Even though the Wii U might not be remembered as the best console Nintendo has ever created, and the company itself has even admitted to the mistakes made with the console that it had to avoid when making the Switch, there are plenty of gamers still utilizing the older hardware. The 3DS too, is still enjoyed by many Nintendo fans, with some interesting and rare exclusive titles for the platform. However, games for both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U are about to get a lot rarer, as Nintendo has announced when it will shut down the eShops for the older consoles.
It was announced earlier this year that Nintendo was preparing to shut down the eShops for the Wii U and 3DS, rendering tons of digital titles inaccessible on those platforms. This decision unsurprisingly proved to be an unpopular one with the majority of fans, as it seemed that Nintendo was making an active effort against video game preservation. Despite fan feedback, Nintendo hasn't budged on this controversial decision, giving fans the date when they will no longer be able to access the eShops for the 3DS and Wii U.
March 27, 2023 is the final day for the Wii U and 3DS eShops and from that day forward, gamers will no longer be able to download their favorite titles from those platforms. For those that are considering just buying physical copies for Wii U and 3DS games, the prices of those titles are likely to increase drastically following this date. It was announced back in February when this news first dropped that by the end of March 2023 the eShops would be inaccessible, but that doesn't stop the confirmation from marking a sad day for owners of the Wii U and 3DS.
Already, some measures have been put in place to stop users from accessing the eShop. In May, players could no longer add funds via a credit or debit card within the eShops. As of August 29 2022, it will be impossible to add funds entirely to an account on the Wii U or 3DS, likely preparing for the day purchases will stop completely. This decision by Nintendo has led fans into demanding that the Virtual Console, which has a load of Nintendo titles, be brought to the Nintendo Switch.
This isn't the first time Nintendo has closed down the eShop of one of its older consoles. In March, the Wii Shopping Channel and DSi Shop were also randomly shut down, with Nintendo not explaining at the time whether these were temporary closures for maintenance or a permanent termination. For the Wii U and 3DS eShops, there's no such confusion, and gamers should make sure they are prepared for the date when the shops will close.