Nintendo to Close the Chinese eShop for Switch by May 2026
The Nintendo Switch eShop will no longer be accessible in China after May 15, 2026.
In a translated announcement, Nintendo indicated it will discontinue its digital store for the region, although no reason was provided for the closure. Following this date, Switch codes and DLC will no longer be redeemable, and other “network-related services” will also cease to be available.
Before the May 15 shutdown, the Switch eShop will stop offering digital games and free trials after March 31, 2026.
Nintendo and Tencent’s Switch collaboration
Nintendo collaborated with Tencent to introduce the hybrid console to China in 2019, two years after its initial launch. China is now the latest country to lose access to the eShop: last year, Nintendo terminated the store in Russia, joining several companies that responded to the country’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this April, the company discontinued online support for the Nintendo Wii U and 3DS after it had previously shut down the eShops for both systems the previous year.
To compensate for the eShop closure, Nintendo is offering Chinese Switch owners up to four complimentary games that can be redeemed between November 27, 2024, and March 31, 2026. These titles include Super Mario Odyssey, Pokémon: Let’s Go! Pikachu (and its counterpart, Let’s Go! Eevee), as well as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The complete list can be found here.
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
A native of Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed to various platforms including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. Apart from Game Developer, his work can also be found at io9 on Gizmodo. Don’t ask him about how much gum he has chewed, as the answer will likely be more than he’s ready to share.