offered more. I guess that is what happens when you live in rural areas. Now I live near a big city so I have 680 mbs which honestly is probably overkill but it's not super expensive so why not?

I think here we do have a right to request for effectively the lowest tier of fibre broadband, but sometimes, people have to pay thousands just to get their area connected.

 

Still annoying how my only option here is VMO2 or mobile cellular for fibre. Openreach has zero fibre in my area, which is gonna be interesting when the analog phonelines get cut off.

 

Talking about internet speeds though, the 3DS downloads super slow, like 0.5MB/s (4mbps), although the antennas are extremely good imo. The Wii U thankfully does download faster, but idk whether being limited by 2.4GHz is making a massive difference.

[Brooksie359]

6 hours ago, ExperiencersInternational said:

I think here we do have a right to request for effectively the lowest tier of fibre broadband, but sometimes, people have to pay thousands just to get their area connected.

 

Still annoying how my only option here is VMO2 or mobile cellular for fibre. Openreach has zero fibre in my area, which is gonna be interesting when the analog phonelines get cut off.

 

Talking about internet speeds though, the 3DS downloads super slow, like 0.5MB/s (4mbps), although the antennas are extremely good imo. The Wii U thankfully does download faster, but idk whether being limited by 2.4GHz is making a massive difference.

Yeah there was no fiber anywhere near where I lived so spending a ton to get fiber extended to where I was wasn't possible. I did live somewhere that had a situation similar to that growing up but at the time it wasn't fiber but just your normal faster coax based internet vs dsl so the difference in speed wasn't worth spending thousands for.