Nintendo bans European stores from selling download codes of its games

Nintendo has stopped selling download codes for its Switch games in Europe. Retailers are still allowed to sell DLC, Nintendo Online subscriptions and eShop credit. Download codes for Switch games from other publishers may also still be sold.

This decision was initially brought to light by online store ShopTo, who reported on Twitter no longer be allowed to sell digital download codes for Nintendo’s first-party games. This concerns games from Nintendo itself, such as Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Nintendo has now confirmed the decision to NintendoLife. The Japanese gaming giant says the company has decided “after careful examination of the developing European market” to end the sale of download codes for its first-party games as of July 1, 2020. The company does not provide any specific reason for that decision.

The company also indicates that European webshops are still allowed to sell Online subscriptions and DLC content, such as the expansion pass of Pokémon Sword and Shield. The sale of eShop credit will also continue, Nintendo reports. The sale of download codes for Switch games that are not made by Nintendo itself will also continue to be allowed.