Millions of gamers are set to lose access to the Nintendo Switch Online service in 2026, leaving them unable to play online among other things.

Nintendo will shut down the Switch eShop and all other online services in China by 2026. An official announcement from Tencent, which handles Nintendo's sales in China, gives a timeframe of March 31st, 2026, to May 15th, 2016. After this period, Nintendo Switch owners in China cannot download any games, DLC, or redeem codes.

Tencent Nintendo Switch said on Tuesday that the Chinese eShop and other online services for the Nintendo Switch will gradually cease operations starting in 2026. According to the statement, the Chinese eShop will stop selling or offering paid and free games and software on March 31,

Nintendo has announced it will close the Switch eShop and discontinue online services in China in 2026. As compensation, Nintendo will offer Chinese players the opportunity to redeem up to four free games in the eShop before its permanent closure.

Nintendo Switch is halting its eShop operations and other online services in China in the upcoming year. In 2019, Tencent partnered with Nintendo to start selling Switch consoles in China. According to the official announcement on Nintendo’s website on Tuesday,

Nintendo (OTCPK:NTDOF) plans to shut down its online services for the Switch console in China from 2026, according to a post on a WeChat account operated by its game publishing partner Tencent. The post said Nintendo’s e-store will suspend sales of games and software from March 31,