The Wii Shop Channel was a channel that was used to purchase new games and channels (as well as updating existing channels) for the Wii. When purchasing Wii Points on the Wii Shop Channel, either a credit card or a Wii Points Card could be used to do so. It was closed in January 30, 2019.
Software[]
Channels[]
Channels (released in November 2006) contained channels that could be downloaded and place on your Wii Menu. Most of them were free, however, the Internet Channel costed 500 Wii Points until October 2009 when the Internet Channel was now a free download. Anyone who had paid 500 points for it would be reimbursed for it by downloading a free non-imported NES game of their choice from the Wii Shop Channel.
Virtual Console[]
Virtual Console (released in November 2006): Contained games from past systems, including the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, SNK Neo Geo, TurboGrafx-16, MSX, Commodore 64, and Virtual Console Arcade.
Here is a table showing the consoles that games could be got for and the prices:
| System | Starting Cost in Wii Points |
|---|---|
| Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) |
500 |
| Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super Famicom) |
800 |
| Nintendo 64 | 1,000 |
| TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine) |
600 |
| Sega Genesis (Sega Mega Drive) |
800 |
| NEOGEO | 900 |
| MASTER SYSTEM | 500 |
| Virtual Console Arcade | 800 |
| Commodore 64 | [N/A] |
WiiWare[]
WiiWare are digital games for the Wii, first releasing in March 2008. WiiWares are new games built ground-up from the Wii, the service was designed to allow small developers to put out games with low costs. WiiWares could be stored on the Wii Menu or directly installed to the SD Card Menu if the user picks it.
Connection Ambassador Program[]
In 2009, Nintendo of Europe announced the Wii Connection Ambassador program, a scheme designed to reward users for helping other new users get connected online and to the Wii Shop Channel. It was later on launched in New Zealand and Australia.
Closure[]
On September 29, 2017, Nintendo announced that the Wii Shop Channel would be discontinued on January 30, 2019 (limiting usage of the service to redownload previously purchased content only and that the service would become entirely inaccessible at an unspecified date that year). To prepare for the closure, it was announced that the ability to add Wii Points with a credit card or a Wii Points card (to purchase and play VC games and/or WiiWare) on Wii Shop Channel would be removed on March 26, 2018. Then from that date, the ability to add Wii Points --to purchase and play Virtual Console and WiiWare games-- remained functional and Wii Shop Channel users could still continue adding Wii Points until March 26, 2018 (until 1 P.M PST on March 26, 2018). On March 26, 2018, the option to add Wii Points had been removed. On January 31, 2019, the Wii Shop Channel was closed down and reverted back to its original layout, the day the Wii Shop Channel was launched. All Virtual Console, WiiWare, and Wii Channels were removed, except for the ability to download content if it was previously bought before, and 2 remaining Wii Channels such as The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Save Data Update Channel, and the Wii System Transfer, and Wii U Transfer Tool.