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Russian customers that have been using the Nintendo eShop for their gaming needs won't be able to make any new purchases or transactions using the service, beginning on May 31st, 2023.

Nintendo of Europe started sending emails to publishers, to which some websites like Game Developer caught upon. In said email, Nintendo mentions an overall halt in sales for Russia through their eShop service. This isn't the first time Nintendo does something like this on Russian territory, as last year Nintendo stopped product shipments to the country. With the current cease of sales in the eShop, Russian customers will only be able to redownload already owned titles from the eShop, but they won't be able to make any new purchases. Nintendo will also delete all kinds of payment information from Russian customers that have a Nintendo Account (like credit card and PayPal information) for privacy reasons.

As a result of the economic outlook, Nintendo of Europe has decided to wind down operations of its Russian subsidiary. As part of our efforts to honor preceding commitments to our customers in the Russian market, the Russian version of Nintendo eShop will be set to offer limited service.

As of May 31, 2023, and for the foreseeable future, Russian customers with an existing Nintendo Account will be able to redownload digital content that they have previously purchased. It will not be possible to make any new purchases or use download codes within Nintendo eShop in Russia.

While Nintendo cites the "economic outlook" as the reason for the closure of the eShop, it's almost certain it is tied or a consequence to the current on going conflict in which Russia is involved. It could also be related to the fact that Russia made piracy legal in the country since March, 2022, after several gaming (and other) companies started making sanctions effective for the region.

Source

 

[The Catboy]

Nintendo in like 3 days, “Why piracy so high in Russia? ;O;”

 

[Osha]

Great, more punishment for the people who don't have anything to do with Putin's stupidity.

 

[MariArch]

wow really owned Putin there by.. em.. depriving kids of playing Mario?

 

[LoggerMan]

War isn' all fun and games and the kids of Russia need to know that. Also it's fitting that they won't be able to buy Advance Wars when that comes out.

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

Why though?

 

[SamuraiErikku]

Let the Russians go pirate their games not my problem that they're not doing business with Russia who ever is part of Nintendo of Europe doing this kind of business practices suck & they're no better than Nintendo of America! This show's Nintendo's incompetence as a business company & won't do business with certain counties I obviously blame Nintendo of Europe & Russia for not coming to an understanding.

 

[FriendlyPolygon]

So what?

 

[linuxares]

Why though?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War

 

[Reploid]

Thank you half bald warmonger with napoleon complex.

 

[pedro702]

its a year too late imo lol, why wait this long to do this?

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War

And?

 

[ShadowOne333]

its a year too late imo lol, why wait this long to do this?

Indeed, I thought they did this already a year ago at least, but seems like it was only physical media, not digital.

 

[linuxares]

And?

It's the reason why lots of companies have pulled out?

 

[Jean Karlo]

And?

And there are several regulations against the russian currency which make it way less valuable than before. Is an economic decision as they said in the article if you read it

 

[CoolMe]

Why until now tho?

 

[EpikJimmer]

i wonder if piracy will go up

 

[ZeroFX]

Damn, that sucks, be sure to pirate even more!

 

[CloudStrife190100]

Left it abit late haven't they.....

 

[szlovak]

Great, more punishment for the people who don't have anything to do with Putin's stupidity.

Look on the internet what these ordinary people are really like. 90% of them supports putin