Deadline Approaching: Transfer Funds by March 11th
Nintendo gamers have been advised to take action before it's too late. The company has announced the closure of online services for the 3DS and Wii U consoles, and players have until 11 March at 6am GMT / 10pm PT to transfer any remaining funds in their eShop accounts to a Nintendo Account.
"Natural Lifecycle" of Technology
Nintendo states that the discontinuation of online services for the 3DS and Wii U consoles is part of the natural progression of technology. As these consoles become less utilized by consumers over time, the company has made the decision to close their online services.
Don't Miss Out: Transfer Funds or Lose Them Forever
Failure to transfer funds from 3DS and Wii U accounts to a Nintendo Account will result in the loss of that money. So, make sure to take action before it's too late.
Online Play Shutdown Date
On 8 April 2024, at 12pm GMT / 4pm PT, online play for the 3DS and Wii U consoles will be shut down. For players in Japan, the shutdown will occur on the morning of April 9th, at 9AM.
How to Navigate the Transition
Nintendo has provided a help page on its website with instructions on how players can effectively navigate the transition and transfer their funds to a Nintendo Account.
List of Affected Consoles
The online services closure will impact the following consoles:
- New Nintendo 3DS
- New Nintendo 3DS XL
- New Nintendo 2DS XL
- Nintendo 3DS
- Nintendo 3DS XL
- Nintendo 2DS
- Wii U Deluxe
- Wii U Basic
Understanding the Lifecycle of Technology
The initial versions of the 3DS and Wii U consoles were released in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The 3DS family hardware was officially discontinued in September 2020, while the production of Wii U consoles ceased in January 2017, paving the way for the popular Nintendo Switch.
