Nintendo Releases Crucial Update for Players

Nintendo fans, mark your calendars because after March 25, you won’t be able to earn any more Gold Points. This special currency, which you can use in the Switch’s eShop to get games, can still be used until the expiration date if you have some already. These points have been a fan favorite, rewarding those who buy physical and digital games with more value—especially for digital purchases. But brace yourselves, as Nintendo announced last month that this beloved program is soon coming to an end.

The Gold Points program has let many Switch owners score a free game here and there with their saved points. It’s been quite the hit with the Nintendo community, offering a little extra something for dedicated shoppers. However, all good things must come to an end, and Nintendo has decided to phase out this offering.

In a recent announcement on Twitter, Nintendo reminded us all again that Gold Points can no longer be earned after March 25. It’s an important notice from their Japanese customer service account that emphasized the 12:30 am ET deadline on that day. While you can still use any points you’ve already earned, it’s the last call for collecting new ones. If you haven’t yet claimed your Gold Points from past purchases, now’s the time to make sure you’ve gotten credit for every eligible buy before the deadline.

Now, some may be scratching their heads about why Nintendo is pulling the plug on such a popular feature. Unfortunately, there’s been no official word on the reasoning behind this decision. What’s intriguing, though, is the timing. This change comes just a little over a week before Nintendo’s anticipated Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, a significant event as the next-gen console is expected around June. As it comes to life, it seems the Switch 2 era won’t include the Gold Points program.

A brand-new console is a perfect moment for Nintendo to rethink its programs—so it might not come as a surprise if the Gold Points feature doesn’t make the leap to Switch 2. But for many loyal fans, the absence of this program is bittersweet. There’s hope that Nintendo might someday offer something new and similar, but for now, gamers will have to adjust to this change and, perhaps, enjoy the other innovations that the future holds.