The Nintendo Switch is at the end of its lifecycle, but especially so in China. After what will have been six years of service, the Nintendo Switch eShop will be shutting down permanently in China, including all network services. Starting on March 31, 2026, you won't be able to buy any games on the Chinese eShop, then on May 15th, the removal of the ability to redeem game codes or purchase DLC will occur. Online play will also end on the same date, with network services shutting down for good. To make up for the shuttering of the eShop, Nintendo of China will be giving Switch users four free select first-party games, to be redeemed through WeChat.

Source

 

[Thorhax]

Why though, if Switch 2 will use the current Nintendo account system?
I thought Nintendo liked money? There are a lot of customers in China.

 

[AmandaRose]

I'm just here patiently waiting for the inevitable @Bladexdsl rant about how terrible Nintendo are

 

[TheRealKTRF2K6]

I'm just here patiently waiting for the inevitable @Bladexdsl rant about how terrible Nintendo are

How this terrible days so yeah?

 

[codezer0]

Why though, if Switch 2 will use the current Nintendo account system?
I thought Nintendo liked money? There are a lot of customers in China.

If less than a percent of the population can even afford one or to buy games digitally, and the rest are just either being scrapped for parts or banned from the servers...

Well, you get the idea.

 

[RaptorDMG]

Why though, if Switch 2 will use the current Nintendo account system?
I thought Nintendo liked money? There are a lot of customers in China.

Probably due to the CCP cracking down on gaming over the past few years. If I remember correctly young people are limited to 3 hours per week and so Nintendo probably doesn't see enough profits to counteract the costs of providing the service in China.

 

[LNLenost]

hell naw

 

[ertaboy356b]

Why though, if Switch 2 will use the current Nintendo account system?
I thought Nintendo liked money? There are a lot of customers in China.

Because China does not have NSO and is handled by Tencent locally.

 

[Chary]

Why though, if Switch 2 will use the current Nintendo account system?

While it doesn't seem to be confirmed, which is why I didn't include it in the article, it looks like:

Chinese tech media 36Kr received exclusive information about Tencent Nintendo Switch online service shutdown:

The TNS online service was run by a long-time partner of Nintendo, but said partner would no longer be available due to their recent change in their business in China. pic.twitter.com/GJkAcMmtzF

— Chinese Nintendo (@chinesenintendo) November 26, 2024

 

[BigOnYa]

I just looked at my original Switch box, and nowhere does it say online services can and will be disabled in the future. This is just wrong and should be illegal. I know its inevitable but still, at least put it in writing on the box. "Guaranteed Online Access Till 202x". Yea its only in China but will happen worldwide eventually.

 

[Bladexdsl]

wewillscrewyoutendo not even waiting for the next device out now to shut down their shitty services!

 

[Marusu]

Looks like it’s an issue with Tencent.

 

[eyeliner]

This is quite a big load of goddamn!
Weird that it goes down COMPLETELY.

 

[ZeroFX]

China being china, probably didn't licked XingJing Pooh's feet enough.

 

[DJ-Yoshiman]

I just looked at my original Switch box, and nowhere does it say online services can and will be disabled in the future. This is just wrong and should be illegal. I know its inevitable but still, at least put it in writing on the box. "Guaranteed Online Access Till 202x". Yea its only in China but will happen worldwide eventually.

It's most likely tucked away in the novel of Terms and Services you agree to by utilizing the product.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Looks like business related changes regarding Tencent is what caused this to happen, if my research is right. This isn't Nintendo's fault in this particular case, Tencent is a Chinese company, as such they fall under business practices that differ from the rest of the world as much as any other company over there. Change can definitely create conflicts with partnership, the fault resides in business and maybe even the politics behind it.

 

[J-Will]

How will the Chinese buy Nintendo games after March 31, 2026?

 

[KingVamp]

Considering the weird partnership thing, I doubt this means much out of China. I do wonder if they will try for a different partnership for the Switch 2 tho.

 

[hippy dave]

That's 18 months away, which is a fair bit longer than the wording makes it sound

 

[SDA]

Not surprising considering China has always been so fussy with video games. If it wasn't for them, bootlegs would not exist.