Nintendo Announces Discontinuation of My Nintendo Gold Points Reward Program
After seven years of service, Nintendo is set to discontinue its My Nintendo Gold Points reward program, effective late March 2025. The gaming giant has not publicly disclosed the rationale behind this decision, leaving users to speculate on the future of Nintendo's loyalty initiatives.
Nintendo has officially announced the forthcoming discontinuation of its My Nintendo Gold Points reward program, a system implemented to incentivize game purchases across its platforms. Launched seven years prior, the Gold Points program granted users points equivalent to a percentage of their game purchases, redeemable for discounts on future software acquisitions, including titles for consoles like the Nintendo Switch OLED (currently available on Amazon).
The announcement, disseminated earlier today, was notable for its lack of explicit justification for the program's termination. Nintendo's communication indicated that the discontinuation will take effect on March 24, 2025, specifically after 9:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) for digital game transactions, encompassing both direct purchases and pre-orders made via the Nintendo eShop.
For users holding existing Gold Points balances, or those who accrue points prior to the discontinuation date, Nintendo has clarified that these points will retain their validity for a period of 12 months from the date of accrual. Regarding physical game purchases made on or before March 24, 2025, Nintendo has stated that Gold Points can still be redeemed, provided the game is registered within one year of its original release date, adhering to established program protocols.
Beyond game purchases, the My Nintendo Gold Points system also extended to Nintendo eShop card purchases, allowing users to accrue points through these transactions as well. However, Nintendo has indicated a change in policy post-discontinuation: while retailers may continue to offer eShop cards that visually denote Gold Point eligibility, purchases made after the program's termination will only grant the monetary value of the card, without the associated Gold Points.
In a contrasting move, Nintendo has confirmed the continuation of its Platinum Points reward system. Platinum Points are earned through engagement with various My Nintendo service activities and participation in select Nintendo mobile games such as "Super Mario Run" and "Fire Emblem Heroes."
The utility of Platinum Points differs from Gold Points. They are primarily redeemable for digital rewards, such as wallpapers and user icons, particularly for subscribers of the Nintendo Switch Online service. Furthermore, Platinum Points can be exchanged for physical merchandise, including items like bags and hats, available through the official Nintendo Store. Notably, Platinum Points have a shorter expiration period of six months, in contrast to the 12-month validity of Gold Points.
The discontinuation of the Gold Points program marks a significant shift in Nintendo's reward strategy. While the Platinum Points system will remain operational, the removal of Gold Points as a direct purchase incentive may prompt users to reassess their engagement with the My Nintendo ecosystem and the perceived value of digital game purchases within the Nintendo ecosystem. The absence of a stated rationale from Nintendo invites speculation regarding the company's future loyalty and rewards initiatives.
Source(s): Nintendo
