#Nintendo Ends Credit and IC Card Use On 3DS and Wii U eShops in Japan

Nintendo Japan announced today that the game company will be ending the use of credit cards and IC cards (such as Suica, Pasmo) on the Japanese Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops from January 18, 2022, at 9 AM Japan time. Though this isn’t the end of the eShop on these platforms, with games still available to buy off the Nintendo Online Store and topping up with prepaid cards from convenience stores and other outlets or using Paypal.

At this time, this only affects the Japanese eShop on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, the Nintendo Switch isn’t affected at all, and in fact, can still be used to top up a Nintendo Account which is used on the older platforms. 

This doesn’t only affect the eShop, with the internet browser on the 3DS and JOYSOUND for Wii U losing functionality when this change occurs. Users of the internet browser on 3DS will be unable to change the filtering setting, which blocks adult websites, as the function requires the verification of a credit card to use. Karaoke game JOYSOUND for Wii U will be ending the 90-day ticket renewal function on October 26, 2021, as well as YouTube posting.

With it being over four years since the Nintendo Switch was released, it seems its older family members are being put out to pasture sooner rather than later (especially with production ceasing on the consoles), but before that happens, it might be an idea to stock up on the 3DS and Wii U games that haven’t been re-released for Switch.

Source: Nintendo on Twitter

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Daryl Harding is a Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.