Nintendo 3DS XL
Image: Nintendo Life

Nintendo yesterday announced the beginnings of a phased shutdown for the 3DS and Wii U eShop stores.

It's set to wipe out a huge amount of digital content on these systems, but just how many games can we expect to disappear? While we already know Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation and its DLC will be lost, our friends over at VGC have now done some rough estimates - highlighting the number of games that will no longer be accessible to the masses.

Here in the west, there are currently around 2,000 games available across the 3DS and Wii U eShop, and it seems around 1,000 "digital-only" titles will permanently disappear on these platforms. That's not to forget the Virtual Console offerings that will go missing - with around 350 of them currently not available on Nintendo's Switch Online service.

- Around 450 digital-only Wii U games
- Around 600 digital-only 3DS games
- Around 100 Wii U games that are also available physically
- Around 300 3DS games that are also available physically
- Nearly 530 Virtual Console games, around 350 of which are not currently available on Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo's phased closure of 3DS and Wii U eShop stores will see credit card usage removed from the service by 23rd May 2022. Nintendo eShop card funds can no longer be added to eShop accounts as of 29th August 2022, but download codes can still be redeemed until late March 2023.

How are you feeling about Nintendo shutting down the 3DS and Wii U eShop? Leave a comment below.

[source videogameschronicle.com]