Can You Redownload Games On 3Ds After Eshop Closes

Can You Redownload Games on 3DS After eShop Closes?

The Nintendo 3DS eShop has closed its doors, and that’s a big deal for anyone who loves playing games on their 3DS. If you’ve bought games digitally from the eShop, you might be wondering if you can still get them back if you need to. The answer is a bit of a mix, and we’re here to explain it all, step by step, to make it super clear for you. So, let’s dig into what happens now that the eShop is gone.

Understanding the eShop Closure and Your Digital Games

Think of the eShop like a big store for 3DS games that you visited online. You could buy games, download them, and play them on your handheld device. Now that the store is closed, it’s not like a physical store where the building is still there even if it’s not open. The eShop is completely shut down. This means you can’t buy new games there anymore. But what happens to the games you already own?

When you buy a digital game, you’re not buying the game itself as a physical object, like a cartridge. You’re buying the right to play that game. This right is connected to your Nintendo Network ID and your 3DS. These IDs act like the keys to your digital game library. When you want to play your games, your 3DS checks to make sure your key is correct. Now that the eShop is closed, the key is still valid, and you can still use it to re-download games you previously purchased.

The Good News: Redownloading Your Games is Still Possible

Here’s the fantastic part: You can still re-download your games even though the eShop is gone. Nintendo has made it so you can get your games back as long as a few things are in place. You can redownload them if your console is still working, and you have your game data on it or have it saved to an SD card. This means that even though you can’t buy new digital games, you won’t lose the ones you already own, which is very important for many players!

What You Need to Redownload

To get your games back, here are the things you need:

• A working Nintendo 3DS or 2DS console: This needs to be the same console or family of consoles connected to the Nintendo Network ID you used to buy the games.
• Your Nintendo Network ID: This is the username and password you used to access the eShop and buy games. You have to remember these details.
• An internet connection: You need a Wi-Fi connection to download your games. Make sure your 3DS is connected to your home network or wherever you access the internet.
• Sufficient space on your SD card: The games are saved on the SD card inserted into your 3DS. If the card is full, you might need to get a bigger SD card.

How to Redownload Your 3DS Games Step-by-Step

Now that you know what you need, let’s walk through how to get your games back. It is not too tricky, but you need to follow the steps to make sure it works. Here’s what you should do:

Steps to Redownload

1. Turn on your Nintendo 3DS or 2DS: Make sure it is charged and ready to go.
2. Go to the Home Menu: This is the first screen you see when you turn on your 3DS. It shows all your game icons.
3. Find the eShop icon: Even though it’s closed, the icon is still there. It looks like a shopping bag. Tap it.
4. Log in to your Nintendo Account: You will be prompted to log in. Use the same Nintendo Network ID (NNID) and password you used when you bought the games. If you cannot remember your details, you might have to get them back. Go to the Nintendo website and follow instructions to get your NNID details back.
5. Navigate to Redownload Options: Once logged in, the eShop will look different. You won’t see the store, but you will see an area for your previously downloaded games. This is where your digital game history is kept. Look for an option called “Your Downloads” or something similar. Sometimes it’s located in the settings menu within the eShop interface. The wording might be slightly different from region to region, so explore the options carefully.
6. Find the Game You Want to Redownload: In “Your Downloads” section, you’ll see a list of all the games you bought. Scroll through the list until you find the game you want.
7. Start the Redownload Process: Select the game you want and start downloading. The 3DS will start the process of downloading the game. The speed depends on the internet connection, so be patient, especially if the game is big.
8. Wait for the Game to Download: You will see the progress bar moving. Once it is completed, the game is ready to play.

Common Issues and How to Handle Them

Even if you follow the steps correctly, you might sometimes have issues. Let’s look at some common problems and how to solve them.

Troubleshooting Redownload Problems

• Problem: Can’t Connect to the Internet.

  Solution: Double-check that your Wi-Fi is working. Make sure your 3DS is close to the Wi-Fi router. You may need to reset your router. Go to your 3DS network settings, check your Wi-Fi connection and try reconnecting. The console is quite old now, so ensure you are using a Wi-Fi network compatible with the older system. Some new routers use different settings which are not compatible with 3DS.

• Problem: Error Message When Trying to Redownload.

  Solution: Take a note of the error code and visit the official Nintendo website for help. Nintendo’s website contains details of all errors and how to solve them. Sometimes, the problem could be with the Nintendo service and not your device, and you should try again later.

• Problem: Not Enough Space on SD Card.

  Solution: Delete some games you don’t play or buy a bigger SD card. The SD cards are not too expensive nowadays. It is better to choose a brand name SD card to reduce the chance of problems.

• Problem: Forgot Nintendo Network ID or Password.

  Solution: You have to reset your password or recover your Nintendo Network ID. Visit the official Nintendo website, they can help you get your details back.

• Problem: “Content Not Available” or similar message.

  Solution: You need to make sure that you are logged into the same NNID that purchased the games initially. Also, some content might have been removed from the service for various reasons, so it might not be possible to redownload certain games.

• Problem: The download process is very slow.

  Solution: Make sure there are not too many people in your household using the same internet connection at the same time. Also, try to make sure that there are no other devices downloading big files at the same time.

Why Can You Still Redownload Your Games?

Nintendo knows that lots of people bought games on the eShop and do not want to lose them. By still allowing users to download games, they protect previous purchases. This is different than if it was a physical store, and it closed and everything inside disappeared. Because digital games are tied to an account and console, it is easier to provide an ability to re-download them. Even if they stopped selling new games, they wanted their customers to keep the games they already bought. This is a better way to support their player base.

Backing Up Your Games: A Good Idea

Although you can still download your games, it’s always a good idea to back them up. The reason is simple, if your 3DS gets broken, and you cannot re-download games, it will be impossible to play them again if you do not have a copy saved. Here’s how you can do that:

How to Back Up Your 3DS Game Data

The main way you can do that is to copy the data from your 3DS to your computer. It is not that difficult if you follow the instructions:

1. Get an SD Card Reader: You’ll need a way to plug your 3DS SD card into your computer. If your computer does not have an in built SD card reader, you can buy one from any computer store.
2. Take out the SD Card: Shut down your 3DS and take the SD card out. Make sure you handle it carefully.
3. Connect to the Computer: Put the SD card into the reader and plug it into the computer.
4. Find Your SD Card on Your Computer: Open your file manager and find where the SD card is. Your SD card will appear as a storage device.
5. Copy the Files: Copy everything that is stored on the SD card to your computer. It’s like making a copy of everything, so you have it safe on your computer.
6. Keep the Backup Safe: Store the copy on your computer safely. You could also save it to another hard drive or to a cloud storage service so you have a backup copy if something happens to your computer.

By doing this, if anything goes wrong with your 3DS or its SD card, you have a backup ready to go. You can put the files onto another SD card or use them to restore your games if you get a new 3DS (same family). This is super important and gives you peace of mind.

What Happens If Your 3DS Breaks?

Having your games safely backed up is very useful, especially if your 3DS breaks. This is what can happen if your console stops working.

If Your 3DS Breaks

If your 3DS stops working or you lose it, you will still be able to download your games on a new or replacement system as long as the following is true:

• It’s the Same Family of Console : The new console must be a 3DS, 2DS or New 3DS family of systems. Games purchased for a 3DS system cannot be downloaded onto a Nintendo Switch, for example.
• Use the Same NNID: You need to log into the new system using the same Nintendo Network ID and password that you used before. This is essential to show that you bought the games.
• The System Works: If the new system is broken, you won’t be able to use it. It is essential to make sure the system works properly.

If these things are correct, then the system should work, and you should be able to go through the download process as normal.

The Future of 3DS Games

The closure of the eShop is a big change. It marks the end of an era, as digital games are the way that people play games these days. With the 3DS console becoming an older console, Nintendo has moved onto newer systems. Although new games will no longer be released, it is good that they allow you to keep your old games. Make sure you backup your games, so you do not lose them.

Important Things to Remember

• You Can’t Buy New Games: The eShop is closed, and you can no longer buy games there.
• Redownload is Possible: You can redownload the games you already bought.
• Have Your NNID Details Safe: Remember your Nintendo Network ID and password.
• Back Up Your Games: Always save a backup copy of your games so they are safe.

The 3DS eShop closing is a change, but Nintendo has allowed players to keep playing the games they have, which is very good. If you have any questions or need any help, make sure you consult the official Nintendo website for support.

In summary, while the 3DS eShop is closed for new purchases, your previously bought digital games aren’t lost. You can still redownload them if you have a working 3DS with the same Nintendo Network ID, an internet connection, and enough space on your SD card. This ensures you can continue enjoying your 3DS library, even after the eShop’s closure. Make sure you backup your games, and you can enjoy them for many years to come.