The Nintendo eShop is a service that lets people buy and download games, apps, and videos for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It was also used earlier for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U through the Nintendo Network. The eShop started in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS and replaced the Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop. It is a multitasking tool, meaning it can be used even if a game is already running in the background. The eShop offers downloadable games, free game samples, apps, streaming videos, customer reviews, and details about new games. The service stopped working for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U in March 2023 but continues to work on the Switch and Switch 2.

Key features

At first, the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U operated as separate systems. This is still mostly true today. However, after the introduction of Nintendo Network ID for the Nintendo 3DS, users who linked the same ID account on both systems (one account per console) could share a combined funds balance, home address, saved credit and debit card details, wish list items, and (previously) linked Club Nintendo accounts. When the Nintendo Switch version of the Nintendo eShop was released, the balance stored on a Nintendo Network ID could be shared or moved to a Nintendo Account for use on the Nintendo Switch.

The eShop keeps a record of all downloads and purchases, allowing users to re-download previously bought software for free, as long as the software is still available on the eShop. Downloads can begin right away or be queued to start later, even when the console is not in use or the eShop app is closed. Users who upgraded from a Nintendo DSi system could transfer their previous DSiware purchases to the Nintendo 3DS, except for some items like Flipnote Studio. A December 2011 update added a similar feature for transferring purchases between 3DS systems. Before the introduction of Nintendo Network ID for the 3DS in December 2013, only five transfers between 3DS systems were allowed. This transfer limit has since been removed permanently.

In 2016, Humble Bundle sold bundles of 3DS and Wii U games in North America with support from Nintendo of America. In 2019, Nintendo of America began offering selected first-party games for sale on Humble Bundle's store.

Region availability

As of April 2026, the Nintendo eShop is available in 49 countries. In some countries, the official eShop only supports purchasing digital codes for games and apps. These countries include the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

Some countries once had access to a version of the Nintendo eShop but later stopped offering the service. This happened for different reasons, and in many cases, no new version of the eShop was introduced later.

In parts of South America and the Caribbean, a limited version of the eShop was available on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. In Asia, countries like Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates had access to a limited eShop version only on the Nintendo 3DS. Many of these countries did not get the eShop on newer platforms, even though those platforms were available. However, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand will officially launch a full eShop service on November 18, 2025. The Philippines will have its launch date announced later.

Taiwan had a complicated relationship with Nintendo products in the 2010s. The Nintendo 3DS was officially sold there, and for a time, it had access to a Chinese version of the eShop shared with Hong Kong. The Nintendo Switch was later sold in Taiwan, but Hong Kong got the eShop on the Switch in April 2018. Taiwan did not get the eShop on the Switch until September 2025, after the Nintendo Switch 2 launched. The Wii U was never officially sold in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

On May 31, 2023, Nintendo closed the eShop on the Nintendo Switch in Russia after more than a year of not being available. This was likely due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Tencent version of the Nintendo Switch eShop in China closed on March 31, 2026.

Unlike the Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop, which used Nintendo Points for purchases, the Nintendo eShop shows prices in local currencies, such as U.S. dollars and euros. Users can pay with credit cards or store-bought prepaid cards.

In China, the eShop launched on December 10, 2019, through Nintendo Switch units sold by Tencent. Users must log in with a WeChat account and can only pay with WeChat Pay. They cannot buy content from other regions because of region restrictions and the inability to use a Nintendo Account. The iQue 3DS XL was sold in China in 2012 with two pre-installed games, but the eShop was never available for that console.

On the Nintendo 3DS, downloaded apps used storage called "blocks." On the Wii U and Switch, storage is measured in megabytes and gigabytes, like other consoles.

The Nintendo eShop can be accessed from the HOME menu on the Wii U and Switch, even while playing a game. Background downloads are possible on the Wii U and 3DS through SpotPass, and on the Switch while in Sleep Mode. Up to 10 downloads can be queued at once. Users can check download progress on the HOME menu under "Download Manager." If notifications are enabled, a pop-up message appears when a download finishes.

The eShop allowed users to leave reviews for games, apps, and media on the Wii U and 3DS. After using a title for at least one hour, users could rate it with 1 to 5 stars. They could also categorize games by age and gender. The Wii U had Miiverse integration for reviews, but the Switch removed this feature. Reviews were not available on the Switch as of January 20, 2025.

On September 13, 2012, Satoru Iwata introduced a loyalty program called Deluxe Digital Promotion (North America) or Nintendo Network Premium (Europe, Australia, and Japan). It was similar to PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold. Users who bought the Wii U Deluxe Pack (North America) or Premium Pack (Europe and Japan) received a two-year subscription. For every purchase on the eShop, users earned points redeemable for eShop credit on the Wii U and 3DS. The program ended on April 1, 2015, and was not fully implemented beyond its initial promotion.

The My Nintendo program later allowed users to earn Gold Points for eShop purchases. These points could be used for download codes or discounts on specific titles. Gold Points could also be used for purchases on the Nintendo Switch. However, earning Gold Points was discontinued in March 2025.

A limited version of the eShop on the Nintendo 3DS was discontinued on July 31, 2020, for Latin American, Caribbean, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern markets. A similar version on the Wii U was also discontinued on the same date. After that, users could no longer download, redownload, or update software, and games relying on the eShop were affected.

The ability to buy, download, and play new content on the eShop for the Wii U and 3DS was discontinued worldwide on March 27, 2023. Adding credit cards to accounts stopped on May 23, 2022, and adding funds ceased on August 29, 2022, except for users who linked their Nintendo Network ID to their Nintendo Account, who could add funds until March 27, 2023. Redeeming download codes was extended to April 4, 2023. Redownloading previously purchased content, updates, and free themes remained available. Merging funds from a Nintendo Network ID with a Nintendo Account was possible until March 11, 2024. Previously downloaded content was unaffected by the suspension of Wi-Fi services for the 3DS and Wii U on April 8, 2024.

List of available content

The following kinds of games, apps, and other content have been available to download from the Nintendo eShop.

Downloadable software

Most Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and select Wii retail games are available on the Nintendo eShop. The first game released on the eShop was New Super Mario Bros. 2, which became available on the Nintendo 3DS eShop at the same time as its retail release in August 2012. A system update in March 2013 allowed players to move game progress from a physical copy of a game to a digital version.

Any video game company, especially independent developers, can publish games on the Nintendo eShop as download-only software for the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch. Some games sold as retail copies in certain regions may only be available as download-only software in other regions due to reasons like cost-effective localization.

3D Classics is a series of games originally from the NES/Famicom, Arcade, Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, and SG-1000 systems. These games have been redesigned with 3D visuals and updated features, though their overall graphics still look like the original versions. These games are only available on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.

Add-on content includes downloadable content (DLC) or microtransactions that add new features or improvements to existing games. This content may be free or require purchase. Add-on software can be added to both downloadable and physical games and can be bought individually or through in-game stores.

As of December 6, 2011, a system update allowed users to download free demos of retail and eShop games. Developers can choose to limit how many times a demo can be played. Once the allowed number of plays is reached, the demo can no longer be opened. The first paid demo was released in Japan on August 4, 2011, and free demos were later released in Japan on December 27, 2011, and in North America on January 19, 2012. By December 9, 2013, Nintendo Network IDs were required to download free demos from the eShop.

Software updates, also called patches, have been available on the Nintendo 3DS since April 25, 2012, and on the Wii U since November 18, 2012, through system updates. These updates allowed users to apply patches to both downloadable and retail games via the Nintendo eShop or the HOME Menu. Patches are used to fix security issues, bugs, and improve usability or performance. Patches can also be downloaded while using other apps through the systems’ Download Manager.

Virtual Console

The Virtual Console, also called VC, was a specific part of the Nintendo eShop. It let players buy and download games from older systems like the NES, Game Boy, and SNES for the 3DS and Wii U.

The Nintendo 3DS used the HOME Menu and Nintendo eShop to access and buy Virtual Console games. Players could pause games and save progress at any time. They could also view games in their original resolution.

Games from the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance (only for 3DS Ambassadors), NES, Super NES (only for New Nintendo 3DS), Game Gear, and Turbografx16 (only in Japan) were available on the eShop.

Players who logged into the eShop before August 12, 2011, and did not delete their account details could get 20 free NES and Game Boy Advance games. These games had special features, like creating Restore Points to save progress temporarily and viewing games in their original resolution with special borders or templates.

Game Boy Advance games could be played in their original screen resolution, but they did not support Sleep Mode, Restore Points, or HOME Menu functions while the game was running.

Only the New 3DS, New 3DS XL, and New 2DS XL could play Super NES Virtual Console games.

The Wii U used the Wii U Menu and Nintendo eShop to access and buy Virtual Console games. Players could pause games and save progress at any time. The GamePad could only be used with these games through Off-TV Play.

Games from the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS libraries were available for purchase on the eShop. Most Virtual Console games from the original Wii were also available on the Wii U through the console’s Wii Mode and Wii Shop Channel. However, Wii Virtual Console games could not be controlled using the Wii U GamePad, even though newer system software allowed them to be displayed on the GamePad screen like other Wii games.

WiiWare

WiiWare, a type of game for the Wii console, became available for the Wii U when it launched, after an update added support for the Wii Shop Channel's collection of WiiWare games. Unlike DSiWare on the Nintendo 3DS, WiiWare games can only be downloaded on the Wii U through a feature called Wii Mode, not through the Nintendo eShop. Similar to how Wii games work on the Wii U, WiiWare games must be played in their original resolution using Wii Mode. The Wii U Home Menu cannot be used while playing WiiWare software. Before the Wii Shop Channel closed, there were more than 450 downloadable WiiWare games available in North America as of October 2012. At first, all games except LostWinds were available on the Wii U. Later, LostWinds was updated and could be transferred or purchased on the Wii U. It was no longer available after January 2019.

DSiWare

DSiWare, a collection of games and applications for the Nintendo DSi handheld console, became available for the Nintendo 3DS in June 2011 when the Nintendo eShop was first launched. Most DSiWare software can be downloaded on the Nintendo 3DS through the Nintendo eShop, except for a few games or apps like Flipnote Studio. When playing DSiWare, users can choose to view it in its original resolution or use the Home Menu features. However, functions such as SpotPass, StreetPass, Auto Brightness (only on New Nintendo 3DS models), and 3D effects are not available during gameplay. As of January 2016, there were over 550 downloadable DSiWare games available in North America. Prices for DSiWare games and apps on the Nintendo eShop are mostly similar to their original prices on the DSi Shop. Online features in DSiWare games stopped working in 2014 when the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service ended. As of March 27, 2023, DSiWare games and apps are no longer available for purchase, which happened at the same time as the worldwide shutdown of the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS.

Video services

The Nintendo eShop provides many video streaming apps that match third-party services. Some of these apps can be downloaded on the Nintendo 3DS or are already installed on North American Wii U consoles. Examples include Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. These services are not connected to Nintendo Network services.

Some videos can be downloaded to the system’s memory using SpotPass. On the Nintendo 3DS, many of these videos are in 3D without special glasses. On the Wii U, only 2D high-definition videos are available. The exact content depends on the region.

• SpotPass TV stopped working on June 20, 2012.
• Eurosport stopped working on December 31, 2012.
• The Hulu app ended in 2019 for the Wii U and 3DS.

Nintendo Unleashed was an online magazine about video games, published by Future Publishing for Nintendo Network. It was made by the same team that created the Official Nintendo Magazine. The magazine included video reviews, previews, and clips of new and recent Nintendo games. Episodes were released monthly on the Nintendo eShop, Nintendo Channel, and YouTube. Users could watch news, reviews, and previews about games for the Wii, Wii U, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Virtual Console. The show was originally called Nintendo TV. It ended in 2014, around the same time the Official Nintendo Magazine stopped being published.

Nintendo Show 3D was an online show made by Nintendo and hosted by Jessie Cantrell. It included video previews and clips of new and recent Nintendo 3DS games. Episodes were released every two weeks on the Nintendo eShop for free. This series was only available on North American Nintendo 3DS consoles. The last episode was released on March 28, 2013, two years after the North American launch of the original Nintendo 3DS.

Japan had exclusive news video conferences hosted by Satoru Iwata.

The Nintendo eShop offers downloadable videos for the Nintendo 3DS. These videos are mostly in 3D and stored on the system. Nintendo partnered with companies like Breakthru Films, Black Box Productions, Atlantic Productions, Ka-Ching Cartoons, and DreamWorks Animation to make and share these short films.

Litigation

In February 2018, the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) filed a lawsuit against Nintendo, claiming that the eShop's pre-order refund policy broke European consumer laws. According to the NCC, European law requires digital stores to offer refunds for pre-orders. However, Nintendo avoided this rule by requiring users to click a checkbox that gave up their right to a refund. The NCC said this action broke the EU's Consumer Rights Directive 2011, which states that all pre-orders must be eligible for refunds. Nintendo argued that the checkbox was a valid way to allow users to choose whether to keep their refund rights. By December 2018, the German Federation of Consumer Organisations (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband e.V., or VBEV) took charge of the case because Nintendo's European headquarters were in Großostheim.

In December 2019, the Regional Court of Frankfurt ruled in favor of Nintendo. However, both the NCC and VBEV appealed this decision. In September 2020, Nintendo updated its policy to allow refunds for pre-ordered games, but only one week before the game's release date. Despite this change, the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt overturned the lower court's decision in December 2021, ruling against Nintendo. The court stated that Nintendo's policy still violated the EU consumer directive because "the conditions for the right to cancel were not met, as the downloadable game provided after the pre-order did not yet include any playable content."