Nintendo Drops Gold Points, Switch Game Vouchers for Switch 2

Nintendo’s Switch 2 is less than two months away from its big reveal on April 2, but Nintendo is already making some changes to its eShop in preparation for the new portable console. The company on Tuesday announced it plans to eliminate two programs for its digital store that saved Switch owners some money when buying games online. 

The first program to be sunsetted is Gold Points. This was Nintendo’s reward program for those who buy Switch games on the eShop. Each purchase earns a certain amount of Gold Points, depending on how much they bought. For example, buying a $60 game results in $3 worth of Gold Points. Those points can then be used toward buying more games. 

Starting on March 24 at 9:30 p.m. PT (12:30 a.m. ET on March 25), Gold Points will no longer be earned when making purchases in the Nintendo eShop. Points will still be valid for 12 months after they’re awarded, including those earned right before the cutoff. 

Along with the end of the Gold Points, Nintendo also updated its page about Switch Game Vouchers. This program allows customers to buy two Nintendo games from the eShop — Splatoon 3 and Mario Kart Deluxe 8, for example — for $100, saving $20 off the full price. What changed is that Switch Game Vouchers cannot be redeemed for games exclusive to the Switch 2. 

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Nintendo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on why these programs were changing. 

Considering the timing of these updates and their proximity to the Switch 2 reveal in April and likely a summer release for the console, it appears Nintendo wants to end these programs before the big launch, maybe to start a new Switch 2-focused reward program. It’s unclear what Nintendo’s plans are right now, and everyone will have to wait and see in the coming months.