"Nintendo Japan eShop Halts Foreign Payment Methods"

Nintendo has recently updated its payment policies for the eShop and My Nintendo Store in Japan, no longer accepting foreign-issued credit cards and PayPal accounts. This change, effective from March 25, 2025, aims to "prevent fraudulent use," according to a statement released on January 30, 2025. This new policy significantly impacts overseas consumers who have been using these payment methods to purchase from the Japanese eShop.

Termination Of Foreign Payments To “Prevent Fraudulent Use”

Nintendo's decision to block foreign payment methods was announced via their official website and Twitter (X). The company has encouraged its international customers to switch to Japan-issued credit cards or other local payment methods to continue shopping on the Japanese eShop. "For customers who have previously used overseas-issued credit cards or PayPal accounts opened overseas, we ask that you please use other payment methods, such as credit cards issued in Japan," Nintendo stated.

While Nintendo has not detailed what constitutes "fraudulent use," they have clarified that this policy change will not affect games already purchased through the Japanese eShop. This means that fans can continue to enjoy their existing digital and physical game collections without interruption.

Perks When Buying From Nintendo eShop and My Nintendo Store Japan

The Japanese eShop has been a go-to for many overseas Nintendo fans due to its exclusive offerings and often more favorable pricing. Shoppers can access Japanese-exclusive Switch games like Yo-kai Watch 1's port, Famicom Wars, Super Robot Wars T, Mother 3, and exclusive titles from the Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem series, along with a variety of retro games from the SNES and NES. With the new policy in place, these exclusive titles will become inaccessible to customers outside Japan who cannot use local payment methods.

Alternative Payment Methods For Overseas Customers

For those affected by the policy change, Nintendo suggests obtaining a Japanese-issued credit card, though this can be challenging for non-residents due to the need for a residence card. An alternative solution is purchasing Japanese Nintendo eShop cards from online retailers like Amazon JP and PlayAsia. These cards allow customers to add funds to their eShop account without revealing their location, providing a workaround for the new restrictions.

As Nintendo prepares for its upcoming Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, focused on the Nintendo Switch 2, fans are eager to learn more about this policy and any other forthcoming changes. This event could shed further light on Nintendo's strategies and future plans.