Key Takeaways
- Nintendo Switch online services in China shutting down on May 15, 2026
- Digital purchases must be downloaded by then, or be lost for good.
- Switch owners in China can download a free game as compensation.
Nintendo Switch‘s online services now have a shutdown date in China, with the servers going offline in the region on May 15, 2026.
While this is more than a year away, and almost definitely after the Switch’s successor will launch, this is still much earlier than players would expect. However, it seems that this will very much be limited to China, as there’s no note of this being the case in other regions.
Nintendo Switch Servers Going Offline In China
Any digital purchases will have to be downloaded by May 15, or be lost forever
As spotted by ResetEra user Ceerious, the shutdown notice was shared by Nintendo earlier today. It outlines exactly how users in China will be affected, with the gradual shutdown of online services starting in March 2026.
On March 31, players won’t be able to make any more Nintendo eShop purchases. They’ll still be able to download purchases after this date, but this too will cease by May 15, so any digital games will have to be backed up by then.
Alongside eShop downloads being taken offline, users also won’t be able to play online games from May 15 onwards.
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As compensation for online services ceasing like this, Switch owners in China are able to download a free game, starting from tomorrow. They can choose from the following:
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Mario Tennis Aces
- Yoshi’s Crafted World
- Super Mario Party
- Game Builder Garage
- Big Brain Academy
- Brain Training
- Kirby Star Allies
- New Pokemon Snap
- Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee
- Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu
It remains to be seen when this shutdown will be rolled out in other regions. Online services for the Nintendo Wii came to an end in May 2014, after nine years of support. The Wii U’s servers were closed earlier this year, 12 years after launch. The Nintendo Switch likely still has a lot of life left in it since it’s still the most up-to-date Nintendo console, even if it is eight years old now.
However, the Switch 2 is on the horizon. While it hasn’t been unveiled just yet, it is widely expected to launch sometime in 2025.
Nintendo Switch
Launched in 2017, the Nintendo Switch allows you to switch between console and handheld gaming easily.