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My Nintendo Points are Nintendo’s rewards currencies. Platinum Points are still earned through missions and participating services, while Gold Points already in your account can still discount eligible digital purchases—but Nintendo no longer awards Gold Points for new purchases in the United States.
Nintendo Points explained
“Nintendo Points” usually means My Nintendo Points. If you see a balance in My Nintendo, it is normally Gold Points or Platinum Points, not general-purpose Nintendo money.
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Points belong to the Nintendo Account that earned them. They are separate from Nintendo eShop funds, Nintendo eShop cards, a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and currencies used inside individual games. eShop funds are account money; points only work where Nintendo identifies a reward or checkout as eligible.
Gold Points vs. Platinum Points
| Point type | How it is earned now | What it can be used for | Value and expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Points | No new Gold Points are awarded for U.S. digital purchases after 9:30 p.m. PDT on March 24, 2025, or for registering physical Nintendo Switch software after March 25, 2026. Existing balances can still be spent. | Eligible digital Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games and DLC, and certain other eligible Nintendo purchases where available. | In the United States, 1 Gold Point is worth $0.01 toward an eligible digital purchase. Points expire at the end of the month 12 months after they were earned. |
| Platinum Points | My Nintendo missions and selected Nintendo services or smart-device applications. | Available digital downloads, app items, sweepstakes entries, profile-icon elements, and Nintendo-themed physical rewards. | No universal cash value. They expire at the end of the month six months after they were earned. |
Some mobile applications issue app-specific Platinum categories. Those points may be usable only for that application’s rewards, so check the point type shown on each reward. Gold and Platinum Points cannot be combined or converted, and Nintendo does not permit points to be transferred, sold, or traded. See Nintendo’s points information and Gold Points information for current regional terms.
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- 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.
Can you still earn Gold Points?
No. The old “buy a game and get 5% back” advice is historical, not a current U.S. earning method.
- Digital purchases: Gold Point earning ended at 9:30 p.m. PDT on March 24, 2025. Purchases paid with Nintendo eShop-card funds also stopped qualifying after that cutoff.
- Physical Nintendo Switch software: Registration for Gold Points ended March 25, 2026. Inserting a cartridge or buying a used game will not create a new Gold Point award.
- Platinum Points: Qualifying missions and services continue to award them. Nintendo’s current earning guidance is at How to Earn My Nintendo Points.
Existing Gold Points remain usable until the end of the month 12 months after their earning date, subject to product, account, country, and currency restrictions.
How to check your balance and expiration dates
- Open My Nintendo and sign in with the Nintendo Account linked to your Switch 2, Switch, or Nintendo services.
- Open the points summary or points section.
- Review Gold and Platinum balances, point history, and scheduled expirations.
Nintendo’s point and reward history shows a monthly breakdown of points due to expire within the next six months. It is the authoritative place for your account’s deadlines; expiration is processed according to Pacific Time.
How to use existing Gold Points
On Nintendo eShop
- Open Nintendo eShop on the linked Switch 2 or Switch console.
- Select an eligible digital game or downloadable content and proceed to checkout.
- Choose the option to apply available Gold Points.
- Select how many points to use if Nintendo offers a choice.
- Pay any remaining balance with eShop funds or another accepted payment method.
On Nintendo’s website
- Sign in at Nintendo’s online store with the linked Nintendo Account.
- Choose an eligible digital game or DLC and begin checkout.
- Apply Gold Points when payment options appear.
- Pay the remainder, if any.
Gold Points are a discount, not unrestricted cash. Nintendo excludes passes, automatic renewals, in-game items, and virtual currency, and not every product or storefront supports points. Eligibility can vary by country, currency, product, and Nintendo storefront. Nintendo’s redemption instructions are at How to Redeem Points for a My Nintendo Reward.
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- 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.
How to redeem Platinum Points
- Sign in to My Nintendo.
- Select Redeem points and browse the available rewards.
- Confirm that the reward accepts the exact Platinum category in your account.
- Select the reward and choose Redeem.
- Follow any reward-specific instructions.
Depending on the catalog, rewards can include wallpapers or PDFs, application items, sweepstakes entries, profile-icon elements, and physical Nintendo merchandise. The catalog changes with availability and inventory. For a physical item, add it to the Nintendo Store cart, complete checkout, provide shipping information, and pay any required shipping charge; Platinum Points cover the listed point cost, not necessarily delivery.
Platinum Points cannot generally pay for Nintendo eShop games as money. They are for the My Nintendo rewards presented as eligible at redemption.
Why can’t I use my points?
Gold Points do not appear at checkout
- Verify that you are signed in to the Nintendo Account that owns the points.
- Confirm the game or DLC is an eligible digital product, rather than a pass, auto-renewal, in-game item, or virtual currency.
- Check the points-history page for expiration.
- Confirm that the account’s country and the purchase currency are compatible.
- Try the supported Nintendo eShop or Nintendo website storefront for your region.
A Platinum reward cannot be redeemed
- Check whether it requires regular Platinum Points or an app-specific category.
- Confirm that the reward is still available and that you have enough points.
- For physical merchandise, check shipping eligibility and any separate shipping charge.
The balance looks missing
- Sign out and back in to the correct Nintendo Account.
- Inspect point history and the expiration schedule.
- Look for a separate app-specific Platinum balance.
- Recheck the account country and currency after any country change.
- Contact Nintendo Support if an older qualifying event should still have produced points.
Changing the country on an account is not a way to move or convert points. Gold Points are generally restricted to countries using the same currency as the country where they were earned, and a country change can affect whether they are displayed or usable. Nintendo explains the restriction in its country-transfer guidance.
When do Nintendo Points expire?
Platinum Points expire on the last day of the month six months after earning. For example, points earned April 15 expire October 31. Gold Points expire on the last day of the month 12 months after earning; points earned March 24, 2026 expire March 31, 2027. Your account’s history page takes precedence if a displayed deadline differs from a general example.
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Common questions
Are Nintendo Points free?
My Nintendo is a rewards service available with a Nintendo Account; it is not a paid subscription. Some physical rewards may still require shipping payment.
Are Nintendo Points the same as eShop money?
No. Gold Points reduce the price of eligible purchases, while eShop funds are stored account money. Platinum Points are redeemed for listed My Nintendo rewards.
Can I transfer points to another account?
No. Points cannot be transferred, sold, or traded, including between members of a Nintendo Account family group.
Can I use Platinum Points to buy a game?
Not as general eShop currency. Use them only for rewards that specifically accept the relevant Platinum category.
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- 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.
Can I earn points from a physical game or an eShop card?
Not Gold Points under the current U.S. rules. Physical Switch software registration ended March 25, 2026, and eShop-card-funded purchases stopped earning Gold Points after March 24, 2025 at 9:30 p.m. PDT.
Do Gold Points work on Nintendo Switch 2?
Existing Gold Points can apply to eligible Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch digital games and DLC where the checkout supports them.
What happens when points expire?
They are removed from the account and cannot be restored for redemption. Check the expiration schedule before choosing a reward or purchase.
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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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