Updates and patches are a staple of modern programming, and yesterdayNintendo Switchgot a small, yet very important update. 10.0.4 dropped on Thursday, June 4th, and it brought an urgently needed fix for the Nintendo eStore’s payment system.
A bug in theNintendo Switchpayment processing system made it impossible for users to update their credit card information on the eStore. Customers in some countries were bewildered when they attempted to enter the form to receive their payment information, but instead they were being directed to a broken web page. The bug apparently only affected customers who were trying to register new credit cards, and only on the Switch itself.
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For Nintendo, this was a very serious bug that needed to be fixed immediately. Being unable to make a payment due to a software bug is especially frustrating, especially for users who were excited about new releases, such asOuter Worldscoming to Nintendo Switch, which dropped today.
One of the first users who reported the problem was Andi, who wrote to Nintendo Support on June 1st, “Over the weekend I attempted a purchase on the Nintendo switch for my child and the option to put in my credit card information was not there.” The option apparently had been there the previous Saturday, but not Sunday. The most recent patch had been 10.0.3, released May 25th, a week before Andi noticed the problem, so the error was probably not directly related to the patch.
PokemonMaster9 on the GameFAQs Nintendo Switch forums wrote, “When I attempt to go to set my credit card information, it automatically takes me to the same page, without asking for my info!” they wrote. “I need answers quickly, ‘cause I need to be able to prepurchase theSwSh (Pokemon Sword & Shield) Expansion Pass for those exclusive outfits.”
The error may have affected more users than first meets the eye, which is unfortunate because there were games over the weekend that many wanted to get their hands on early, such asXenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. Many threads in r/nintendoswitch regarding the bug were deleted due to rule 3 (“No limited scope or easily searchable questions."), so gamers using Reddit did not get much of an opportunity to discuss the bug and how it was affecting them. Some thought the fault lay with their credit card providers, so there were undoubtedly at least a few calls requesting new cards and new numbers.
Luckily, many users were able to find workarounds to the eStore payment problem, so they could still get their hands on thePac-Man DLC forMinecraft. Since the bug only affected the Nintendo Switch, they could open the eStore on another device such as a phone or a computer and enter the payment information that way. Some users also turned to PayPal as an alternative. Finally, gift cards are also available online and at many major gaming and grocery stores, though it would have been nice if customers couldturn their loose change into Nintendo eShop gift cards via CoinStar.
The update itself came with little fanfare, but users affected by the bug can now breathe a sigh of relief. The error may have disrupted users’ experience in the Nintendo eStore for a few days, but Nintendo was able to fix the problem quickly, thanks to a dedicated team of developers who are still maintaining software, even if they are doing it working from home. They’re still going to be busy getting ready for theNintendo Switch Pro holiday release.
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