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Nintendo enthusiasts, take note: come March 25, the chance to earn Gold Points on your purchases will be a thing of the past. This program, beloved by many, allows you to accumulate a special currency that can be used in the Switch’s eShop to nab new games. Both digital and physical game purchases contribute to your Gold Points stash, although digital transactions typically reap more rewards.
For Nintendo’s committed fanbase, the Gold Points program has been a fantastic way to snag games for free, simply by investing in the Switch platform. With the program’s end announced last month, it’s clear many will feel the void it leaves behind.
Nintendo’s recent update via its Japanese customer service Twitter account confirmed the ending of Gold Point accumulation at 12:30 am ET on March 25. Although you can’t earn new points past this date, any existing points remain available until they naturally expire. This means you still have a window to gather those points with your qualifying purchases up until the cutoff date.
Sadly, Nintendo has yet to disclose reasons for discontinuing this popular feature. However, it’s hard to miss the timing—barely a week post-March 25, Nintendo is planning a Direct event focusing on its next big venture: the Switch 2. This next-gen console, which combines the versatility of home and handheld gaming, is anticipated to hit the shelves by June, sans the Gold Points program.
It’s conceivable that launching a brand-new console presents a strategic moment for Nintendo to phase out the Gold Points system, particularly as it wouldn’t be an expected feature for Switch 2 users anyway. While there may be hopes for a future iteration of the loyalty program, the reality is that customers won’t be collecting Gold Points with their upcoming purchases, at least not for now.
If you’ve yet to chalk up those last few points, don’t miss your chance before the March deadline. It’s an end of an era, but potentially the dawn of new opportunities for Nintendo and its community of fans.
