Nintendo Releases Crucial Notification for Gamers

Here’s a more naturally flowing version of the article about the changes to Nintendo’s Gold Points program:

—

Nintendo enthusiasts need to mark their calendars: March 25 marks the last day they’ll be able to rack up Gold Points. For those who might not be in the loop, Gold Points have been a nifty currency on the My Nintendo platform, useful for snagging games from the Switch’s eShop. Whether you bought games digitally or physically, you’d earn a stash of these points—with digital purchases being particularly rewarding.

Over the years, the Gold Points program has been a crowd-pleaser among Nintendo’s loyal followers. Accumulating enough points often meant you’d score a free game, making it a rewarding experience for avid Switch gamers. But in a rather surprising turn, Nintendo announced last month that this beloved feature is being phased out.

A few days ago, Nintendo took to Twitter to deliver the reminder that March 25 is the cutoff. This news came through Nintendo’s Japanese customer service account, clarifying that the curtain will fall on the Gold Points program at exactly 12:30am ET. For those sitting on a pile of Gold Points, no worries—you can still spend them until they naturally expire. But here’s the kicker: no new points can be earned after the deadline. So, if you haven’t claimed points for any eligible purchases, now’s the time to hustle and get that sorted before the opportunity slips away.

It’s a bit puzzling why Nintendo decided to retire one of their eShop’s much-loved features, as no official reason has been shared. What’s intriguing, though, is the timing. Just over a week after Gold Points vanish, Nintendo is planning a Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. The next-gen console, anticipated to hit the shelves by June, will kick off its journey without the Gold Points program.

Launching a new console might be a convenient moment for Nintendo to say goodbye to Gold Points, as it wouldn’t be unexpected for the Switch 2 to start fresh. Still, it’s a tad disappointing for the hardcore fans who have enjoyed collecting those points. Maybe Nintendo has a new system in the works to replace it someday, but until then, fans will have to embrace their new norm of purchasing Switch games without the incentive of Gold Points.

So, if you’re one of those fans lamenting the loss, remember to spend any existing points while you can. This change might be unsettling, but perhaps it’s just a precursor to more exciting developments from Nintendo in the near future.