Given how services and features are provided to hallmark systems at the time of its release and following, the same cannot be said for the same hardware when it becomes legacy unfortunately. In that, platform holders meet a threshold where its digital stores or features do not provide an efficient profit and meet with respected aspects to be discontinues altogether. On Xbox, we saw that with the OneGuide earlier this year.

Additionally, Sony Interactive Entertainment tried to do that with its previous platforms. In that sense, it announced the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita storefronts would be terminated later in the summer. However, user outcry resulted with the PlayStation company retracting the decision; everything except the PlayStation Portable unfortunately.

But in a recent update on Nintendo’s support page in Japan, the firm announces that the Nintendo 3DS & Nintendo Wii U eShops are to dismantle payment methods starting next year. You can read the statement crunched through an online translator below:

The use of credit cards and transportation e-money in the Nintendo 3DS series and Nintendo eShops in the Wii U will end on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. After the event, nintendo 3DS series and Wii U will no longer be available to add balances using credit cards and transportation electronic money.

However, Nintendo elsewhere in the support page does clarify that users who still desire to make purchases can do so by prepaid cards applicable for both systems. Additionally, Nintendo clarifies that the internet browser ‘filtering function’ against harmful websites is tied to credit card authentication and those that desire to change it must do so before the feature is disabled completely later on in 2022.

While on the topic of prior hardware, it was recently discovered that both the Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3 were both outsold by the Nintendo Switch in its latest financial report. That metric features the Nintendo Switch now selling 89.04 million units. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you affected by the recent decision from Nintendo?

Source: Nintendo