A significant change is unfolding for Nintendo Switch fans, marking the end of an era where I, like many others, never shelled out real money for Nintendo Switch Online services.
Nintendo is wrapping up one of its beloved features following the re-release of Xenoblade Chronicles X, and it seems this change might carry over with some incompatibilities for the anticipated Switch 2.
The company just announced that the My Nintendo Gold program will officially close its doors on March 25, right before the clock strikes 1 a.m. ET. For those unfamiliar, this program rewarded gamers with 1% back in eShop credit on physical first-party game purchases during their first year, and a 5% return on all eShop transactions. However, once we move past that deadline, only certain physical games—those released from March 25, 2024, until their year-long eligibility ends—will still work with this system. This means titles like Endless Ocean: Luminous and the Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition make the cut, but unfortunately, Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond won’t.
On another note, Nintendo has updated information about its Switch Online Vouchers. These vouchers, which subscribers could buy for $99 US and use for first-party game releases, unfortunately, won’t be compatible with the forthcoming Switch 2. That said, they’ll still be valid for future releases on the existing Switch, making them a viable option for picking up releases like Legends Z-A and Prime 4 for now.
