Nintendo Fans Face a Somber Day on March 25

Nintendo will be making a significant change to its My Nintendo loyalty program this March 25th, at 12:30 a.m. ET, by phasing out Gold Points. For years, these Gold Points have been a cherished benefit, rewarding players with digital credits on their game purchases that they could spend later in the eShop.

Reward enthusiasts would earn back a small percentage of their purchases—5% for digital games and 1% for physical copies—in Gold Points. Over time, this reward system allowed dedicated Nintendo fans to accumulate enough points to essentially snag some of their favorite games for free. Naturally, this popular scheme has left fans disappointed with news of its pending discontinuation.

The curtain is about to fall on this well-loved feature, first announced last month, and the deadline is fast approaching. After March 25, players will no longer be able to earn new Gold Points with their game purchases. However, any points accumulated will remain usable in Nintendo’s store, provided fans redeem them within a year.

Even as members anticipate the end of this beloved program, Nintendo hasn’t yet disclosed why the Gold Points are being retired. Interestingly, the timing coincides with a pivotal period for the company—just ahead of an eagerly awaited April 2 Nintendo Direct presentation. This event is set to unveil exciting details about the Nintendo Switch 2, including pricing, availability, and upcoming game releases. It seems the company might be strategizing to kick off its next console generation sans Gold Points, possibly assuming the program wasn’t the driving factor in boosting game sales or is aiming to encourage purchases at full price.

While the farewell to Gold Points certainly dampens spirits, there’s a silver lining. The forthcoming announcements about the Switch 2 promise to captivate and energize fans. The anticipation surrounding the console’s capabilities and its game lineup indicates a thrilling time ahead for Nintendo aficionados, despite the program’s closure.