Nintendo's Japan eShop and My Nintendo Store have implemented a new policy: foreign credit cards and PayPal accounts are no longer accepted. This change, effective March 25, 2025, aims to combat fraudulent activity.

Nintendo's New Policy: Blocking Foreign Payments to "Prevent Fraudulent Use"

To curb fraudulent transactions, Nintendo has announced that, starting March 25th, 2025, overseas credit cards and PayPal accounts will be blocked from the Japanese eShop and My Nintendo Store. This decision was announced via the company website and Twitter (X) on January 30, 2025. Nintendo encourages international customers to utilize Japanese-issued credit cards or alternative payment methods. The company hasn't detailed the specifics of the fraudulent activity prompting this change. Existing purchases remain unaffected; players can continue enjoying their games.

The Allure of the Japanese eShop: Exclusive Titles and Discounts

The Japanese eShop offers significant advantages for international gamers. It boasts a library of region-locked titles unavailable elsewhere, including popular franchises like Yo-kai Watch, Fire Emblem, Shin Megami Tensei, and numerous retro classics. Furthermore, the often-favorable exchange rate can lead to significant savings on games.

This new policy, however, directly impacts access to these exclusive titles for overseas players.

Alternative Payment Options for International Customers

While the preferred method is a Japanese credit card (requiring Japanese residency), there are alternatives. Purchasing Japanese eShop cards from online retailers like Amazon JP and Play-Asia allows users to add funds to their accounts without needing to provide location information. This circumvents the new restrictions on payment methods.

Nintendo's upcoming Nintendo Direct on April 2nd, 2025, focusing on the Nintendo Switch 2, might offer further clarification on this policy and future changes.