Nintendo Wii U And 3DS eShop Shutting Down In March 2023

Nintendo has revealed that the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops will be shut down in 2023. You will no longer be able to buy games on either system after March 27th, 2023. The business has stated that you would no longer be able to add monies to the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops after August 29, 2022. If you have made purchases on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, you will be allowed to re-download software and enjoy online play after March 27th, 2023. It's a pity, because there are no legal alternatives to purchasing some of the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U titles that are no longer physically available at their suggested retail price.

Updates on the discontinuation of #eShop for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family systems:

- As of 8/29/2022, it will no longer be possible to add funds.
- As of 3/27/2023, purchases will no longer be available.

More details:https://t.co/T1GJfjxYMF

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 19, 2022

The Wii U & 3DS eShops Are Closing In March 2023

The Wii U and 3DS eShops have been available for almost a decade. But, unfortunately, that is going to change.  Nintendo announced that “as of late March 2023, it will no longer be possible to make Nintendo eShop purchases for the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems”.

"It will still be possible to re-download games and DLC, receive software updates, and enjoy online play on Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of devices after late March 2023, and for the foreseeable future," Nintendo adds. This includes Pokemon Bank, which will be available for free after March 2023. However, it will no longer be accessible for download via the 3DS eShop if you do not already have it on your handheld.

As of late March 2023, it will no longer be possible to make Nintendo eShop purchases for the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.

More info: https://t.co/uGoxCcDZ70

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 16, 2022

3DS & Wii U eShops Will No Longer Accept Direct Payments With Credit/Debit Cards Starting January 18th 2022

Nintendo has announced t that “the handling of credit cards and transportation e-money in the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo 3DS series and Wii U will be terminated at 9:00 a.m. on January 18th, 2022. After the termination, you will no longer be able to add balances using credit cards and transportation e-money from the Nintendo 3DS series and Wii U”.

The good news is that this change is mainly for direct payments. You can use indirect methods, such as the Nintendo Switch, to be able to add funds to the 3DS and Wii U eShops. But it is yet another sign that Nintendo has, unfortunately but unsurprisingly, decided to move on from the 3DS and Wii U.

Nintendo Has Sold 41.67 Million Nintendo Switch Units Worldwide Since March 2017

Nintendo has announced it has sold 41.67 million Nintendo Switch systems in total worldwide. The company reached this milestone as of September 30th 2019. Nintendo had expected to sell 18 million in the current fiscal year and still has to shift another 11.07 million units to achieve this goal. Here’s an updated hardware sales list for Nintendo products:

Nintendo Switch

• Hardware: 41.67 million units (+4.8 million from previous quarter)
• Software: 246.01 million units (+35.88)

Nintendo 3DS

• Hardware: 75.45 million units (+0.17)
• Software: 378.12 million units (+2.6)

Wii U

• Hardware: 13.56 million units (-)
• Software: 102.85 million units (+0.11)

Bayonetta 2 On Nintendo Switch Has Outsold Wii U Version In Same Time Period

Bayonetta 2 on the Nintendo Switch has outperformed the original release of the game which made its debut on the Wii U. The Nintendo switch version of Bayonetta 2 has sold almost 400,000 units while the Wii U version sold below 300,000 in the same time period.

Nintendo Switch Currently Has 3 Times As Many Games As The Wii U Did At This Time

The one-year anniversary of the Switch’s release is soon upon us, and the console has surpassed the Wii U in just about every way possible. According to Kotaku’s calculations, the amount of games on the Wii U is no match for the Switch’s. In fact, even the Wii’s game library is nothing compared to the Switch game library. It has been 279 days since the Switch launched, and the console has managed to accumulate 3 times as many games as the Wii U did in that same time span. There are 191 Switch games available on day 279. The Wii U didn’t reach that same number until 857 days after the console launched. Here’s Kotaku’s chart on the matter:

The Nintendo Switch Outsells Lifetime Wii U Sales In Just 10 Months

Nintendo has announced during its earnings report that the Nintendo Switch has now outsold the Wii U lifetime sales in just 10 months. The Nintendo Switch’s first 10 months on sale, ending December 31st 2017, saw the company shift 14.86 million units. The Wii U sold 13.56 million units during its lifetime. Kotaku reports that Nintendo’s latest platform is currently on pace to cross 15 million units year one. This puts it on par with year one worldwide sales for the PlayStation 4.

SplatNet Ending For Splatoon Wii U, But Online Play Still Available

If you still play Splatoon for the Wii U, then you should know that the SplatNet service for the game will end on September 30th. However, as expected, the online multiplayer will still be available.

“The SplatNet service for the Splatoon game on the Wii U system will be permanently closed on September 30th, 2017. Online multiplayer battles will still be available, as this update only affects the SplatNet service. We sincerely thank all players for using this companion site for the original Splatoon game.”

Nintendo Will Be Closing Miiverse In November

Nintendo has announced it will be shutting down the Miiverse service on November 7, 10 PM PT across all platforms. Miiverse allowed users to interact and share content for the Wii U and 3DS family of handhelds. Nintendo says that users can download their content up to November 7 via a request system in the service. Click here for more details.

You Can Now Use PayPal On The Nintendo eShop

Nintendo has announced that Nintendo Switch, 3DS, and Wii U owners can now use PayPal as an option when paying for their digital purchases on the eShop. Though it should be noted that not all PayPal accounts will work with all regions, despite the eShop being region free. To use PayPal, users link their account when purchasing something on the eShop. The change has been a long time coming for Nintendo console owners and suggests Nintendo is at least looking to modernize payment options of their digital stores.

Multiplayer Breath Of The Wild Mod For Wii U Emulator In The Works

If you’ve played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, then you know it has a massive over world to explore. It would be awesome to experience it with a friend by your side. While an official multiplayer mode  for Breath of the Wild is highly unlikely, a mod is now in development. Although the modders admits that it’s likely over a year away, it will allow 2 people to play locally side by side. However, It won’t be playable on either the Switch or the Wii U, but players will be able to explore Hyrule together via the Wii U emulator CEMU. What do you think of this idea ? It sounds great but kinda seems like a hassle just to play Breath of the Wild with someone else. 

Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Sold 3,840,000 Copies In Total

During Nintendo‘s 77th annual shareholders meeting, the company shared sales data for Zelda: Breath of the Wild. According to Nintendo, the game has sold 3,840,000 copies. Of that total, 2,760,000 had been sold for the Switch and 1,080,000 had been sold for the Wii U.

Zelda: Breath Of The Wild’s DLC File Size Is Larger For Wii U Than Switch

Tomorrow, June 30, the first DLC for Zelda: Breath Of The Wild becomes available. Both Wii U and Nintendo Switch owners will be able to download the DLC and the official Japanese website has detailed just how big the file size is for each console. What’s interesting and unclear why is the Wii U version of ‘Master Trials’ is a massive  3.7GB while Switch players have a tiny 456MB to download.

Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Now Supports Dual Languages

Hidden within the latest update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild enables users to enjoy the game in multiple languages. You can now have Japanese voice acting if you aren’t entirely satisfied with the English voice acting.

“Starting today, players will be able to experience the game in one of nine audio languages [Japanese, English, French (France), French (Canada), German, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Latin America), Italian and Russian], with a different language used for on-screen text by downloading a free software update. To enable this feature in the Wii U version of the game, players will need to download a Voice Pack from Nintendo eShop”.

Here’s Whats Included In The First DLC Pack For The Legend Of Zelda: Breathe Of The Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is hailed by both critics and audiences as one of the most ambitious video games Nintendo has ever produced and has earned universal acclaim. The massive open-air adventure will soon receive even more engaging content with the Expansion Pass, composed of two planned DLC packs for both the Nintendo Switch and Wii U versions. The first pack, called The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – The Master Trials, launches this summer, while the second DLC pack launches in holiday 2017. The 2 packs are only available as a bundle for a price of $19.99. The first pack of downloadable content will add the Trial of the Sword and a challenging new Hard Mode to the game, as well as other fun and useful features.

“Whether you have already completed the adventure or are just getting ready to paraglide into Hyrule for the first time, this new downloadable Expansion Pass makes this massive game even bigger and more engrossing,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “We are always looking for new ways to provide fun and exciting experiences for our fans.”

Here is a breakdown of everything The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – The Master Trials has to offer:

Trial of the Sword: By accessing this location, players can challenge the new Trial of the Sword (previously known as “Cave of Trials Challenge”), where enemies appear one after another. Link starts without any armor or weapons, and if he defeats all of the enemies in the room he can proceed to the next area. Trial of the Sword will include around 45 total rooms for players to complete. When Link clears all of the trials, the true power of the Master Sword will awaken and always be in its glowing powered-up state.

Hard Mode: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is already considered one of the most thrilling games in The Legend of Zelda series, and fans looking for a challenge are in for a treat with the new Hard Mode. In Hard Mode, the “ranks” of enemies in the game are increased (i.e. Red Bokoblins change to Blue), and players might even encounter higher-ranking enemies they wouldn’t find through normal play. Enemies will also slowly recover health in battle, forcing you to defeat them more quickly. They will also more easily spot Link as he approaches them, making these enemies tougher to sneak up on. In addition, floating planks held aloft by balloons will be scattered around Hyrule. By successfully reaching these planks, players can battle enemies and collect treasure.

Hero’s Path Mode: Exploring Hyrule is exciting, but with such a large world it’s sometimes hard for players to remember where they’ve been. To help with tracking progress, the new Hero’s Path Mode will document every step players take, and mark their path in green on the map. The route taken will be tracked for the player’s last 200 hours of play time, with an included slider to track footsteps on a timeline. This even works retroactively, so players that have already put many hours into the game will be able to see where they have traveled. This feature will help in identifying the locations they haven’t visited in this vast world, and may help players find those Shrines they haven’t encountered yet.

Travel Medallion: There will be a new treasure chest somewhere in the game world which contains the Travel Medallion. With the Travel Medallion, players can create a temporary new travel point on the map where they are currently standing. Link can then transport himself to that point at any time. Only one travel point can be registered on the map at a time.

Korok Mask: By finding the new Korok Mask, players will have a much easier time finding Korok locations in the game. When equipped, the mask will shake, indicating that a Korok is hidden somewhere nearby.

New Equipment: Eight new pieces of equipment inspired by previous characters and games in the series will be added to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild after downloading the first DLC pack. Once discovered by the player, they will yield equipment themed after fan-favorite games and characters such as Midna, Tingle, Phantom and Majora’s Mask.

More information about the second DLC pack will be revealed in the future. All DLC is available for both the Nintendo Switch and Wii U versions of the game.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Has Been Updated To Version 1.1.2

A new update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is available for download on Nintendo Switch and Wii U, bringing the game to version 1.1.2 across both platforms. According to Nintendo, it implements some adjustments to make for a more pleasant gaming experience. 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Has Been Updated To Version 1.1.1

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been updated to version 1.1.1. A number of users who have downloaded the patch on both the Nintendo Switch and Wii U state that they’ve seen framerate improvements especially in areas where the game gets bogged down slightly. Here’s the patch notes:

Version 1.1.1
Adjustments have been made to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Is The 4th Highest Rated Game Ever On Metacritic

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been a huge success with critics and gamers alike. The game is currently the 4th highest rated game on online review aggregation site Metacritic. Currently, here’s the top ten highest rated games on Metacritic.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
2. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PlayStation)
3. Grand Theft Auto 4 (PS3)
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
5. SoulCalibur (Dreamcast)
6. Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360)
7. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
8. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
9. Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox One)
10. 10.Grand Theft Auto V (PS3)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Getting DLC And Expansion Pass

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles is one of the largest, most engaging video games Nintendo has ever created. While the main game offers players an engrossing quest that will keep them entertained for hours, as well as the freedom to explore the vast Hyrule at their own pace, the game world provides a rich canvas that offers the opportunity for additional adventures. As a result, the first-ever downloadable content for the main-line Legend of Zelda series is in development.

Starting when the game launches on March 3rd, players will be able to purchase an Expansion Pass for $19.99, granting access to two new sets of downloadable content for the game when they become available later this year. Immediately upon pre-purchase or purchase of the Expansion Pass, three new treasure chests will appear in the game’s Great Plateau area. One of these treasure chests will contain a shirt with a Nintendo Switch logo which Link can wear during his adventure, exclusive to the Expansion Pass. The other two will deliver useful items. The first content pack is scheduled to launch this summer and will include the addition of a Cave of Trials challenge, a new hard mode and a new feature for the in-game map. The second content pack will launch in Holiday 2017, and adds new challenges that will let players enjoy a new dungeon and a new original story. The Expansion Pass will be available for both the Nintendo Switch and Wii U versions of the game and are identical. Content packs cannot be purchased individually.

“The world of Hyrule, which we created for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is so large and vibrant that we wanted to offer more for players to experience within it,” said Nintendo developer Eiji Aonuma, the long-time producer of the series. “With this new Expansion Pass, we hope that fans will play, explore and enjoy the game even more.”

Aonuma also created a brief video to share more details on the Expansion Pass, which is now available on YouTube.The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launches for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles on March 3rd in stores and on Nintendo eShop.

Production For Wii U Ends Globally

Nintendo of America has informed Kotaku that Wii U production has ended globally. This paves the way for the Nintendo Switch console which launches worldwide on on March 3rd.