By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-27 11:06:44 | Updated at 2024-11-27 13:47:02
2 hours ago
Tencent Holdings will gradually cut off online sales and services for the Chinese version of the Nintendo Switch console from 2026, potentially affecting millions of users in the world’s second-largest video gaming market.
The Tencent-operated eShop for the Chinese Nintendo Switch console will stop selling or offering paid and free video games and software on March 31, 2026, according to a statement published on Tuesday on the console’s mainland website. Certain downloads and code redemptions, as well as other online services, will be shut down several weeks later on May 15.
To compensate affected users, Tencent said it will offer four Nintendo games free of charge from a list of titles that include Super Mario Odyssey and Pokemon: Let’s Go! Pikachu.
Both Tencent, which runs the world’s largest video-gaming business by revenue, and Kyoto-based Nintendo did not state the reason for ending local online support for the Chinese Switch consoles.
The Chinese Nintendo Switch will continue to be available for sale in the country after online sales and services cease, as users can buy titles on physical game cards that are inserted into the console, according to the official statement.
