The use of credit cards and other forms of electronic payments will no longer be possible through the eShop in Japan on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems or the on Wii U starting on January 18, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Japan Time. Users will still be able to make digital purchases on these systems after the closure date. As long as a Nintendo Network ID is linked to a My Nintendo account, funds will appear on the Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShop balance. Additionally, users can still add credit via prepaid cards or or make purchases via NCL’s website.
This is bad news for Nintendo fans not living in Japan, as the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops supported the use of non-Japanese issued credit cards. While the Switch is completely region free, adding funds are a bit more difficult. To make purchases in Japan, users need to have a credit or debit card issued in Japan or purchase Nintendo prepaid cards.
While this may seem to be coming out of nowhere, Nintendo has been giving subtle signs of this here in Japan. As of a few weeks ago, Nintendo stopped highlighting the Nintendo 3DS top selling eShop titles in their weekly ranking article which could have been a slight form of proof to the level of activity on the eShop. Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo Australia ended support for credit cards on the systems back in 2019.
Source: NCL, via Syrenne McNulty
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