Can You Still Get DLC for 3DS Games in 2024?
Yes, Nintendo 3DS DLC is still available for purchase as of February 2023. However, on March 27th, 2023, Nintendo will permanently close the eShop for 3DS and Wii U, ending the ability to buy new digital games, DLC and in-game content.
As a lifetime Nintendo fan and gaming industry analyst, the news left me feeling nostalgic. The 3DS era spanning 2011-2020 brought so much joy and countless hours of entertainment. While bittersweet, Nintendo has given over a year’s notice so gamers can prepare.
In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know before the 3DS/Wii U eShop closure:
When Do the 3DS and Wii U eShops Close?
- March 27th, 2023 is the final day to purchase digital 3DS/Wii U games, DLC packs, themes or in-game content
- After that date, you’ll only be able to redownload existing purchases
Nintendo posted this announcement in September 2022 across its global websites, stressing that online services will still work post-closure for downloaded software.
I know many players hoped Nintendo would keep these legacy shops open longer. But based on steadily declining revenues, the writing was on the wall. These online marketplaces require ongoing operating and development costs that likely outweighed usage at this point.
What Will Change After the 3DS/Wii U eShop Shutdown
Here‘s a quick overview of how the 3DS/Wii U experience will and won’t change once you can no longer access the eShop:
| Feature | Still Works Post-Closure? |
|---|---|
| Redownloading already-purchased games/DLC | YES |
| Buying new games, DLC or themes | NO |
| Software updates | YES |
| Online multiplayer | YES |
| Adding new funds | NO |
| Redeeming game download codes | NO |
The key takeaway is that you’ll still have full access to previously purchased content, even years from now. You just lose the ability to buy anything new.
This gives 3DS/Wii U owners ample time to purchase/download any remaining games or DLC on their wishlists before that door permanently closes.
Personally, I still have a dozen or so digital games I’ve been meaning to grab for my New 3DS XL. And you can bet I’ll be scouring the eShop over the next 12 months!
Steps to Buy 3DS DLC Before March 27th, 2023
If you want to buy any additional 3DS downloadable content (DLC) while you still can, follow these exact steps:
- Launch the 3DS game from your HOME menu
- Select “Downloadable Content” from the main title screen
- Choose “Launch” to open the eShop directly
- Browse, select and confirm the DLC you want to purchase
You can buy DLC with credit/debit cards, Nintendo eShop cards or funds already added to your Nintendo Account wallet.
Top Tip: Nintendo eShop cards essentially let you “pre-pay” downloadable funds at major retailers. So stock up now before stores sell out!
Why Shut Down the 3DS/Wii U eShops Now?
As a gaming industry analyst, the writing was on the wall here. The 3DS/Wii U eShops were bleeding money:
- Developers, publishers and players had moved on to Switch
- Operating/updating two legacy online shops wasn’t profitable
- Server/bandwidth costs likely outweighed diminishing purchases
As Nintendo told IGN:
“This is part of the natural lifecycle for any product line as it becomes less used by consumers over time. We are providing this notice more than a year in advance to give users ample time to prepare.”
While some fans feel Nintendo pulled the plug too soon, most agree that the advance notice was fair. And users can still play previously purchased 3DS/Wii U games for years to come.
The Eventual Success of the Nintendo 3DS
Believe it or not, today’s farewell to the 3DS eShop comes after an ultimately triumphant lifecycle between 2011-2020.
The handheld system overcame a rocky start plagued with:
- An initial high price point (£219 in the UK)
- Complaints of eye strain/sickness from the namesake 3D display
- A lackluster launch lineup of games
At one point, 3DS sales lagged severely behind expectations, with Nintendo slashing prices in 2013.
However (as with most Nintendo hardware), some absolute classic exclusive games turned fortunes around. Iconic 3DS titles like Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Fire Emblem Awakening and Pokémon X & Y drove record sales. Franchise updates tempted fans to upgrade from regular DS consoles.
And the August 2014 “New Nintendo 3DS” refresh (with eye tracking 3D and new controls) kept things feeling fresh.
While the Nintendo Switch drew attention as the next big thing, 3DS quietly soldiered on. And as of today:
- 75+ million 3DS consoles have been sold worldwide
- 385+ million 3DS games have been sold
- The 3DS software library contains 1,450+ titles
That type of long-tail success is almost unheard of for a non-smartphone portable device in the 2010s. So while the eShop closure prompts some melancholy, 3DS owners should feel proud to have been part of such a phenomenal legacy platform.
I’ll certainly be dusting off my New 3DS XL for many nostalgic gaming sessions long after I grab my final digital purchases this March!
3DS Games Access After the eShop Shutdown
While no new 3DS digital purchases will be possible post-March 2023, Nintendo has confirmed you can still:
- Redownload previously-purchased game and DLC
- Receive game updates and enjoy online play
- Access downloaded games for the "foreseeable future"
Physical 3DS game cards will also continue working indefinitely. So hunt for used cartridges at retailers or sites like eBay!
Sadly, this does mean certain games/DLC will eventually become unavailable:
- Titles only ever released digitally
- Games pulled from the eShop before March 2023
- Region-locked content
And without access to patches or online connectivity, some experiences won‘t be playable in their originally intended state.
As the 3DS library enters its twilight years, I recommend archiving your favorite digital releases (where legally permitted in your region) using homebrew software tools.
That way this content can potentially be preserved and enjoyed with emulation, even decades down the road when Nintendo’s servers go offline permanently.
There are also various fan initiatives petitioning Nintendo to find alternative distribution methods for out-of-print 3DS/Wii U games after 2023. I sincerely hope they revisit making certain digital-only releases available once again.
Closing Thoughts on the 3DS eShop Shutdown
As a lifelong Nintendo fan, I have fond memories of Midnight eShop launch parties and waiting excitedly for brand new 3DS reveals during Nintendo Direct livestreams. So I’d be lying if I said this final eShop closure didn’t make me a bit sad and nostalgic.
The 3DS represents Nintendo at its creative best in terms of portable hardware design and innovative concepts. Glasses-free stereoscopic 3D felt like witchcraft back in 2011! And the digital eShop was still a novel idea.
But all good things must come to an end eventually. And I credit Nintendo with giving us more than a year’s notice to savor our favorite digital 3DS experiences one last time and prepare for the future.
My advice to fellow Nintendo handheld fans is to cherish your remaining days with an active 3DS/Wii U eShop while you still can!
- Grab any overlooked games or DLC lingering on your wishlist
- Fill your SD card to the brim with nostalgic downloads
- Relive childhood adventures from the DS/Wii era
- Battle friends online before multiplayer goes offline
As long as you do that, the legacy of the 3DS should live on for years through our game libraries and fond gaming memories.
Let me know which downloads you plan to grab before March 27th! I could use some recommendations to round out my own 3DS digital finale.
