Why Is Nintendo Discontinuing Gold Points What You Need To Know

Nintendo has long rewarded its most loyal customers through the My Nintendo program, offering points for purchases, logins, and participation in surveys. Among the most valuable rewards were Gold Points—earned when buying digital games and add-ons from the Nintendo eShop. These could be redeemed for future game purchases, effectively giving players a small rebate on their spending. But as of late 2024, Nintendo announced it would discontinue Gold Points entirely. This decision has sparked concern among fans who relied on the system to stretch their gaming budgets. Understanding why this change is happening—and how it affects you—is essential for every Nintendo user.

The End of an Era: What Are Gold Points?

Launched in 2016 alongside the My Nintendo loyalty program, Gold Points offered a straightforward benefit: spend money on digital games or downloadable content (DLC), and earn points in return. For every dollar spent (or local currency equivalent), users earned one Gold Point. Once accumulated, these points could be used as cash toward future digital purchases on the same account. Unlike Platinum Points—which are earned through free activities like logging in daily or completing challenges—Gold Points required real monetary investment.

This created a feedback loop that encouraged continued spending within the Nintendo ecosystem. A player who bought a $60 game would earn 600 Gold Points—enough to cover $6 of a future purchase. Over time, dedicated users could save tens of dollars annually simply by participating in the program.

Why Is Nintendo Discontinuing Gold Points?

The official announcement cited a desire to “simplify the rewards experience” and focus on broader engagement rather than transaction-based incentives. However, industry analysts point to several underlying factors:

• Declining Digital Margins: As more users shift to digital downloads, Nintendo faces tighter profit margins. Offering rebates via Gold Points reduces net revenue per sale, especially as redemption rates have increased.
• Encouraging Full-Price Purchases: By removing partial discounts through points, Nintendo may be aiming to reduce price sensitivity and discourage wait-and-redeem behavior, pushing users to buy games at launch.
• System Complexity: Managing two types of points with different rules added friction for new users. Streamlining to only Platinum Points makes the program easier to understand.
• Shift Toward Promotional Discounts: Instead of ongoing point returns, Nintendo appears to favor limited-time sales and targeted coupons, which offer more control over timing and inventory.

“Loyalty programs must evolve with consumer behavior. While Gold Points rewarded spending, they also cannibalized revenue. Nintendo is likely betting that occasional flash sales will drive more immediate action than slow point accumulation.” — David Kim, Industry Analyst at GameEconomy Insights

What Changes Are Coming and When?

Nintendo has implemented a phased shutdown of Gold Points:

Milestone	Date	Description
Earning Ends	March 31, 2025	No new Gold Points will be awarded for digital purchases made after this date.
Redemption Deadline	June 30, 2025	Last day to use existing Gold Points on eShop purchases.
Full Deactivation	July 1, 2025	All unused Gold Points will expire and cannot be reinstated.

This three-month redemption window gives users time to plan, but failure to act could result in lost value. Notably, the change applies globally across all regions where My Nintendo operates, including North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia.

Tip: Check your current Gold Point balance now by visiting your My Nintendo account page. If you’re close to a redemption threshold (e.g., 500 or 1000 points), consider making a planned purchase before June 30, 2025.

How This Affects You: Practical Implications

The removal of Gold Points shifts how cost-conscious gamers should approach digital spending. Without automatic rebates, every purchase becomes a full out-of-pocket expense. This impacts several common behaviors:

• Budget Planning: Players who counted on annual point returns to offset holiday shopping may need to adjust their savings strategy.
• Purchase Timing: Previously, some waited until they had enough points to reduce a game’s effective price. Now, waiting offers no built-in reward unless a sale is active.
• Value Perception: The psychological benefit of “earning back” part of a purchase disappears, potentially reducing satisfaction with full-price buys.

On the flip side, Nintendo may respond with more frequent eShop sales or exclusive Platinum Point bonuses for digital buyers. While not direct cash equivalents, these could partially offset the loss if leveraged strategically.

Mini Case Study: How One User Maximized Their Points

Sarah, a longtime Switch owner from Toronto, regularly purchased indie titles and DLC expansions. Over two years, she accumulated 3,200 Gold Points—worth $32 CAD. When she learned of the discontinuation, she reviewed her wishlist and bundled several smaller purchases into one transaction. She bought Hades, Stardew Valley: Festival Islands, and a Super Mario Bros. Wonder expansion pack, applying her points to reduce the total bill by nearly 25%. By acting early, she extracted full value before the deadline.

Her takeaway: “I didn’t realize how much I relied on those points until they were going away. Now I’ll have to budget differently—or hope for better sales.”

What You Should Do Now: A Step-by-Step Action Plan

To avoid losing value, follow this timeline:

1. Step 1: Log In and Check Balance
   Visit your My Nintendo account dashboard to see your current Gold Points balance. Note how close you are to common redemption thresholds (500, 1000, 1500).
2. 
   Identify upcoming or desired digital games, DLCs, or apps you plan to buy. Prioritize full-price titles where point savings will matter most.
3. Step 3: Plan a Redemption Purchase
   Before June 30, 2025, make a purchase using your points. You don’t need to spend them all at once, but ensure each batch is used before expiration.
4. Step 4: Monitor for Compensatory Offers
   Watch for special Platinum Point promotions or eShop discounts that might replace the old incentive model.
5. Step 5: Adjust Future Spending Habits
   Without automatic rebates, consider setting aside a monthly gaming budget or tracking sales cycles instead.

📋 **Checklist: Preparing for the Gold Points Sunset**

• ☐ Checked my current Gold Points balance
• ☐ Listed games I want to buy digitally
• ☐ Scheduled at least one redemption purchase by May 2025
• ☐ Subscribed to Nintendo’s newsletter for sale alerts
• ☐ Shared this info with family members using shared accounts

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still earn any rewards after Gold Points are gone?

Yes. Platinum Points will remain active and can be earned through logins, app usage, and special campaigns. While they cannot be directly redeemed for games, they can be exchanged for select digital items, themes, or occasionally, eShop credit in limited promotions.

Will Nintendo bring back Gold Points in the future?

There is no indication of a return. The company has framed this as a permanent simplification of the rewards system. Future incentives are expected to come through time-limited sales and event-based bonuses instead.

Do unused Gold Points roll over to Platinum Points?

No. Any Gold Points not redeemed by June 30, 2025, will be permanently removed from your account. There is no conversion option or extension available.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Nintendo Loyalty Rewards

The end of Gold Points marks a strategic pivot. Rather than rewarding past spending, Nintendo seems focused on driving immediate engagement through time-sensitive opportunities. This aligns with broader trends in digital platforms, where dynamic pricing and personalized offers are replacing static loyalty returns.

While the move may frustrate long-term users, it reflects Nintendo’s effort to maintain profitability in an increasingly competitive market. The challenge will be balancing user goodwill with financial sustainability. For now, the responsibility falls on consumers to adapt—maximizing remaining benefits and staying alert for new ways to save.

🚀 Don’t let your points vanish. Take action today: check your balance, plan your redemptions, and make the most of this final window. Share this guide with fellow Nintendo fans so they don’t miss out!