Nintendo Fans Face Gold Point Doom

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Summary

  • Nintendo fans can no longer earn Gold Points from eShop purchases.
  • Physical game copies released within the past year still yield Gold Points.
  • Any remaining Gold Points will expire one year after being earned, but Platinum Points are unaffected.

The long-awaited date on March 25th has finally come for Nintendo enthusiasts. From 12:30 AM Eastern Time onward, users can no longer accumulate Gold Points from digital purchases made on the Switch eShop. However, lucky Nintendo fans who buy physical versions of Switch games released before March 24th, including Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, will still be able to collect Gold Points.

Nintendo had given plenty of notice about the March 25th cutoff date for using Nintendo Gold Points, since they posted updates on social media in the weeks preceding the termination of the program. These points could be acquired by purchasing games from the Nintendo eShop on Switch consoles, with the number of points earned depending on the specific game bought. Additionally, physical Nintendo Switch game cards could be used to gain a lower quantity of points. Each Gold Point was equivalent to one US cent on the eShop and could serve as an alternative to actual money for making game purchases or reducing the cost of certain games. However, it’s important to note that these points were only redeemable on the eShop and had limitations in their usage.

Regrettably, the day that Nintendo gamers have long dreaded has finally come to pass. Starting at 12:30 AM Eastern on March 25, it will no longer be possible to acquire Nintendo Gold Points through digital game purchases on the eShop. However, Nintendo’s Customer Support article states that any unused Gold Points will remain valid for up to 12 months after they were initially earned. Furthermore, Gold Points can still be accrued by purchasing physical Nintendo Switch games, but only if these games have been recently released within the past year.

Nintendo’s Gold Points Program Has Mostly Concluded

  • As of March 25, 2025, Nintendo users cannot earn Gold Points via eShop purchases.
  • Gold Points may still be earned via physical game copies that were released within a year.
  • The remaining Gold Points will stay in players’ accounts until they expire one year after their initial earnings.
  • The retirement of Gold Points does not affect Platinum Points.

Therefore, games similar to “Pokemon Legends: Z-A” do not qualify for Gold Points; however, games like “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” can still generate points through physical copies. The adjustment to Gold Points does not influence Platinum Points, which continue to be utilized for Nintendo Switch avatars and other cosmetics, and are also earned by playing games on the Nintendo Switch Online service.

The Gold Points program was recently discontinued, following a series of unfavorable announcements from Nintendo. In particular, it was revealed in February that Switch Game Vouchers are no longer valid for purchasing games designed for the upcoming Switch 2. However, these vouchers can still be utilized to buy regular-priced titles such as Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition and Mario and Luigi: Brothership on the original Nintendo Switch.

As a gaming enthusiast, I found myself running out of Gold Points right before the much-hyped April 2nd Nintendo Direct. Although Nintendo hasn’t dropped any hints about the Switch 2 yet, I can’t help but wonder if its successor might bring back something like the Gold Points program. Only time will reveal the truth.

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2025-03-25 22:14