Nintendo stopped awarding Gold Points for digital purchases after 9:30 p.m. PDT on March 24, 2025. That ended earning—not the immediate use of points already in your account. Existing Gold Points remained redeemable until their individual expiration dates, while the separate window to register qualifying physical Switch games closed by March 25, 2026.
When did Nintendo stop awarding Gold Points?
Nintendo announced the change on February 18, 2025. The cutoff for earning Gold Points on digital purchases was 9:30 p.m. PDT on March 24, 2025. Purchases made after that time no longer earned them, including purchases paid for with an eShop card balance. Nintendo’s discontinuation notice said the former digital earning rate was 5% of the eligible amount paid, excluding tax and any points or discounts used. That rate is historical, not a current offer.
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Can you still use Gold Points already in your account?
Yes, until each point balance expires. Points remained valid for 12 months after issuance; Nintendo Support specifies that they expire on the last day of the month 12 months after they were earned. The change stopped new earning, but did not immediately erase points already awarded. Check your account’s balance and expiration details before planning a redemption.
Nintendo says Gold Points can be applied to eligible digital games and downloadable content, and to Nintendo Switch Online memberships where available. They cannot be used for passes, auto-renewals, in-game items, or virtual currency. See Nintendo’s current points redemption guidance for eligible rewards.
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Can a physical Nintendo Switch game still earn Gold Points?
No. Nintendo allowed qualifying physical games released on or before March 24, 2025, to be registered within one year of the game’s original release date. This was a release-date-based window, not a blanket extra year from the announcement. Nintendo Support states that earning Gold Points by registering physical Nintendo Switch software is no longer possible as of March 25, 2026. A game bought now does not qualify simply because it is physical or unopened.
What changed—and what did not?
| Case | What applied |
|---|---|
| Digital purchases after 9:30 p.m. PDT, March 24, 2025 | No Gold Points earned. |
| Gold Points earned before the cutoff | Could still be redeemed until their individual expiration date: the last day of the month 12 months after issuance. |
| Qualifying physical Switch games released on or before March 24, 2025 | Registration was possible within one year of the original release date; physical registration earning ended March 25, 2026. |
Gold Points are distinct from Platinum Points. Nintendo’s Gold Points change did not end every My Nintendo points feature: Platinum Points remain redeemable for eligible application items, sweepstakes entries, smart-device or PC downloads, and physical My Nintendo rewards. The available rewards can vary; Nintendo lists the current options on its redemption page.
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- This item can be redeemed on eShop only. This item cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch, Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Nintendo eShop Digital Cards are redeemable only through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Digital Card balances can be shared across Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but may only be used on a single Nintendo eShop account.
Was the change tied to the Switch 2 launch?
The dates establish the sequence, not a reason: Nintendo announced the Gold Points discontinuation on February 18, the digital earning cutoff followed on March 24, and Nintendo’s investor release announced June 5, 2025, as the Switch 2 release date. Nintendo’s public materials cited here do not say the new console caused the rewards change. The February announcement thanked users for participating in My Nintendo, but did not announce a replacement Gold Points program.
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- This item can be redeemed on eShop only. This item cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch, Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Nintendo eShop Digital Cards are redeemable only through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Digital Card balances can be shared across Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but may only be used on a single Nintendo eShop account.
Rank #3
- This item can be redeemed on eShop only. This item cannot be redeemed on the Wii Shop
- The perfect gift for anyone who loves to play—including you. Choose from over 1,000 new, classic and indie games – delivered directly to your Nintendo Switch, Wii U or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Nintendo eShop Digital Cards are redeemable only through the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
- Digital Card balances can be shared across Nintendo Switch, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but may only be used on a single Nintendo eShop account.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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