Key Takeaways
- Tencent will shut down all Nintendo Switch Online services in China by 2026, affecting millions of gamers.
- Nintendo’s successful partnership with Tencent in China contributed to Switch’s popularity despite region locks.
- Owners of activated Switch consoles in China can get redemption codes for free Nintendo games until May 15, 2026.
Tencent has announced that it is pulling the plug on all Nintendo Switch Online services in China throughout 2026. The move will leave millions of Chinese gamers unable to access Nintendo Switch Online, with the shutdown coming in various stages.
Since 2019, Tencent has distributed the Nintendo Switch in China. It proved to be a successful partnership for the two – Nintendo was the video game market leader in China for a period, with the Switch proving popular in the Chinese market. This is despite region locks that ensured any console sold in the country can only play games approved by Chinese regulators.
1:34
Related
The Nintendo Switch 2’s Backwards Compatibility Says a Lot About the Console’s Design
Now that the Nintendo Switch’s successor has been confirmed to be backwards compatible, there are some lofty suggestions made about its design.
In an official announcement, Tencent Nintendo Switch confirmed its plans to shut down all Switch Online operations in China throughout 2026, leaving millions of gamers unable to use the services. The first shutdown will come on March 31, 2026, when the Chinese Nintendo eShop will cease selling games and software. From this point onward, Nintendo Switch Online free trials will also be unavailable. However, code redemptions will continue to work until May 15, after which point the Nintendo eShop will put a stop to this and game downloads. May 15, 2026, will also be the final day for all other online services, marking the end of Switch Online in the region.
Nintendo Switch Online is Shutting Down in China in 2026
Tencent Nintendo Switch has not clarified the reason for the shutdown. However, from November 27, 2024, to March 31, 2026, owners of an activated Switch console sold in China can use a WeChat account to get redemption codes for four Nintendo games free of charge. This softens the blow a little, giving the affected gamers the chance to get some of the best Nintendo Switch games for nothing. Available titles include Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Pokemon Let’s Go! Eevee, among others.
Nintendo has yet to officially reveal its successor to the Switch. Rumors continue to swirl about a potential release date for the platform, although nothing is confirmed at this point. Earlier this month, Nintendo reaffirmed its plans to reveal the Switch 2 in the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2025. It’s an exciting time for Nintendo fans, especially given all the rumors surrounding the upcoming console. As with the release date, very little is known about the release lineup for the Nintendo Switch successor, although hopefully, Nintendo brings out the heavy hitters to ensure the platform hits the ground running.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console launched in 2017, capable of being played in handheld mode or docked to a television. The Switch Lite, a handheld-only model, followed in 2019, with an OLED refresh coming in 2021.