Here comes another case study if digital-only video games is an justificable business at the customer's end, as Nintendo updated the phase out or sunset for the Nintendo eShop for both the Wii Console and the portable Nintendo 3DS.

Notice of End of Purchases in Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS – Update July 2022

As of 27 March 2023, it will no longer be possible to make purchases on Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. It will also no longer be possible to download free content, including game demos. Furthermore, as this date draws closer, related services will cease to function:

As of 29 August 2022, it will no longer be possible to use a Nintendo eShop Card to add funds to an account on Nintendo eShop for Wii U or Nintendo 3DS. However, it will still be possible to redeem download codes until 27 March 2023.

We recommend all consumers to use any funds in their Nintendo 3DS and/or Wii U Nintendo eShop balance before the ability to purchase content ends on Monday 27 March 2023.

Users who link their Nintendo Network ID funds (used on Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS) with the funds tied to their Nintendo Account (used on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch) can use the shared funds to purchase content on any of these consoles and systems until 27 March 2023. After that, the funds can only be used to purchase content on Nintendo Switch.

No changes are planned on Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch.

The changes on Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will simultaneously take effect in software on these platforms where it is possible to make purchases, such as StreetPass Mii Plaza, the Theme Shop and Nintendo Badge Arcade.

Even after 27 March 2023 and for the foreseeable future, it will still be possible to redownload games and DLC, receive software updates and enjoy online play on Wii U consoles and Nintendo 3DS systems.

Note: Sales of the game Fire Emblem Fates will end one month earlier, on 28 February 2023. DLC for Fire Emblem Fates, including story paths accessible after the completion of Chapter 6, will still be available until 27 March 2023.

We thank you for supporting Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. While we hope that you will continue to enjoy using these platforms, we have taken this opportunity to prepare a website where you can look back on your time with them via various play statistics. Please visit https://my-nintendo-3ds-wiiu-memories.nintendo.com.

In a TLDR, practically the Nintendo eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS will no longer let you buy a game or recharge balance after August 28 2022 and the main access to the store will be disconnected by March 27, 2023.

If for any reason you needed to factory reset any of the devices or prepare to sell any of them, all games that were purchased once, can be re-downloaded again for the foreseeable future, but the main question now is how Nintendo defines "foreseeable" and practically the debate on digital purchase continues definitely.

Via Nintendo