It’s been a long time coming, but Southeast Asia is finally getting the Nintendo eShop treatment. Months after releasing the Nintendo Switch 2 and following the establishment of a new entity on local soil, the gaming juggernaut has announced that Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online services will launch in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand on 18 November.
The expansion comes as part of its aim to accelerate business in the region, allowing users to download and purchase games, demos, and DLC content, as well as check out sales, discounts, and upcoming releases. In territories where eShop isn’t supported, this is done by changing the country associated with their Nintendo Account online through the official website, with all information presented in local currency and language.
Meanwhile, Nintendo Switch Online grants access to online battles and co-op play, a selection of titles from past Nintendo consoles and exclusive games available only to subscribers, and additional features like Save Data Cloud.
Within the larger Asia-Pacific, Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online are currently available in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and Australia (China has one, but it’s phasing out in 2026). As stated in the official announcement post, both services are also expected to roll out in the Philippines eventually.
The announcement comes at a ripe time – the company’s next tentpole title, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, is due to bow on both the Switch 2 and its predecessor tomorrow, 16 October – and amid internal change-ups, including the appointment of nine-year video game industry veteran Devon Pritchard as the successor to chief operating officer Doug Bowser, who’s retiring this December. Satoru Shibata, a longtime Nintendo executive who previously led Nintendo of Europe, will also join Nintendo of America as CEO while simultaneously continuing his duties at Nintendo’s headquarters in Kyoto.
Nintendo eShop launches in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand on 18 November, with specific service contents to be announced at a later date.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
