Nintendo has stopped European retailers from selling digital game codes of its first-party games.
UK retailer ShopTo noted the change on Twitter, stating that “due to a Nintendo decision for all EMEA territories” the company is no longer able to sell full digital Nintendo games – but that they will still be able to sell online membership and DLC codes. In a statement issued to Nintendo Life, Nintendo confirmed and expanded upon the decision:
“After careful examination of the evolving European marketplace in recent years, Nintendo has decided to end the availability of download codes for its own-published software via retailers, effective 1st July 2020,” the statement reads.
“Customers will still be able to purchase Nintendo eShop funds, Nintendo Switch Online memberships, and add-on content such as the Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Expansion Pass, at retailers across Europe. Download codes for Nintendo Switch software from other publishers will also still be available.”
Hi, just to let everyone know, due to a Nintendo decision for all EMEA territories, as from Tomorrow 30/06/20 at 23:00 we are no longer able to offer/sell Nintendo digital full games.
We will however, be continuing to offer/sell online membership and add ons, so, with this in… pic.twitter.com/11hrqvEU1m
— ShopTo (@shoptonet) June 29, 2020
This means that only first-party Nintendo games will be affected by the change, and consumers will still be able to purchase third-party digital codes from retailers such as ShopTo in the future. Only Nintendo’s first-party games such as Lugi’s Mansion 3 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be removed from sale – you’ll only be able to pick them up digitally at full or sale price from the Nintendo eShop.
In other Nintendo news, the company has formally apologised for the Joy-Con Drift issue that has affected many Nintendo Switch users.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Source: IGN.com Nintendo Stops European Retailers From Selling First-Party Digital Game Codes