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[RagnarokIV]

it's happening!

Nintendo are closing the Switch eShop in 2026!!

For China

Nintendo Switch eShop closing 2026 in China

Nintendo will close its Switch eShop and all network services in China in 2026.

www.eurogamer.net

Nintendo will close its Switch eShop and all network services in China in 2026.

After 31st March 2026, the digital store will no longer sell games, plus free trials will no longer be available. Then, from 15th May 2026, Nintendo will stop all download and code redemption services, meaning DLC will no longer be redeemable.

All other network-related services will also end on 15th May 2026.

MOD: Fixed the headline. To OP -- Don't use a bait title for news.

 

[Draugoth]

On March 31, 2026, the Chinese Nintendo eShop will stop selling games and any other software. After this date, all software, including paid and free titles, will no longer be available to purchase or claim. On May 15, 2026, players will no longer be able to download titles or redeem codes. DLC will also become unavailable at this time.

Source

 

[Deft Beck]

You knew what you were doing with that title, dude. Please fix it.

 

[Hrk69]

 

[RoboFu]

Dumb title

 

[Judge Magister]

Edit: OP title is no bait anymore

 

[RagnarokIV]

You knew what you were doing with that title, dude. Please fix it.

Dumb title

You guys are right, there's a chance people could see the thread title and assume it's just a rumor or fake news instead of the real deal.

The title should be REAL [NO RUMOR]: Nintendo Switch eShop closing in 2026

 

[JimboJones]

What's going on in China to cause Nintendo to close up shop?

 

[RetroGamingUK]

What's going on in China to cause Nintendo to close up shop?

China has no kids, everyone there is old now.

 

[darth.shrimp]

Now I'm curious, what was the original title? Just omitted the "in China" part?

 

[RagnarokIV]

What's going on in China to cause Nintendo to close up shop?

Nintendo isn't saying why they're packing up.
But the Chinese players do get a free game... That's digital... And probably won't be able to redownload in the near future.

 

[NuclearDiarrhea]

What's going on in China to cause Nintendo to close up shop?

Some fat kid in China emulated a shitty Switch game for 5 minutes and Nintendo got mad, probably.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Wonder if piracy is a big problem there. Seems to be the reason they won’t enter the Indian market.

 

[RagnarokIV]

Wonder if piracy is a big problem there. Seems to be the reason they won’t enter the Indian market.

Piracy is possible but that still sells consoles and a few of those will purchase software.

I saw a YouTube video ages ago that the Switch is handled by Tencent in China. There's no Nintendo account or anything, it's all Tencent. I wonder if there's a problem there between Nintendo and Tencent?

 

[Spukc]

them closing the eshop sure will stop piracy for good

 

[BlackTron]

Piracy is possible but that still sells consoles and a few of those will purchase software.

I saw a YouTube video ages ago that the Switch is handled by Tencent in China. There's no Nintendo account or anything, it's all Tencent. I wonder if there's a problem there between Nintendo and Tencent?

Now it's making sense why it's post dated to 2026. Who wants to get out that bad, but waits? They're gonna let some contracts run out and not renew them or make new ones.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Wonder if piracy is a big problem there. Seems to be the reason they won’t enter the Indian market.

Most of the Switch CN users have HK or TW eShop accounts so all their digital games are bought from there since the CN eShop has a very limited selection of titles due to local CCP regulations.

 

[RagnarokIV]

Most of the Switch CN users have HK or TW eShop accounts so all their digital games are bought from there since the CN eShop has a very limited selection of titles due to local CCP regulations.

How do they access those stores? The video I saw of a Tencent Switch made it seem like it locks you into a Tencent account (or some other Chinese service)

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

How do they access those stores? The video I saw of a Tencent Switch made it seem like it locks you into a Tencent account (or some other Chinese service)

They have imported consoles cuz the CN ones are region locked .

 

[nowhat]

They have imported consoles cuz the CN ones are region locked .

How do they get around the "great firewall"? Or do Chinese authorities just not care about game purchases?

 

[Mayar]

Nintendo has a very strained relationship with China, they can't enter the Chinese market normally. That's why they used Tenсen as an intermediary, who sold special versions of consoles for this market. I think this decision is most likely connected with the fact that Nintendo wants to rethink its approach to the Chinese market with the release of Switch 2, they will not give it up on China market 100%, too fatty a piece to give up completely.

 

[saintjules]

You knew what you were doing with that title, dude. Please fix it.

What did it say? Missed it.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

How do they get around the "great firewall"? Or do Chinese authorities just not care about game purchases?

They use HK VPNs.

 

[Shifty1897]

It's probably piracy related, Nintendo is so militant about that stuff they probably factor an estimation of every copy pirated and treat it the same they would retail theft, in which case, China is a loss leader.

 

[Impotaku]

Can’t really say I blame Nintendo, the Chinese have a hate boner for japan. A lot of companies are slowly pulling away from China it’s a dying country that’s close to collapse.

 

[LavitzSlambert]

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Can’t really say I blame Nintendo, the Chinese have a hate boner for japan. A lot of companies are slowly pulling away from China it’s a dying country that’s close to collapse.

That’s what I’ve heard too

Their working age population is plummeting while there’s hundreds of millions of old folk to look after.

Thousands of western companies are switching to the likes of India, Indonesia and Vietnam for outsourcing and Trump’s tariffs might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Those gleaming skyscraper cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou will resemble a cyberpunk dystopia is a couple of decades.

Shame, China had so much potential but the Commies fucked it with the one child policy.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Nintendo has a very strained relationship with China, they can't enter the Chinese market normally. That's why they used Tenсen as an intermediary, who sold special versions of consoles for this market. I think this decision is most likely connected with the fact that Nintendo wants to rethink its approach to the Chinese market with the release of Switch 2, they will not give it up on China market 100%, too fatty a piece to give up completely.

No one can enter the Chinese market normally, without being tied to a Chinese company. No other country does it.

Good on Nintendo.

 

[nush]

Wonder if piracy is a big problem there.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Here's some insight from a Chinese mainlander:





Additionally: