Nintendo has revealed that all network related operating services in China as well as the closure of the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch will gradually stop from March 31, 2026 to May 15, 2026. However, as a thank you for continued use and support in the region, Nintendo is launching a “reward plan” for all Nintendo Switch users in China.
That means that starting on March 31, 2026, the Nintendo eShop will stop selling games and tool software. After this date, free trial games and free tool software will no longer be available. On May 15, 2026, download services and redemption code services will no longer be available. Other network-related services will also be terminated on May 15, 2026.
The following Nintendo and non-Nintendo games and utility software that will be affected by the suspension of network-related services include New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Ring Fit Adventure, Mario Tennis Aces, Super Mario Party, Flexible Brain School, Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Exercises, New Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Go! Pikachu, Pokemon Go! Eevee, Just Dance, Meows Run, “Energy Out of Control”, Yo-kai Watch 4: Power Up, Tencent Koding – The First Lesson of Programming, Tencent Video, Noodle Man, and “War Demon Mech”.
Those games and utility software not affected include Skipping Rope Challenge, Yoshi’s Crafted World, Mario Kart Live: Family Racing, 《With navigation! Get started with your first game programming》, Kirby Star Allies, Rainbow Falls, Xi, E-sports Legend, Neon Abyss, “The Land of Evil”, Ashe, The Wonderful Crown, To the Moon, Tower of Moon Shadow, Rayman Legends, 39 Days to Mars, The Candle Man, Rabbids Party, The Incredible Dream Butterfly, Rhythm Fight, Doraemon Ranch Story, Mini Metro, Mario Rabbids Kingdom Battle, The Time Caster, Rainy Season, Extraordinary Heroes, “Brave Huck”, Crazy Lumberjack, The Amazing Swordsman, Hardcore Mecha, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Babel, Aerobic Boxing 2: Dancing with the Power of Punch, My Time at Portia, The Angry Legion, “Dream of the Heart”, Taiko no Tatsujin, and Immortals Fenyx Rising.
The reward plan will be available from November 27, 2024 until March 31, 2026. In that timeframe, any Nintendo Switch players with an active WeChat account associated with with can choose from a lineup featuring New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Party, Mario Tennis Aces, Yoshi’s Crafted World,《With navigation! Get started with your first game programming》, Flexible Brain School, Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Exercises, Kirby Star Allies, New Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Go! Pikachu, and Pokemon Let’s Go! Eevee and will be able to get up to 4 games for free.
Nintendo has not provided a specific reason for the upcoming shutdown but it may have something to do with the Chinese government implementation of a rule limiting children to one hour of online game time per day.