The imminent closure of the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop has been a subject of criticism since its announcement a year ago. Nintendo gave its users enough time to make their last digital purchases, but the most dreaded day has arrived. During these months, people have expressed their concerns about the problem of preservation in this medium due to the definitive loss of thousands of games, including some exclusive to these digital stores that cannot be purchased on any other platform. However, Nintendo has not changed its decision.
Farewells to the 3DS and Wii U eShop have come in many forms. There are fans of the cute eShop mascot, a shopping bag with legs and a face, which brought a touch of personality that doesn’t exist in the Switch eShop. As the 3DS eShop theme song always made us happy, a piano rendition of it by MasterSwordRemix has become one of the most moving dedications online to the eShop.
The Nintendo eShop on the Switch is better organized, faster, and has many more games than the 3DS and Wii U. However, many Nintendo fans who grew up with these consoles still want to pay tribute to the eShop and consoles in many ways.
One tribute came from the YouTuber, “The Completionist,” who bought all the Wii U and 3DS games, including 866 Wii U games and 1547 3DS and DSi Ware games that weighed 1.2TB and 267GB, respectively. It cost them over $20,000, and it may be the greatest tribute as the Wii U is now experiencing a nostalgic renaissance.
This week marks the 12th anniversary of the launch of Nintendo 3DS in Europe and North America, marking a symbolic end of the cycle. While the Wii U and 3DS eShop closure would be a significant loss for Nintendo fans, the memories and nostalgia it brings would always be there. Have you made any last-impulse purchases before the closing?
