Last Chance to Download Games from the 3DS and Wii U eShops
On March 27th, 2023, Nintendo will be permanently shutting down the 3DS and Wii U eShops, meaning that digital purchases on these two platforms will be permanently halted[0] This is a major blow to both gamers and the preservation of gaming history, as there are many titles on both platforms that are only available digitally To make matters worse, certain Pokémon titles are also affected by this decision, making it more important than ever to download Pokémon Bank before the eShop closes
Fortunately, publishers have taken note of this and have slashed prices on many games for both the 3DS and Wii U Capcom, for example, is hosting a massive sale on both marketplaces, offering some games for as low as $299 Other titles like Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies, Mighty Switch Force, and Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse are also going for a fraction of the original price
Adding funds to the 3DS eShop is no longer possible, as Nintendo stopped accepting credit cards and gift cards last year[1] However, users can still add funds to their account by linking their Nintendo Network ID wallet and Nintendo Account wallets on Nintendo’s website and then sharing funds between them[2]
If you’re looking to pick up some of the best games on the 3DS, Siliconera has put together a list of recommended titles to pick up before the eShop closes[3] These include titles like SteamWorld Dig, Mighty Switch Force!, and Bye-Bye BoxBoy! It’s also worth noting that Nintendo has made the Pokémon Bank app free until March 27th, which is a great way for trainers to keep their 3DS Pokémon[4]
Unfortunately, after March 27th, all of these titles and the eShop itself will be gone forever The Wii U launch was only 10 years ago, and the console still has some great features and games[5] It’s a shame that the eShop is being shut down; the service provided an easy way for gamers to buy games digitally, and it’s a loss for both the 3DS and Wii U libraries Be sure to pick up any games you’ve been eyeing before it’s too late
0. “$3 Phoenix Wright, Monster Hunter, and Resident Evil games lead a 3DS/Wii U eShop fire sale” Yahoo Entertainment, 10 Mar. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/3-phoenix-wright-monster-hunter-145134137.html
1. “7 Things We'll Miss About the Wii U/3DS eShop” GameRant, 17 Mar. 2023, https://gamerant.com/things-well-miss-wii-u3ds-eshop/
2. “Buy These Excellent 3DS Games Before eShop Closes This Month” Kotaku, 15 Mar. 2023, https://kotaku.com/nintendo-3ds-shutdown-march-27-sales-how-to-buy-zelda-1850229912
3. “The Best Nintendo 3DS eShop Sales to Buy Before It's Too Late – TouchArcade” Touch Arcade, 15 Mar. 2023, https://toucharcade.com/2023/03/15/3ds-eshop-final-sale-best-deals-list-before-closing/
4. “How to transfer Pokemon from 3DS games to Home before eShop shuts down” CharlieINTEL.com, 13 Mar. 2023, https://www.charlieintel.com/how-to-transfer-pokemon-from-3ds-games-to-home-before-eshop-shuts-down/236210/
5. “Stranded on Wii U: the games worth saving before the eShop shutdown” Eurogamer.net, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2023-the-games-that-deserve-to-be-saved-great-wii-u-titles-that-were-never-ported
