Nintendo Switch eShop in China closing on March 31, 2026: no new game purchases after that date. Nintendo partnered with Tencent for China release due to region locks and approval of games in the market. Digital games trend increasing globally: potential for future worldwide eShop shutdown.

Nintendo has announced that it's closing the Switch eShop, as well as all network services for the console, in 2026, but only in China.

Nintendo Switch is halting its eShop operations and other online services in China in the upcoming year. In 2019, Tencent partnered with Nintendo to start selling Switch consoles in China. According to the official announcement on Nintendo’s website on Tuesday,

Nintendo has announced a major change for the Switch console in China: The eShop and Nintendo Switch Online services will close in early 2026. The move comes amid the Chinese government's implementation of a rule limiting children to one hour of online game time per day.

Tencent Nintendo Switch said on Tuesday that the Chinese eShop and other online services for the Nintendo Switch will gradually cease operations starting in 2026. According to the statement, the Chinese eShop will stop selling or offering paid and free games and software on March 31,

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.

Nintendo will shut down the Switch eShop and all other online services in China by 2026. An official announcement from Tencent, which handles Nintendo's sales in China, gives a timeframe of March 31st, 2026, to May 15th, 2016. After this period, Nintendo Switch owners in China cannot download any games, DLC, or redeem codes.

This morning, Nintendo announced the closure of its Chinese eShop and the discontinuation of its online services on its Chinese website. The Chinese Switch eShop will stop selling games after March 31, 2026, and all online services will cease after May 15, 2026.

Nintendo (OTCPK:NTDOF) plans to shut down its online services for the Switch console in China from 2026, according to a post on a WeChat account operated by its game publishing partner Tencent. The post said Nintendo’s e-store will suspend sales of games and software from March 31,