We're now just weeks away from the shutdown of the eShop for two Nintendo platforms: the 3DS and Wii U. Both systems are home to a variety of great games, a number of which are only available through the eShop (or can otherwise only be purchased physically at high prices). That wasn't necessarily a huge issue before now, but with these two eShops being closed, that means the simplest route for buying such games is going away.

Digital storefronts shutting down is nothing new; we previously saw it happen with Nintendo's Wii Shop, which still allows you to download and play your purchased games, but does not allow you to buy any new ones. That will also be true for the 3DS and Wii U eShops as of March 27, 2023.

For an industry that already struggles with preservation, that's disappointing to see. The closure of both eShops will mean losing the ability to buy digital-only games released for the two platforms, as well as a means for buying games at a reasonable price that have seen their physical versions dramatically increase in value. The latter scenario may only get worse once the shutdown happens, as fans scramble to collect games they were never able to get their hands on previously--just the sort of situation that profiteers look to take advantage of.