On March 27, the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops closed forever, making a large number of games no longer available for purchase. Some sectors of the community are confused about what they can do now in the stores, and we are here to clear up the main doubts.
Days have passed since the closure of the eShops, and it is no longer possible to buy games, a situation that caused several users to say goodbye to them creatively. However, not everything came to an end, and the stores still have options to use on your Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. Keep reading the article to learn about them.
Why Did the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShops Close?
Fans are still wondering why Nintendo closed the stores of its retro consoles and affected millions of its active players. However, the company clarified that this action is part of the life cycle of any product, so they wanted to give notice a year in advance for the community to make their purchases.
Will the same happen to the Nintendo Switch? Yes, but we are far from that happening. As Doug Bowser himself has said, the hybrid console can still have great performance in the coming years.
What Happened to the Funds I Had in My Nintendo Network ID?
Don't worry, you can still link a Nintendo Network ID to a Nintendo account so that your funds appear in the Nintendo Switch eShop and you can use them in your next purchases.
Anyway, don't get too comfortable, as you have until March 2024 to link your Wii U and Nintendo 3DS ID to your Nintendo account. After this date, your funds will be lost.
I Have a Code to Download a 3DS/Wii U Game, Does It Still Work?
Although initially the option to download games with a code would close on March 27, Nintendo decided to give users a new opportunity due to the saturation of the stores in recent days.
Thanks to this, any gamer with an unused code for Wii U or Nintendo 3DS can redeem it. Until when? You better use it before it loses its value next Monday, April 3 at 7:00 PM, Central Mexico time.
What Can You Still Download on the eShop?
The stores on the old platforms no longer allow purchases, but they let you perform other actions that involve the games you once acquired.
Your entire catalog of acquisitions is still available even if you have deleted it, so you just need to turn on your Wii U or Nintendo 3DS, access the eShop, and search for your previous downloads to have whatever you want again, including DLC.
Will the Games Continue to Be Updated?
Another point that has caused a lot of confusion is whether players had to update their games before the closure of the stores. The good news is that this was not the case, and patches are still available for download without problems.
In addition, there is the possibility that more updates will be released by the development teams.
Can You Still Play Online on Wii U and 3DS?
This has been one of the most heard questions these days, since if something keeps Nintendo's consoles alive, it is their possibility of playing online. The best part is that the answer is a resounding yes.
Wii U and 3DS users can take advantage of the online options of each of their compatible games, this because the online servers operate independently and were not affected by the closure of the stores.
Despite this, the situation with this topic can change at any time, and it is advisable to take advantage of online play with your friends and family while you can.
What happens to free-to-play games on Wii U and 3DS?
Due to the closure of the eShops for Wii U and 3DS, it is no longer possible to download any game, whether it was paid or free-to-play, that you did not already acquire before March 27th. However, if you have previously downloaded free-to-play titles such as Team Kirby: Clash Deluxe, Pokémon Rumble World, Metroid Prime Blast Ball, IronFall: Invasion, and Stretchmo, among others, you can still use and enjoy them offline or online depending on the game.
One exception is Nintendo Badge Arcade, which has closed its service and no longer allows players to obtain more badges (which cost $0.99 USD per play). If you have never played it before, you can still access a free trial and view your collection.
Is Pokémon Bank free?
Yes, the Pokémon Bank app, which was previously a paid service, is now officially free to use on Nintendo 3DS. It is currently unknown how long this offer will last, so trainers should take advantage of it while they can.
eShop has a gift for you
Finally, users of the Nintendo 3DS discovered that the eShop has left them a couple of gifts - two themes for the 3DS menu: "Dots and Stripes - Yellow and White" and "Stars - Black and Gold." These themes were previously available for $0.99 USD each, but now they can be downloaded for free to decorate your console.
As you can see, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS still offer hours of entertainment with previously downloaded games (or even those purchased physically), so be sure not to forget about them and continue to enjoy their unique possibilities.
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