Nintendo Fans Face Disappointment on March 25

It’s shaping up to be a bittersweet month for Nintendo fans. On Tuesday, March 25, Nintendo is set to bid farewell to Gold Points, a staple of its My Nintendo loyalty program. For avid Nintendo players, Gold Points have been a cherished feature, allowing them to rack up digital credits from their game purchases, which they could then spend in the eShop.

Currently, My Nintendo users earn back 5% on digital game purchases and 1% on physical ones in the form of Gold Points. Though the percentages might seem modest, they do add up over time, providing gamers with the chance to obtain free games. The loyalty program has garnered a lot of enthusiasm from the Nintendo community, making the decision to withdraw Gold Points a bit of a downer for its supporters.

Last month, Nintendo broke the news about the program’s upcoming change, and now the date looms close. As of 12:30 am ET on March 25, Gold Points will be phased out, though fans will still be able to use their existing points until they expire a year later. This means strategizing how to use any lingering points is essential before their expiration date.

To further complicate matters, Nintendo has chosen not to offer any insight into why these changes are happening now. However, it’s worth noting that this shift aligns closely with a significant moment in Nintendo’s timeline. Just over a week later, on April 2, Nintendo plans to host its much-anticipated Switch 2 Nintendo Direct presentation. During this event, which is scheduled for 9:00 am ET, fans are hopeful to learn about the new console’s pricing, release date, and upcoming game lineup.

This strategic timing might suggest that Nintendo wants to kick off its next-generation consoles minus the Gold Points. Perhaps the company feels the program didn’t drive additional game purchases as intended, or it could be thinking that by eliminating the program, players will be nudged to buy those games outright instead of spending stored Gold Points.

While seeing the Gold Points program retire is disheartening for loyal Nintendo consumers, there’s a silver lining on the horizon. The imminent Switch 2 announcements are set to infuse fresh excitement among fans. They are eagerly waiting to get their first comprehensive glimpse of the next-gen console and the exciting new games it promises to deliver.