While Nintendo may be available for consumers worldwide, the brand is restricted in certain places—specifically, China.
With Nintendo partnering with Tencent to bring their brand to the Chinese market, a recent announcement confirmed that they will be closing their eShop in China in 2026.
Nintendo Switch eShop Closing in China
According to Nintendo Switch China (via Nintendo Everything), the Nintendo Switch eShop for Chinese markets will be shut down starting in 2026.
The shutdown has two stages. The first happens on March 31, 2026, when games and other software will no longer be available for purchase in the store.
The next stage will take place on May 15, 2026, when players will no longer be able to download titles, redeem codes, or get DLC. Network services are also expected to end on the same day.
Are there Benefits to the eShop Shutting Down?
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+ 2Though it’s disappointing for some Chinese players to hear the eShop is closing, there are some benefits to having an account (as well as a WeChat account connected to your Switch). Switch owners can claim four titles via digital download between Nov. 27, 2024, and March 31, 2026. The choices of games include:
- Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
- Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training
- Kirby Star Allies
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Mario Tennis Aces
- New Pokemon Snap
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
- Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu/Eevee
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Super Mario Party
- Yoshi’s Crafted World
No specific reason has been given for the shutdown of the Nintendo eShop, but it may have something to do with Nintendo’s deal with Tencent. Perhaps the Nintendo titles will be available via the Tencent e-shop, but nothing official has been confirmed.
Admittedly, the Chinese Nintendo eShop is already considered pretty limited, and its library of games is considerably smaller compared to the available titles for everyone else worldwide.
It's not clear what China specifically bans in the Nintendo eShop, but the country has been known to be strict when it comes to censorship, and this has been considered troubling not just for games but overall entertainment media as well.
click to enlarge + 2There's Still Plenty of Time
With the shutdown coming in 2026, there is still time for Chinese Nintendo players to get what they can from the shop before it closes. Hopefully, by then, alternate options for getting games will be revealed—which will probably be in collaboration with Tencent.
Despite the limited releases, China is still considered to be a huge chunk of the gaming market, and Nintendo probably can’t afford to lose the profits it gains from the Chinese player base. Hopefully, more news relating to the shutdown will be released before the year ends.
It’s also worth noting that this shutdown is only happening specifically in China, so everyone else around the world doesn’t need to worry about their digital store closing.
If you’re a user from China, make sure to get everything you want out of the Nintendo Switch eShop while there’s still plenty of time. The shutdown begins on March 31, 2026.
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