Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops to be discontinued on March 2023.
Nintendo is turning the page on their former "handheld and home consoles hand in hand" strategy.
NintendObs Daily. Wednesday, February 16.
It's the beginning of the end of Nintendo's last generation services. Starting on May 23, it will no longer be possible to add eShop money via a credit card on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems. Then on August 29, Nintendo eShop Cards will no longer be able to add money on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, only on Nintendo Switch instead. Finally, it's in late March 2023 that it will no longer be possible to redeem download codes nor to purchase any software even with your remaining funds on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. (Again, these eShop funds will still apply to Nintendo Switch.) This is the beginning and not the end however, for there are no plans to discontinue online play at this time. And for the foreseeable future, players will still be able to redownload games they've bought with their accompanying software updates and DLC. In a sense, these digital items will become part of Nintendo's archives so as they keep them and their distribution services, they might as well let you access your own licences.