Nintendo Gold Points to Be Phased Out; Game Voucher Program Excludes Switch 2 Titles – News

My long-standing streak of not spending real cash on Nintendo Switch Online is about to come to an end.

A beloved feature of the Switch is being phased out, coinciding with the re-release of Xenoblade Chronicles X, and another feature won’t be compatible with the upcoming Switch 2.

Nintendo has officially announced that the My Nintendo Gold program will be ending on March 25, just a minute before 1 a.m. ET. For those who aren’t familiar, this program allowed players to earn 1% back in eShop credit on physical first-party releases during their first year, in addition to a 5% return on any eShop purchases. This change means that only physical games released during the final window—from March 25, 2024, to the program’s expiration—will be eligible when their year is up. This includes titles from Endless Ocean: Luminous to Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition, but sadly not Pokemon Legends: Z-A or Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.

In another update, Nintendo’s support page has clarified that the popular Switch Online Vouchers will not be compatible with Switch 2 games. Previously, subscribers could snag a pair of these vouchers for $99 US or its equivalent, using them to claim first-party titles. Thankfully, the vouchers will still be usable for upcoming releases on the original Switch, including Legends Z-A and Prime 4.