The Nintendō īShoppu is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch 2, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS,
Key features
Initially, the two versions of the Nintendo eShop between the
Wii U and Nintendo 3DS were independent of each other. Whilst this remains largely true, after the implementation of Nintendo Network ID for the Nintendo 3DS, users that register the same ID account between both systems (currently at one time per console) can share a combined funds balance, home address, saved credit and debit card information,
wish list entries, and (formerly) linked
Club Nintendo accounts. With the release of the Nintendo Switch version of the Nintendo eShop, the balance stored on a Nintendo Network ID can be shared or transferred to a Nintendo Account to be spent on the Nintendo Switch.
The eShop stores a record of all downloads and purchases, allowing users to re-download previously purchased software at no additional charge, provided the software is still available on the eShop. Downloads can be started immediately, or they can be queued up and be pushed to the console while it is not in use or when the eShop application is not running.[. Ripten.com (21 October 2011). Retrieved on 2013-08-23.] Before the implementation of Nintendo Network ID for the Nintendo 3DS in December 2013, only five transfers between Nintendo 3DS systems were permitted. The limit on system transfers has since been permanently waived.
Country availability
As of August 2024, the Nintendo eShop is available in 46 markets:
* = The official Nintendo eShop in this market is currently limited to only download code support.
Former markets
Certain markets originally had official access to a variation of the Nintendo eShop at one point, but Nintendo had discontinued the service in those markets for certain reasons without a present follow-up.
Many South American and Caribbean markets originally had access to a limited variant of the Nintendo eShop on both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS,
The Taiwanese market has had a complicated history with Nintendo products in the 2010s.
In May 2023, Nintendo was obligated to close the eShop on the Nintendo Switch in Russia after more than a year's hiatus due to reasons beyond their control, likely as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Nintendo Switch eShop is set to close in China on March 31, 2026.
Currency
Unlike the Wii Shop Channel and the
DSi Shop services, which use
Nintendo Points for purchases, the Nintendo eShop lists prices in the appropriate regional currencies (e.g. United States dollars and
).
Accounts can be funded using either credit cards or prepaid cards purchased in stores.
In China, the Nintendo eShop was opened on December 10, 2019, via Nintendo Switch units distributed by Tencent. Users can only log in with a WeChat account, and the account can only be funded via WeChat Pay. In addition, purchasing downloadable content from other regions is disabled due to the lack of the ability to sign in with a Nintendo Account and the general region locking of the Nintendo Switch for the Chinese market. Nintendo's mainland Chinese subsidiary iQue originally launched the iQue 3DS XL in December 2012 with two digital games pre-installed, but the eShop itself was never launched for the console in China.
Downloading
When applications were downloaded on the 3DS they took up space on the system in Nintendo's form of storage called blocks. On Wii U and the Switch, however, this storage type which was also used on consoles like the Wii was replaced with the mostly universal Megabyte and Gigabyte memory format.
Multitasking
The Nintendo eShop can be accessed at any time via the HOME menu screen, even when a game is already running, on Wii U and Nintendo Switch. Background downloading is also possible via
SpotPass while using any other application on the Wii U or Nintendo 3DS, and while in Sleep Mode on Nintendo Switch.
Currently, 10 downloads can be queued at a time. The status of the downloads can be checked on the HOME menu under the "Download Manager". If notifications are activated, a pop-up message will appear in the top right corner of the screen to notify the user that a download is finished.
Ratings
The Nintendo eShop supported user reviews of games, applications, and other media on the Wii U and 3DS. After an eShop title had been acquired and used for at least one hour, users could submit a review consisting of a crescent range of one to five "stars", representing the title's quality. Users could also categorize games by age and gender, as suitable for hardcore or casual gamers. The Wii U had
Miiverse integration for user reviews on the Nintendo eShop. The switch though removed the feature of buyer's reviews, and they haven't come as of January 20th, 2025.
Deluxe Digital Promotion and Nintendo Network Premium
On September 13, 2012, during a Japanese
Nintendo Direct presentation, Satoru Iwata introduced a new service called Deluxe Digital Promotion (North America)/Nintendo Network Premium (Europe, Australia, and Japan). It was a loyalty program similar to
PlayStation Plus offered on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Gold on
Xbox Live.
Consumers who purchased the Wii U Deluxe Pack in North America, or the Wii U Premium Pack in Europe and Japan, would receive a free two-year subscription to this service which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital purchase.
Members who bought games and apps through the Wii U Nintendo eShop would receive ten percent of the price back in points, which could be exchanged for eShop credit on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShop. Points could be exchanged for eShop credit through March 31, 2015.
The program was discontinued on April 1, 2015. The service was never fully implemented beyond its promotional period.
The My Nintendo program formerly featured a similar concept for anyone who links their Nintendo Network ID to their Nintendo Account profile, and users could earn Gold Points via any Nintendo eShop purchase. For a period of time, users were able to redeem Gold Points for download codes or discount coupons available on My Nintendo for specific Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles. Gold Points themselves could still be used to discount any purchases made on the Nintendo Switch. The ability to earn Gold Points have since been discontinued as of March 2025.
Nintendo 3DS and Wii U closures
A limited variant of the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo 3DS family was discontinued on July 31, 2020, for various Latin American and Caribbean markets,
as well as for the Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern markets.
A limited variant of the Nintendo eShop on Wii U was also discontinued at the same day for said Latin American and Caribbean markets.
As of that date, the ability to download, redownload, and update any software became unavailable, and games using the eShop were also affected.
The ability to purchase, download, and play new content on the Nintendo eShop for the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS was discontinued for the rest of the world on March 27, 2023,
List of available content
The following types of games, applications and media are or were available to download from the Nintendo eShop.
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|
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| Download Software | | | colspan="2" |
| Retail games | | | colspan="2" |
| Add-on content | | | colspan="2" |
| Updates | | colspan="3" |
| Demos | | | colspan="2" |
| Nintendo & Sega 3D Classics | | colspan="2" | |
| DSiWare games | | colspan="2" | |
|
| Famicom/NES | rowspan="4" | rowspan="2" | rowspan="3" | |
| Super Famicom/Super NES | |
| Nintendo 64 | | |
| GameCube | | | |
| Master System | | | rowspan="2" | |
| Sega Genesis | | | |
| PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 | rowspan="5" | | | |
| Neo Geo | | | rowspan="3" |
| MSX | | |
| Commodore 64 | | |
| Arcade games | | | |
| Game Boy | rowspan="2" | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |
| Game Boy Color | |
| Game Boy Advance | | | | |
| Nintendo DS / Nintendo DSi | rowspan="2" | rowspan="2" | | |
| Game Gear | | |
|
| Screenshots | | colspan="2" | |
|
| Game videos (including trailers, behind the scenes, interviews, commercials, and promotional videos) | | | | |
| Video walkthroughs | | | | |
|
| Apps and services | | | colspan="2" |
|
Downloadable software
Retail releases
The majority of
Wii U, Nintendo 3DS,
Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and select
Wii retail releases are on the Nintendo eShop. The first was
New Super Mario Bros. 2, launched on the Nintendo 3DS eShop alongside its retail release in August 2012.
A system update in March 2013 allowed players to transfer save data from a physical version of a game to a download version.
[ 3DS system update restores eShop, Game Notes access for some users – Gaming News. Digital Spy (5 April 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-23.]
Download-only releases
Any video game company, particularly independent video game developers, may publish via the Nintendo eShop as download-only software for the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch. Various games, which may be sold as retail games in some regions, might be released as download-only software in others for various reasons, such as cost-effective localization.
3D Classics
3D Classics is a series of NES/Famicom, Arcade,
Sega Genesis,
Master System, and SG-1000 games remade with added 3D visuals and updated features, although the overall graphics retain their original art style and appearance. These are exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS family.
Add-on content
Add-on content includes downloadable content (DLC) or
to augment existing games with new features, and patches. This content can both be free to download or purchasable. Add-on software can be added to both downloadable and physical games, and be purchased either individually or via in-game stores.
Demos
As of December 6, 2011, a system update upgraded the service to feature downloadable demos of retail games and eShop games.
Developers have the option to limit access to demos, such as limiting the number of plays available to the user.
When the number of plays reaches zero, the demo cannot be opened. The first paid demo was released in Japan on August 4, 2011,
[ ニンテンドー3DS｜謎惑館 音の間に間に 第一話「光る目」｜Nintendo. Nintendo.co.jp. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.] and free demos were further released in Japan on December 27, of the same year
[ The Five 3DS Game Demos Aren't Unlimited. Some Are Nice, Though. Kotaku.com. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.] and in North America on January 19, 2012. As of December 9, 2013, Nintendo Network IDs were implemented onto the Nintendo 3DS, becoming required for downloading free demos from the eShop.
Software updates
Software updates, more commonly known as patches, have been available on both Nintendo 3DS, since April 25, 2012,
[McWhertor, Michael. (21 April 2012) Nintendo 3DS Firmware Update Adding Folders, Game Patches | Side Mission. GameTrailers. Retrieved on 2013-08-23.] and Wii U, since November 18, 2012,
[ Wii U – System Update. Nintendo.com. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.] via a system update. These system updates gave the ability to patch downloadable and retail releases, through both the Nintendo eShop and HOME Menu. These patches have the main purpose of fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs and improving usability or performance. Patches can also be downloaded while using other applications via the systems' Download Manager.
Virtual Console
Bācharu Konsōru, sometimes abbreviated as
VC, was a specialized section of the Nintendo eShop that allowed players to purchase and download games and software for
Nintendo's
Wii U and Nintendo 3DS consoles that were games from older systems like the NES, Gameboy, and SNES.
Wii U
The Wii U used the Wii U Menu and Nintendo eShop to access and purchase Virtual Console games, respectively. Virtual Console games on the Wii U can be suspended and users can also create save states anytime. The GamePad is only compatible with these games through
Off-TV Play.
Select games from the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS libraries were available for purchase on the eShop. Most of the Virtual Console library available on the original Wii was also available on Wii U through the implementation of the console's Wii Mode and Wii Shop Channel, to access and purchase Virtual Console games. Wii Virtual Console games cannot be controlled using the Wii U GamePad, though the current versions of the system software support displaying Wii Virtual Console games on the GamePad screen as if playing any other Wii game.
Nintendo 3DS
The Nintendo 3DS used the Home Menu and Nintendo eShop to access and purchase Virtual Console games, respectively. Virtual Console games on the Nintendo 3DS can be suspended and users can also create save states anytime. Functionality is available to display the games at native resolution.
Games for the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance (for Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors only) NES, SNES (New Nintendo 3DS exclusive), Sega Game Gear, and Turbografx16 (Japan only) were available on the eShop.
Twenty free NES and GBA games were available to 3DS owners who became eligible in the Ambassador Program (users who logged onto the Nintendo eShop before August 12, 2011, and did not erase their eShop details). Special features in this interpretation of the Virtual Console allowed players to create Restore Points, temporarily saving the game state for use later, and the optional ability to view games in their original resolution accompanied with special borders or templates.
Game Boy Advance games can be displayed at their original screen resolution like other Virtual Console games but they do not support Sleep Mode, Restore Points, and Home Menu functionality while the game is running.
The New 3DS, New 3DS XL, and New 2DS XL were the only consoles able to play SNES Virtual Console.
WiiWare
WiiWare, for the
Wii video game console, has been available for the
Wii U since launch day when an update added support for the Wii Shop Channel's library of WiiWare games. Unlike DSiWare on the Nintendo 3DS, WiiWare software is only available for download on the Wii U through
Wii Mode, not the Nintendo eShop. Similarly to using Wii software on the Wii U, WiiWare can only be played in its original resolution, via Wii Mode, and Wii U Home Menu functionality is disabled while WiiWare software is being played. Prior to the Wii Shop Channel's closure, there were over 450 downloadable games available in North America . Initially all games except
LostWinds were published on the Wii U.
LostWinds had since been patched and made available for transfer and purchase on the Wii U.
It was discontinued in January 2019.
DSiWare
DSiWare, for the
Nintendo DSi handheld game console, has been available for the Nintendo 3DS since June 2011, when the Nintendo eShop was first introduced. With a few exceptions for certain games or applications such as
Flipnote Studio, the majority of existing DSiWare software is available for download on the Nintendo 3DS through the Nintendo eShop. Similar to using
Nintendo DS software, DSiWare can be optionally viewed in its original resolution and Home Menu functionality, SpotPass, StreetPass, Auto Brightness (New Nintendo 3DS only) and 3D Functionality is disabled whilst DSiWare software is being played. There are over 550 downloadable DSiWare games available in North America as of January 2016.
DSiWare games and software on the Nintendo eShop are largely priced near-identically as on the original DSi Shop. Online functionality has been defunct in DSiWare games due to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service ceasing operations as of May 20, 2014. As of March 27, 2023, DSiWare games and apps are no longer available for purchase, coinciding with the worldwide closure of the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS.
Video services
The Nintendo eShop offers a wide range of video streaming applications, which correspond to third party streaming services. Some of these services' applications are available for download on Nintendo 3DS and are preinstalled on North American Wii U consoles, such as
Netflix,
Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video applications.
These streaming services are available independently from Nintendo Network services.
Additionally, some videos can either be downloaded to the system's memory through SpotPass. On the Nintendo 3DS, many of these videos are offered in Stereoscopy; on the Wii U, only 2D high definition videos are available. The exact content available varies by region.
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|
|
| Hulu (Japan and United States only) | | | | |
| Amazon Prime Video (United States only) |
(Optional Amazon Prime subscription available) | | | |
| Netflix | | | | |
| TiVo (DVR service officially announced but never released) | | | | |
|
| Netflix | rowspan="3" | | colspan="2" |
| Hulu (United States only) | | colspan="2" |
| Hulu Japan (Japan only; wholly separate service from American Hulu.) | | | |
| Prime Video (North America and Europe) |
(Optional Amazon Prime subscription available) | | | |
| LoveFilm (Europe only) | | | | |
| YouTube | rowspan="2" | | colspan="2" |
| Nintendo Video | colspan="2" | |
| More apps announced for Japanese Wii U eShop >GoNintendo – What are YOU waiting for?. GoNintendo (5 December 2012). Retrieved on 2013-08-23. (Japan only) | | | | |
| Nico Nico (Japan only) | | | colspan="2" |
| Crunchyroll (North America, Europe and Oceania only) | | | | |
| Funimation (North America, Europe, and Oceania only) | | | colspan="2" |
| Tencent Video (Tencent Nintendo Switch units in Mainland China only) | rowspan="3" | | colspan="2" |
| Twitch | | colspan="2" |
| AbemaTV (Japan only) | | colspan="2" |
|
| Nintendo Direct conference videos | rowspan="2" | | colspan="2" |
| Nintendo eShop News | | colspan="2" |
|
| Short Films | | colspan="2" | |
|
| InkyPen | rowspan="3" | | colspan="2" |
| Izneo | | colspan="2" |
| Napster (Europe only) | | | |
| Watchup | | | | |
Discontinued services
Nintendo Unleashed
Nintendo Unleashed was a video gaming
online magazine published by Future Publishing for
Nintendo Network. It is produced by the team behind the Official Nintendo Magazine and features video reviews and previews and footage of upcoming and recently released
Nintendo games. Episodes are released monthly on the Nintendo eShop,
Nintendo Channel and
YouTube where users can watch all the latest news, reviews and previews of
Wii,
Wii U,
Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and
Virtual Console games. The show's original name and format was called
Nintendo TV.
[ Nintendo TV – Episode 1. YouTube (16 December 2011). Retrieved on 2013-08-23.] The show ended sometime in 2014 before the Official Nintendo Magazine ceased publication.
Nintendo Show 3D
Nintendo Show 3D was a video gaming
online show produced by
Nintendo and hosted by Jessie Cantrell. It featured video previews and footage of upcoming and recently released Nintendo 3DS retail and downloadable games. Episodes were released every two weeks on the Nintendo eShop free of charge. This series was exclusive to North American Nintendo 3DS consoles.
[ Nintendo eShop Official Site – Videos . Nintendo.com. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.] Nintendo Show 3D released its last episode on March 28, 2013,
[ Nintendo Show 3D comes to an end | GoNintendo – What are YOU waiting for?. GoNintendo. Retrieved on 23 August 2013.] two years after the North American release of the original Nintendo 3DS.
Nintendo eShop News
Japan exclusive news video conferences hosted by
Satoru Iwata.
[ [Chotto Nintendo Direct] Nintendo eShop News 2013.1.25. YouTube (25 January 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-23.][ [Chotto Nintendo Direct] Wii U Nintendo eShop News 2013.2.6. YouTube (5 February 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-23.]
Short films
The Nintendo eShop offers a wide range of downloadable video content for the Nintendo 3DS. These videos are mostly offered in 3D and are downloaded to the system's storage. To produce and distribute these short films,
Nintendo partnered with companies such as Breakthru Films, Black Box Productions, Atlantic Productions, Ka-Ching Cartoons and DreamWorks Animation.
Litigation
The Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) filed suit against Nintendo in February 2018, asserting that the eShop's policy on pre-order refunds violated European consumer law. As the NCC outlined, while European law requires digital storefronts to provide refunds on pre-orders, Nintendo bypassed this for the Switch eShop by having the user click an acknowledgement checkbox that waived their rights to refunds. NCC argued this violated the EU's Consumer Rights Directive 2011 as all pre-orders must be able to be refunded.
Nintendo cited that under the directive that offering the checkbox to waive this right was valid.
The
German Federation of Consumer Organisation (
Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband e. V., or VBEV) took the lead on the lawsuit by December 2018 as Nintendo's European headquarters were located in Großostheim.
The Regional Court of Frankfurt ruled in December 2019 for Nintendo, but both the NCC and VBEV appealed the decision.
See also
Notes
