By Sagar V. Mankar 
The Nintendo Switch eShop and all associated network services in China are set to shut down in 2026. According to an official announcement, the Chinese Nintendo eShop will cease game sales and software downloads on March 31, 2026. Following this date, players will no longer be able to purchase or claim any games, whether paid or free. By May 15, 2026, additional features such as downloading titles, redeeming codes, and accessing downloadable content (DLC) will also become unavailable.
The Nintendo Switch entered the Chinese market in 2020 through a partnership with Tencent. At launch, the Chinese version of the console included only one first-party game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Over time, additional older Nintendo Switch titles were localized to cater to the Chinese audience.
Free Games for Eligible Chinese Players
To ease the transition for players, Nintendo has announced a special offer. Starting from November 27, 2024, until the closure on March 31, 2026, users of the Chinese Nintendo Switch with an active WeChat account linked to their console can redeem up to four free games. The available titles for this promotion include:
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Super Mario Party
- Mario Tennis Aces
- Yoshi’s Crafted World
- Flexible Brain School
- Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Exercises
- Kirby Star Allies
- New Pokémon Snap
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!
- Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!
Each WeChat account can redeem the free games only once, meaning that users with multiple Nintendo Switch consoles will require separate active WeChat accounts to claim games for each device.
Implications for Chinese Gamers
The shutdown signals a significant shift for Nintendo in the Chinese gaming market, where strict regulations and unique market dynamics have posed challenges. Players are advised to download and back up any purchased games and DLC before the closure dates.
For further details, visit the official Nintendo China website or consult Tencent’s announcements regarding the closure.