Nintendo users can say goodbye to streaming Netflix on their Wii U and 3DS devices as the app is no longer available to download for new users. Existing users can still access the app, but not for long. Nintendo says it will be shut down completely by June 30, 2021.
“Starting Dec 31st, 2020, the Netflix app will no longer be available for new users to download from Nintendo eShop on the Wii U console or Nintendo 3DS family of systems,” Nintendo said in a statement on the listings for the Wii U and 3DS Netflix app. “During that time, it will be possible for existing users to re-download these applications. Service for existing users will continue until June 30th, 2021. Thank you to everyone who enjoyed Netflix on these platforms over the years.”
Nintendo discontinued the 10-year-old 3DS back in September, so it’s not surprising they’re pulling the plug on Netflix streaming. Nintendo seems to be phasing out support for this type of older gaming consoles and focusing on newer devices. We’ve seen this before when Nintendo pulled back Netflix streaming from the Wii at the beginning of 2019 when the device was 12 years old.
With that being said, there’s still no sign of a Netflix app for the Nintendo Switch, despite the hybrid video game console being nearly 4 years old. Nintendo said it was in talks to reach agreements with big streaming apps back when it launched in March 2017, but so far only Hulu is available.