Tencent (腾讯), Nintendo (任天堂)’s mainland sales agent, announced on 25 August 2025 that Nintendo Switch repairs would end on 31 December 2026. Its April 2026 reminder also set out a software redownload restriction. In this article, we look at the repair cutoff, earlier network changes and published exceptions.
Repairs end on 31 December 2026, with a dispatch-date exception
The official repair notice covers the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch OLED model and listed accessories sold through the mainland operation. It says equipment sent for repair before 31 December 2026 is not affected by the service end date. The dispatch time determines this exception.
Covered accessories include Joy-Con, the dock, AC adapter, Pro Controller, Joy-Con charging grip, adjustable charging stand, Ring-Con and Poké Ball Plus. Ring-Con foam grips are excluded. The notice states that official paid repairs also stop after the cutoff.
| Service | Cutoff |
|---|---|
| eShop sales | 31 March, 22:00 |
| Downloads and code redemption | 15 May, 22:00 |
| Hardware and listed-accessory repairs | 31 December |
Sales and downloads had separate cutoffs in March and May
The original notice, published on 26 November 2024, separated sales from downloads. Sales ended on 31 March 2026; free demonstrations and free tools could no longer be obtained after that date. It scheduled downloads, code redemption and other network services to end on 15 May 2026.
The same announcement introduced a historical goodwill programme. From 27 November 2024 until 31 March 2026, eligible owners could claim codes for up to four Nintendo digital games or tools. Participation required an activated mainland console used under the device terms and the Weixin account used to sign into it.
The programme ran through a game-claim Weixin mini programme. One Weixin account could be linked to one console for participation. Claiming a code did not replace redemption and download: the network deadline still applied. These dates describe a completed offer, rather than an offer available today.
A motherboard replacement can prevent digital software redownload
In its final network reminder, dated 30 April 2026, Tencent said eShop sales had already stopped. It repeated the download and code-redemption cutoff and the December repair endpoint.
It also described a limit affecting subsequent repairs. If a console failed after the network shutdown and needed its motherboard replaced, digital games or tools could not be downloaded again after that replacement. Whether a motherboard replacement was needed depended on the repair centre’s assessment.
The reminder directed questions to the Nintendo Switch China customer-service area through a QR code scanned in the mobile version of Weixin/WeChat. The notice supplies this service entry; it does not report customer waiting times, completed repairs or resolution rates.
Software effects differ by title and function
The official software-impact list specifies functions unavailable after the cutoff: online play and pass purchases or downloads for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; leaderboards and balloon-finding for Super Mario Odyssey; and leaderboards for Ring Fit Adventure.
The list separately names unaffected Nintendo titles and tools, including Jump Rope Challenge, Yoshi’s Crafted World and Kirby Star Allies. This designation still required the software to have been downloaded before the cutoff. It was not an exception allowing later downloads.
Ring Fit Adventure has an additional hardware-and-software condition: accessories obtained after the network closure could not be paired with a new download of the required software. Tencent Video (腾讯视频)’s Switch functions also stopped, while linked membership could continue on phones, computers and tablets until expiry.
Not disclosed in the source
- Total consoles or users affected by the service changes.
- Repair volumes, waiting times and completion rates.
- A replacement service arrangement after the repair cutoff.
