Nintendo will close the eShop and all network services in China in 2026. On March 31, the Chinese eShop will stop selling games and software, and from May 15 it will no longer be possible to download titles or redeem codes, including DLC.\ r\nThe decision will have a significant impact on the Chinese video game market, where Nintendo collaborates with the technological giant Tencent for the distribution of Switch (which you can find on Amazon). \r\nLaunched in China in 2020 with just one first-party game, the console has seen the localization of older titles for the local market over the years.\r\nAs also reported by VGC, to mitigate the impact on players, Nintendo will offer up to 4 free games between November 2024 and March 2026 to owners of a Chinese Switch with an associated active WeChat account.\r\nSelectable titles include classics like Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Pokémon Let’s Go!.\r\nAccording to what has been reported, this closure of online services may not just be a sign of the end of the cycle for the console.\r\nOn the contrary, it could herald a strategic change for the house of Kyoto, perhaps in view of the launch of a new platform, i.e. Switch 2. With the Chinese market constantly growing, but strongly controlled by the government, Nintendo could choose to diversify its approach, perhaps focusing on even stronger partnerships with Tencent or on a completely renewed distribution strategy.\r\nChina, one of the largest and most complex video game markets in the world, represents an opportunity but also a challenge for the big players in the sector. \r\nNintendo’s moves in the coming months will be crucial to understand if the company is ready to relaunch with a new generation of products or if it is simply downsizing its presence in a difficult context.\r\nAfter all, the rumors speak of a quantity of Switch 2 ready for day one in the USA 2.5 times higher than what was done for the first Switch.