Tag: Nintendo eShop

The Nintendo eShop in Taiwan, which was previously announced to be launching soon, officially went live today (September 9th) with the launch of Nintendo Switch Online service in Taiwan. This allows Taiwanese players to no longer purchase digital games through the Nintendo eShop in Hong Kong and other regions, and even enjoy more gaming experiences through the locally operated Nintendo Switch Online service. The Nintendo Switch Online service in Taiwan is divided into individual plans for single-user use and family plans that can support up to eight accounts. Individual plans are available for one month at NT$79, three months at NT$199, and 12 months at NT$599, while the family plan is only available for 12 months at NT$1179. Nintendo also offers the Nintendo Switch Online service, along with the Nintendo Classics content expansion pack, for 12 months each, priced at NT$1279 for individual plans and NT$2399 for family plans. Previously, Taiwanese players often had to set their location to Hong Kong or Japan and purchase digital games using their local currency and payment methods to access the Nintendo eShop. However, with the launch of Nintendo Switch Online, the Nintendo eShop in Taiwan is now officially operational, allowing players to purchase game content through localized payment methods without worrying about payment restrictions or after-sales service obstacles. Subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online grants access to online play for titles such as *Splinter Ninja 3*, *Animal Crossing: New Horizons*, and the upcoming *Pokémon Legends ZA* and *Kirby's Flying Dinosaur*. Game data is automatically saved online, allowing players to download and play on any console (except for certain games) even in case of an accident. Alternatively, players can transfer their Nintendo Switch Online data to a local console...

Nintendo officially announced that the Nintendo eShop service will be launched in Taiwan on the morning of September 9th. From then on, not only will the newly released Nintendo Switch 2 and existing Nintendo Switch models be able to directly purchase games and download DLC using the Nintendo eShop in Taiwan, but players can even directly purchase Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) vouchers through the store. This marks a significant milestone in Nintendo's localization efforts in Taiwan. Eliminating the hassle of cross-region accounts: Previously, Taiwanese players had to register their accounts in regions like Hong Kong, Japan, or the United States to download digital games through the Nintendo eShop, and even had to overcome difficulties with payment methods, language interfaces, and the lack of Chinese support for some content. Starting September 9th, players will be able to log in to the Nintendo eShop in Taiwan directly with their "Taiwan Nintendo Account," enjoying a complete Traditional Chinese interface and a New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) pricing experience. While this means players will lose the advantage of relatively lower prices through cross-region purchases due to exchange rate differences, for most players, the convenience and stability provided by the localized service will be the most practical guarantee. Especially for players who are not used to cross-border credit cards or do not want to take the risks of VPNs, the Nintendo eShop service in Taiwan will significantly lower the barrier to entry. Pricing Strategy and Expectations: Since Nintendo eShop pricing varies across regions due to exchange rates, tax systems, and market policies, whether the prices on the Taiwan Nintendo eShop will be "reasonable" will be a major focus for players. Some players worry that Nintendo may adopt a "relatively conservative" pricing strategy, resulting in prices that are not as affordable as in Japan or other regions. However, others believe that the local Nintendo eShop service focuses on ensuring access to digital games while avoiding issues such as failed cross-region payments or language incompatibility of DLC content. In other words, the Taiwan Nintendo eShop service is more of a reassuring and convenient option. Whether it will be combined with local promotions, collaborations, or even credit card discounts will also affect the acceptance of Taiwanese players. It's noteworthy that Nintendo of Taiwan has officially separated from Nintendo of Hong Kong and established its own dedicated social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. From now on, the latest information, event announcements, and game promotions related to the Taiwan market will be directly released by Nintendo of Taiwan. This not only signifies the increased importance of the Taiwan market but also means that Nintendo will provide more tailored content and events for local players. Compared to the past when players primarily relied on Nintendo of Hong Kong for information, this adjustment effectively gives the Taiwan market an independent official voice. In the long run, this may lay the foundation for securing more simultaneous launches of localized games in Taiwan and even more official Nintendo events. Nintendo Switch...

Nintendo Taiwan recently announced that the Nintendo Switch 2 will officially launch in Taiwan on July 10th. They also reiterated that the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online services in Taiwan will be operational this year. Following Japan and North America's launch on June 5th, Taiwan's launch on July 10th is earlier than previously expected (September). Nintendo also announced a Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on event in Taiwan on July 5th and 6th, meaning the console will be available for purchase shortly after the event. Nintendo previously emphasized that they have prepared sufficient supply for the upcoming launch and are confident in combating scalping. Current measures include differentiating between Japanese and international versions, selling multilingual versions online, and restricting the use of foreign credit cards on the Japanese Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store, presumably to prevent scalping. Whether there will be sufficient supply to support demand in overseas markets remains uncertain. There's also the possibility that retailers may intentionally hoard stock and create shortages to inflate prices, or force customers to purchase additional products as a bundle. Nintendo has stated that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be sold in Taiwan for NT$14380, with a suggested retail price of NT$15580 for the console bundled with Mario Kart World.

Nintendo recently announced that starting March 25th, it will restrict payments to overseas-issued credit cards or overseas PayPal accounts on the Japanese Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store. This means that users with Nintendo accounts set up in Japan will need to change their payment method to a Japanese-issued credit card or the Japanese version of PayPal to continue making purchases. Many believe this move is part of Nintendo's adjustments in preparation for the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch 2, aimed at curbing scalping. Currently, some Nintendo Switch games are only available on the Japanese Nintendo eShop, while some are not available on the Hong Kong Nintendo eShop. This has led many Nintendo Switch users to set their account region to Japan to purchase the full game content. Therefore, restricting payments to overseas-issued credit cards or PayPal on the Japanese Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store may reduce the incentive for scalpers to resell the console at inflated prices. However, restricting payments using overseas-issued credit cards or overseas PayPal accounts will actually have a limited impact, since users can still bypass the restrictions by purchasing Japanese prepaid cards or directly buying physical game discs. Therefore, many people are more concerned that Nintendo may take radical measures such as region locking to crack down on scalpers who buy in bulk and resell at high prices.

Tencent, which began distributing the Nintendo Switch in the Chinese market in 2019 and providing online services within China via Tencent servers, has confirmed that it will gradually cease operations from the end of March to May 15, 2026. After the cessation of operations, functions such as downloading games and software online, updating via the internet, and online multiplayer battles will no longer be available. Tencent did not specify the reason for the closure of online services in China, but emphasized that it will not affect the sales of existing game consoles, accessories, and game cartridges. However, some market observers speculate that this may indicate that Tencent will no longer be the distributor for future Nintendo game consoles, and therefore the online service may be transferred to other companies handling the new consoles. According to Tencent, this adjustment only relates to online services and does not affect the sales of the Nintendo Switch game console and related accessories, or the sales of game cartridges in China. Official warranty and repair services will also remain unaffected. Meanwhile, Tencent also stated that from 10 PM on March 31, 2026, the Nintendo eShop service in China will cease game and software sales and download services, including free trial versions of games and free software, which will no longer be available for download through this service. From 10 PM on May 15, 2026, the Nintendo eShop service in China will terminate all download services and redemption code download services, and will also terminate other related online services. On the other hand, Tencent also announced a reward program for Nintendo Switch players in China. From 10 AM on November 27, 2024, to 10 PM on March 31, 2026, each holder of a Nintendo Switch in China that has been activated and is functioning properly according to the terms of use will be able to receive up to four free download codes for Nintendo games or utility software through the "Game Redemption" WeChat mini-program using one of the WeChat accounts logged into the console. Currently available downloadable versions of the following Nintendo games and software are: • * New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe* • *Super Mario Odyssey* • *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe* • *Super Mario Party* • *Mario Tennis Ace* ...

During its "Nintendo Direct 2023.9.14" livestream, Nintendo announced that a new game based on the 2004 Game Boy Advanced action game *Mario vs. Dunkigan*, to be released on the Nintendo Switch, will officially launch on February 16, 2024. Following the announcement, Nintendo opened pre-orders for the game through the Nintendo eShop. Continuing the gameplay of the 2004 title, players must take on the role of Mario to stop Dunkigan from infiltrating a factory and stealing all the Mini Mario toys. The game requires strategic thinking and various action-packed challenges. This Nintendo Switch remake also includes a two-player mode to attract a wider audience.

In June, Nintendo announced a new stage-style game starring Princess Peach. Earlier, during the "Nintendo Direct 2023.9.14" livestream, it was confirmed that the game will be officially titled *Princess Peach: Showtime*, and is scheduled for release in March 2024. The game will be presented in a stage play format, depicting a theater being overrun by people calling themselves the "Grape Theatre," and Princess Peach must use various dazzling transformation abilities to protect it. The game will also feature side-scrolling gameplay similar to the *Super Mario* series, and Princess Peach will be able to use various abilities depending on her outfit, including swordsman, detective, pastry chef, and kung fu master. The game also includes platforming and puzzle elements. *Princess Peach: Showtime* is scheduled for release on March 24, 2024, and is currently available for pre-order through the Nintendo eShop.

Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD), formerly known as Mobiclip, recently published an article revealing that *Super Mario 3D All-Stars*, created to commemorate the 35th anniversary of *Super Mario*, utilizes Nintendo's proprietary Nintendo GameCube emulator technology and also employs deep learning technology to enhance the game's graphics. According to NERD, the three games included in *Super Mario 3D All-Stars*—*Super Mario 64*, *Super Mario Sunshine*, and *Super Mario Galaxy*—were originally released on the Nintendo 64. Even *Super Mario Sunshine*, released later on the Nintendo GameCube, maintained a 480p resolution. Directly applying this resolution to the Nintendo Switch would result in noticeable jagged edges. Therefore, Nintendo of Europe Research and Development, which assisted the design team of *Super Mario 3D Collection* with the porting process, used an in-house built emulator to ensure the three *Super Mario* 3D games could run smoothly on the Nintendo Switch. Through deep learning, the graphics were rendered in high resolution, supporting the currently popular 16:9 aspect ratio, and also compatible with the Nintendo Switch controller. According to Nintendo of Europe Research and Development, the biggest challenge in this porting process was simulating the processor design of the Nintendo GameCube platform using the emulator, including the Gekko CPU built by IBM using the PowerPC architecture, and the GPU developed by Nintendo in collaboration with ArtX. *Super Mario 3D Collection*, created to commemorate the 35th anniversary of *Super Mario*, was released on September 18th last year in both physical and digital versions. Nintendo planned to keep it available until March 31st of this year, after which it would no longer be offered. However, players who purchased the digital version can still download it again through the Nintendo eShop later.

Nintendo has confirmed that it will officially launch the Nintendo Switch Online service in Hong Kong this spring. This will allow Nintendo Switch players in Hong Kong to enjoy online connectivity, play classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games, and cloud storage for game data. It will also offer mobile app integration and exclusive member benefits. However, the current eShop service in Hong Kong operates differently from that in North America, Europe, and Japan. Players must first purchase a redemption code through a specific website before connecting their console to the eShop to redeem games. Direct game purchases through the eShop are not currently possible. It is unclear whether this will be adjusted after the official launch of the Nintendo Switch Online service this spring. Nintendo has not yet announced the expected billing scheme for the service in Hong Kong. As for the expected launch schedule in Taiwan, there is currently no clear information, and the eShop service currently available in Hong Kong is not yet available in Taiwan.