News Wii U and 3DS eShops to close March 2023 (UPDATE: new additional details, see threadmarks)

shoptroll · Feb 15, 2022

Another thing people should be aware of with 3DS games. Not all games have their DLC menu open at the start and can require story progression before the DLC shops open up. Make sure to do some research and plan ahead.

Thorakai · Feb 15, 2022

Harpoon said:
Jesus, this feels way too soon. And we only have until May before they stop accepting credit cards?! Looks I'm going to have to move fast on some stuff I've been holding off on.

Not happy at all.

If you have your Nintendo account linked to your console you have until March 2023 to add and make purchases, as it pulls fund from same wallet as that used for Switch purchases.

Edit: Oh, just saw your edit! You got it.

xghost777 · Feb 15, 2022

Barely Able said:
Ok. Will work on a decent one with purchase links (for NA at least) if I can find them and whatnot tonight. Hopefully have it ready by morning.

Hey just wanted to say thank you for taking the lead here. I’ve never managed a thread like that before so I was hoping someone with more forum experience would step up. The Wii U, 3DS, and Virtual Console mean a lot to me so it’s going to be a great resource to have here.

39Subrosia · Feb 15, 2022

Now I'm really glad I bought a ton of Atlus 3DS games when they were on sale a little over a month ago. My 3DS backlog is already bigger than I can realistically get around to, but this is still extremely shitty news. I'll probably pick up some more DS/Wii games on Wii U while I still have time.

xghost777 · Feb 15, 2022

Looks like I’m mostly good on the 3DS virtual console. Going to get the Pokemon Trading Card game and maybe Pokemon Puzzle challenge.

Are the Donkey Kong Land games any good? $4 for each.

39Subrosia · Feb 15, 2022

xghost777 said:
Looks like I’m mostly good on the 3DS virtual console. Going to get the Pokemon Trading Card game and maybe Pokemon Puzzle challenge.

Are the Donkey Kong Land games any good? $4 for each.

It's been years since I played them, but 2 and 3 are good imo. 2 feels pretty similar to the SNES game iirc, so maybe not worth it, but it's still a solid GB platformer. 3 is actually the one I enjoyed the most which is ironic given 3 is generally considered the weakest of the SNES trilogy. The first isn't really worth bothering with.

Josh5890 · Feb 15, 2022

I don't like it, especially with the 3DS. The Wii-U I kind of get. I'm pretty sure I'm one of 12 people that turned their system on within the last year.

Deleted member 1676 · Feb 15, 2022

Games are art and I wish they were preserved as such. 20 years from now, if someone buys a 3DS at a pawn shop and they are looking for to buy a SMT game for it and it's $200+, they will no longer have the option to just download the game for $20. I get that it costs money to keep these servers up and all, but it still stinks. At least they gave us a year heads-up, the transparency is appreciated albeit disappointing.

xghost777 · Feb 15, 2022

39Subrosia said:
It's been years since I played them, but 2 and 3 are good imo. 2 feels pretty similar to the SNES game iirc, so maybe not worth it, but it's still a solid GB platformer. 3 is actually the one I enjoyed the most which is ironic given 3 is generally considered the weakest of the SNES trilogy. The first isn't really worth bothering with.

Thanks! I’ll probably pick up 2 and 3 then.

xghost777 · Feb 15, 2022

Josh5890 said:
I don't like it, especially with the 3DS. The Wii-U I kind of get. I'm pretty sure I'm one of 12 people that turned their system on within the last year.

I plugged mine in earlier this morning to play Zack and Wiki which I haven’t played before. Never would have thought 12 hours later this would be happening lol.

Toad King · Feb 15, 2022

It's gonna be funny in Bravely Default when the characters drop hints about buying microtransactions for SP after the store goes down.

Barely Able · Feb 15, 2022

Wii U and 3DS Virtual Console Thread

I got the thread started. Will continue to update it but wanted to get a place going for that.

Squiddo · Feb 15, 2022

This is really sad just read about it..... dang Nintendo this sours me alot. Especially as someone who has alot of digital content on my Nintendo consoles and hardware this is nightmare fuel.

zumaddy · Feb 15, 2022

Don't care much about the Wii U server going down but 3DS has so many eShop gems. Not to mention a bunch of games with good DLC.

Hentz · Feb 15, 2022

Weird, why would close them? I feel like at least the 3DS should make enough money yearly to justify its store to stay open. Not sure about the Wii U tho, doubt anyone cares.

Linkstrikesback · Feb 15, 2022

Just in case I needed reinforcement as to why digital purchases as a primary method is for suckers and would be fucking terrible as the only option on a console.

God, this fucking sucks. I kinda get it, the Wii U has been dead for like, 5 years, but the 3ds still routinely has sales for atlus games if nothing else, come on.

Bet we can't even get them to backtrack like Sony did either.

Raccoon · Feb 15, 2022

sad. might buy some stuff

Imitatio · Feb 16, 2022

That definitely feels too early, especially for the 3DS, with it being a successful platform.

doodlewhizz · Feb 16, 2022

Inevitable (for Nintendo) but incredibly disappointing.

Their wording in the Q&A doesn't exactly fill me with confidence that a Switch successor will be backward compatible either.

Ahmed · Feb 16, 2022

This is way too soon. I would hope there will be a huge backlash to convince Nintendo to change their minds like Sony did with even their 15(!) year old systems. But this is Nintendo, of course they won't change their mind.

AngryNopon · Feb 16, 2022

WiiU store closing still sucks, but is understandable and not that much of a big deal at this point considering a lot of stuff has either already been ported or will be at some point (same with VC games).

The 3DS store on the other hand is a far greater loss. Physical cartridges prices are already high, don't want to imagine what the situation will be next year (and there's no alternative anyway for digital only games).

Galgavias · Feb 16, 2022

Feels too early for me, specially the 3DS which has only recently been discontinued. It's going to be a huge shame how so much digital content is going to disappear. Also causes logistical problems for Pokemon fans with the Pokemon bank no longer being accessible, which will have to be rectified.

At least they're giving over a years notice. Will have to fire up the old Wii U at some points and see if anything on there tickles my fancy

Shadow · Feb 16, 2022

3DS games have already skyrocketed in the past two years, can you image now? Especially without alternatives for games like those from Atlus?!

Tangerine_Cookie · Feb 16, 2022

dyle said:
Payment processing, accounting, and customer service are always the most expensive parts of operating a store and most likely outweigh whatever money they're bringing in. Keeping the servers running for downloads costs next to nothing. If they're already losing money keeping the store open then there's little point in keeping it open.

Jersh said:
IIRC payment processing servers tend to be separate and more expensive to run (if they're properly secure) than content servers, though I might be making that up. Can't remember.

That's about what I was expecting, yeah. But you'd think they'd look into unifying the payment processing servers to prevent this, at least. Like, they are already going to close off adding funds, making you either go through a website or through the Switch to add money.

Pokemaniac said:
This isn't some one of a kind physical work of art. These are infinitely reproducible digital works. The comparison doesn't work at all.

It's still a matter of accessibility and availability and not a matter of preservation, though. Which is my entire point.

Iza said:
I actually believe this to be one of the cases where the word preservation holds weight. Sure -- there's nothing stopping you from downloading software en masse through other means -- but so much of the context is missing without the specific hardware itself. Developers intended their games to be played on 3DS displays with 3D or on Wii U with additional GamePad features. Ease of accessibility on original hardware is a means of design preservation in this case.

I'm certain that the 3D effect in particular won't be easy to replicate and it means that particular context will eventually be lost to time as the hardware either fails or becomes unobtainable for later generations. A game like A Link Between Worlds all of a sudden loses its design intent to future generations and I think that aspect sucks from a preservation standpoint. So I don't believe it's a loaded word in this case, like it's often thrown around.

You can in fact play those backups in the original hardware with relative ease nowadays. The only thing actually hampering it would be the lack of availability of said hardware.

GoedHeiligMan · Feb 16, 2022

Already? How about the PAL regions?

Axe · Feb 16, 2022

Everybody should download whatever game these days is needed to setup CFW on the 3DS (Pokémon Picross, I think?)

You don't have to set it up now, but this way you have the option long after the eShop is gone.

Clov · Feb 16, 2022

Sad, but I guess it had to happen at some point.

Common Knowledge said:
Holy shit, they actually bothered to include this and answer with a "fuck you".

This is truly incredible, and what makes it more amazing is that they apparently removed that part afterwards! Seems super passive aggressive. If it wasn't clear before that VC is dead, it is now!

xghost777 said:
Thanks! I’ll probably pick up 2 and 3 then.

I'd honestly recommend picking up 1 as well! It's rough, but there's a lot to love about it, especially if you're a big DK fan. Like the really small and goofy looking K. Rool sprite!

...as you can see, I do mean it when I say it's rough. But if you're already getting 2 and 3, might as well!

Ozzie · Feb 16, 2022

Oh what?? That's way sooner than I expected for the 3DS. I'm glad almost all my games on 3ds is physical but this still sucks.

Ace Attorney Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice still haven't been ported to modern platforms (I know it's on mobile).

This also means expensive physical games such as Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney and Fates special edition are going to skyrocket.

Digital future is so bleak.

Jersh · Feb 16, 2022

Tangerine_Cookie said:
But you'd think they'd look into unifying the payment processing servers to prevent this, at least.

They likely did look into it. It sucks, but it is what it is.

xghost777 · Feb 16, 2022

Clov said:
Sad, but I guess it had to happen at some point.

This is truly incredible, and what makes it more amazing is that they apparently removed that part afterwards! Seems super passive aggressive. If it wasn't clear before that VC is dead, it is now!

I'd honestly recommend picking up 1 as well! It's rough, but there's a lot to love about it, especially if you're a big DK fan. Like the really small and goofy looking K. Rool sprite!

...as you can see, I do mean it when I say it's rough. But if you're already getting 2 and 3, might as well!

Yeah you’re right I might as well get the full trilogy for another $4. I’m at $40 now for my final 3DS eshop purchases so I’m not doing too bad.

Since I liked Arceus, I bought physical copies of Pokemon X and Alpha Sapphire. Only missing White for mainline Pokemon, but new copies go for $400 instead of $40 each so skipping that I guess. Probably will get a remake in like two, three years anyway. Figuring out Wii U still.

Clov · Feb 16, 2022

xghost777 said:
Yeah you’re right I might as well get the full trilogy for another $4. I’m at $40 now for my final 3DS eshop purchases so I’m not doing too bad.

Since I liked Arceus, I bought physical copies of Pokemon X and Alpha Sapphire. Only missing White for mainline Pokemon, but new copies go for $400 instead of $40 each so skipping that I guess. Probably will get a remake in like two, three years anyway. Figuring out Wii U still.

Not a lot on Wii U to really recommend that isn't already on Switch. I guess you could pick up Xenoblade X and the NES Remix games. It's also your only option if you want to "own" a digital copy of Earthbound Beginnings, since the Switch version is NSO subscription only. If you're really into collecting obscurities you could get Devil's Third, though since it's absolute garbage there's probably not that much reason to.

xghost777 · Feb 16, 2022

Clov said:
Not a lot on Wii U to really recommend that isn't already on Switch. I guess you could pick up Xenoblade X and the NES Remix games. It's also your only option if you want to "own" a digital copy of Earthbound Beginnings, since the Switch version is NSO subscription only. If you're really into collecting obscurities you could get Devil's Third, though since it's absolute garbage there's probably not that much reason to.

I made a big list for Wii U for others in this thread.

Wii U and 3DS Virtual Console Essential Purchases and Discussion Thread - (Update: Wii U /3DS eShops Officially Closed)

Nintendo will be shutting down the Wii U and 3DS eshops in March of 2023. This thread will be a place to list essential purchases and recommendations and have discussion about the games. I will keep it somewhat trim so that we can get some actual discussion (and spread it out over 3 or so...

famiboards.com

It’s mostly Virtual Console at this point beyond Xenoblade X and Paper Mario Color Splash.

MusicProposition · Feb 16, 2022

They released a new 3DS model 5 years ago. This is way too early to shut the servers down, absolutely terrible decision imo

MusicProposition · Feb 16, 2022

Dark Cloud said:
Time to move on

Tangerine_Cookie said:
I'm gonna be honest and say the weirdly toxic way "game preservation" is used nowadays makes me instantly scoff whenever anyone uses it.

Availability and accessibility aren't required for "preservation". Or else we'd have a lot of problems with works of art being kept in private collections.

It's fine to be mad the games will be harder to actually play legally. (Not that there aren't other avenues nowadays to do so, anyway). That's understandable.

Throwing "preservation" in there though, bothers me on principle. These games are perfectly preserved already, both in Nintendo's vaults and in... Community dumps, let's call them.

All talking about preservation does in these instances is basically negatively paint actual game preservation for many. There is very little risk of misplacing and "losing" 3DS software forever. It's another word some people use until their meaning is run to the ground and back, in some cases to justify, well, illegal access to games, and it's tiring.

There is very little risk of "losing" 3DS software forever. Physical copies are in plentiful supply, and digital content is dumped. It's fine to be bothered by digital purchases ending, but preservation this ain't.

Preservation is not only about some fancy Mario collections people keep in their library. Decisions like these are basically wiping away a part of gaming history. There are thousands of smaller titles you won’t be able to get to anymore, there’s DLC, there’s the last remaining proper virtual console.
And I hope you don’t mean that “Nintendo vault” thing seriously

bayonetta · Feb 16, 2022

some of my picks
wiiu