Nintendo launches cross-platform user accounts in Japan

By Danny Cowan Published December 1, 2015

Nintendo launched a cross-platform user account system in Japan this week, giving players the ability to track their digital purchases and earn cash back from eShop activity.

In addition to tracking player software libraries, the Nintendo Account service allows users to make eShop purchases online and queue up downloads for connected Wii U and 3DS consoles remotely.

Recommended Videos

Nintendo Account is a platform-unifying service that aims to bridge the gap between the Wii U, 3DS, and upcoming Nintendo NX consoles. Players can link their existing Nintendo Network IDs in order to track purchases and establish a universal login for Nintendo consoles.

While many details regarding the service are not yet known, Nintendo Accounts currently allow users to maintain a record of their digitally-purchased Wii U and 3DS games, similar to how the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live operate.

Previously, eShop purchases were tied directly to individual consoles, giving players few options for restoring lost data. While Xbox Live and PlayStation Network users can easily download their past purchases to a new console, eShop purchases are permanently lost if an associated Nintendo console is misplaced, stolen, or reformatted.

Nintendo has the ability to restore or transfer user eShop purchases upon request, but the process involves contacting Nintendo customer service directly, and often requires a repair order or proof of a defective console. It’s currently unknown whether purchases logged within a linked Nintendo Account can be restored or redownloaded on new consoles at a later date.

Users who sign up for a Nintendo Account within the service’s first two months of operation are eligible to receive 100 yen in bonus eShop credit for every 1,000 yen added to a user’s eShop wallet. The cash-back offer applies for every 1,000 yen in eShop credit users purchase afterward, up to a total of 10,000 yen.

Currently, Nintendo Accounts are only available for users in Japan with Japanese Nintendo Network IDs and consoles. Nintendo has not announced when Nintendo Accounts will be available in North America or Europe.

Former Contributor

Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…

Topics

Gaming

Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme could be the plot twist handheld gaming needed

My time with the MSI Claw and Acer Predator Atlas suggests AMD finally has genuine competition.

Intel Arc G3 Extreme Hands On with Acer Predator Atlas 8

If there’s one gadget category I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time obsessing over in the past few years, it’s handheld gaming PCs. I’ve put hundreds of hours into the Steam Deck, bought an original ROG Ally for myself, and most recently reviewed the ROG Xbox Ally X in depth. I’ve seen this market evolve from a cool experiment into something that can genuinely replace a gaming laptop for quick sessions on the couch or while travelling. I’ve also experienced its biggest weakness firsthand. No matter how good these machines get, there’s always some compromise lurking around the corner, whether it’s battery life, thermals, performance, or software quirks.

So when I landed at Computex 2026 and got the chance to spend time with Acer’s brand-new Predator Atlas 8 and MSI’s latest Claw 8 EX AI+, I was naturally excited. Not just because they looked cool, but because they represented something the handheld market desperately needed: real competition. Truth be told, Intel’s new Arc G3 Extreme processor might just be the most important handheld announcement we’ve seen in years. And honestly? It’s about time.

Gaming

Xbox’s next era may start with a painful question about console prices

A new Xbox Wire post points to surging parts costs, tighter supply, and more pressure on future console pricing.

Xbox is putting unusual pressure on its own console business, and a new Xbox Wire post gives players a clear reason to watch for an Xbox price hike.

Microsoft says storage and memory prices are climbing fast, while Xbox can’t currently make as many consoles as players want to buy. It also says the business needs a new hardware model and new partnerships as it remains committed to Helix.

Gaming

Steam is ending gift cards because scammers were raising too much hell

Digital gift cards will remain, but physical cards are being retired from stores

Steam gift cards.

Valve is pulling physical Steam gift cards from retail stores, bringing an end to a program that has been around since 2012. The company confirmed, as spotted via SteamDB, that it will no longer send new stock of Steam gift cards to retailers once current supplies run out.

Digital Steam gift cards are not going away. Valve says users will still be able to buy them directly through Steam, and existing physical cards can still be redeemed whenever users choose. Retail stock, however, is expected to disappear by the end of 2026.