Lyra Martin Tech 07.20.2022 08:Jul AM EDT

Nintendo Confirms Shut Down Date of its 3DS, Wii U eShops

Nintendo has confirmed the 3DS and Wii U eShops will permanently shut down the eShops legacy platform in March 2023.

Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops Will Be Perpetually Closed

Nintendo has announced the day when the 3DS and Wii U eShops will be permanently closed. The massive Japanese corporation said in mid-February that it would shut down the eShops legacy platform at the end of March 2023.

After August 29, Nintendo will no longer allow consumers in the West to add funds or purchase anything after March 27, 2023. The shutdown timeline for Nintendo stores in Japan was made more evident on the company's Japanese website.

In Japan, adding money will be discontinued on August 30 at 1:30 PM JST. On March 28, 2023, at 9 AM JST, or midnight UTC, the 3DS and Wii U eShops in Japan will shut down.

Updated information on the announcement website indicates that the stores will close on March 27, 2023, in the West, and on March 28, 2023, in Japan.

Strangely, Fire Emblem Fates on the 3DS will stop being sold on February 28, 2023, one month before the 3DS eShop shuts down. Through March 27th, 2023, you may still buy its DLC.

Demand has increased slightly as a result of Nintendo ending support for its previous-generation platforms, more so for the adored 3DS and its several revisions than the Wii U. Local gaming stores often sell them for prices that are either very near to their original retail value or much higher.

As more players attempt to stock up on their preferred titles before the deadline, it's also not unusual to discover retailers totally sold out of used inventory.

Nintendo Advises Users to Stop Using its Wi-Fi USB Connector

Due to worries for the users' safety, Nintendo in Japan has turned to Twitter to issue a caution to consumers to avoid using the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector and the (Japan-only) Wi-Fi Network Adapter.

The two gadgets, made available in 2005 and 2008, let customers link their Wii or DS system to a broadband-connected PC via Wi-Fi. The gadgets made it possible for users without Wi-Fi or a suitable network to connect their consoles online.

However, Nintendo has requested that users stop using these devices immediately due to the risks of "falsification of communication data by a third party, network hijacking, or unauthorized access" in a statement posted this morning on the company's Japanese website.

According to Nintendo, if users continue to use these devices, they risk having unauthorized outside access or a virus infecting the linked terminal. They request that users of the product cease using it immediately and switch to a piece of commercially available network equipment in order to safeguard their security.

"We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and cooperation," they said.

It is accurate to claim that Nintendo's current online gaming scene won't come to a complete halt in 2022 due to the less-than-secure Wi-Fi networks enabled by these devices, with the last batches of each of those devices shipping in 2010 and 2013, respectively, for the Connector and Adapter.