In the past, the death of a console was symbolized by the end of its production, the end of its official marketing or even the lack of new game releases. If the consoles are now connected, additional steps will now indicate that the end is near. And it is precisely one of these phases that we are talking about today.
Also read: Xbox One vs Wii U in Japan, ironic statistic revealed
In Japan, Nintendo has just announced that from January 18th it will no longer be possible to shop with credit cards (Visa etc.) or prepaid cards (Suica etc.) directly via the Wii U or 3DS eShop. The information couldn’t be more official as it was posted on the official Twitter account of Nintendo’s Japanese customer service.
However, if you still use the Japanese versions of the two big sisters of the Switch, you can shop indirectly on these two machines until further notice. However, you have to go indirect ways.
A notice has been published “Termination of the use of credit cards and electronic money for transport on Nintendo 3DS series and Nintendo eShop on Wii U”. https://t.co/hlGGJIZu3B
–Nintendo Support (@nintendo_cs) July 20, 2021
Less direct purchases
This is because prepaid eShop cards continue to work and users can also use funds in their Nintendo account (and used for purchases on the Switch, for example). provided that the user’s Nintendo Network ID and Nintendo Account have been reread beforehand.
Note that this situation is nothing new to people using European Wii U and 3DS. The ability to shop with payment cards in the eShop of these two consoles was actually removed at the end of August 2019. And as Japanese players will have to do in January 2022, they can still make purchases after linking their Nintendo Account and Nintendo Network ID (and through the official Nintendo website).
What do you think of this news? Do you still buy games on Wii U and 3DS? If so, how do you do it? Tell us all about it in the comments below.
