This Week’s eShop Roundup: Exciting Events, Deals, Music, and More!

As the holiday season draws near, let’s dive into what’s buzzing on the Nintendo Switch eShop this week. The theme is all about festive events and challenges, with some of your favorite games getting into the holiday spirit, including Fortnite and Disney: Dreamlight Valley.

First off, remember Pokémon Violet and Scarlet? These games might have slipped your mind with all the new releases, but now’s the perfect time to revisit them, thanks to the current Tera Raid Battle Event. Running until January 5, this event gives you a shot at catching a Shiny Rayquaza—a rare treat that’s not usually available in the standard gameplay.

Meanwhile, Fortnite is returning with its Winterfest Cabin, sticking around until January 7. On another note, EA Sports FC 25 is spicing things up with its Winter Wildcards, and Disney: Dreamlight Valley is celebrating the season with its Gift of Giving event. If these don’t pique your interest, then maybe the extensive eShop holiday sale will. They’re offering hefty discounts across popular series like Monster Hunter, Mega Man, LEGO, and Resident Evil. This writer found some gems worth discussing on our upcoming episode of the Pure Nintendo Podcast, so be sure to share any hidden treasures you discover.

On top of all that, Tetris 99 is hosting a new Maximus Cup event to amp up your excitement, complete with some exhilarating Zelda tracks on the Nintendo Music app. Feel free to explore more about the latest Nintendo soundtracks available.

There’s a full rundown of eShop events, deals, and new releases just below. So, what’s on your gaming list this weekend?

Nintendo Switch Highlights:

• Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet Tera Raid Battle Event: Attention all Paldea Trainers! Shiny Rayquaza is making an appearance in a special Tera Raid Battle Event. Sporting a distinctive black coloration and a Dragon Tera Type, this Pokémon will show up in 5-star Tera Raid Battles at Tera Raid crystals. Catch this elusive creature from December 19, 4 p.m. PT to January 5, 3:59 p.m. PT. Don’t miss this chance to add Shiny Rayquaza to your team!

• Fortnite: Snuggle up in the Winterfest Cabin as it returns from December 20 through January 7.

• EA SPORTS FC 25: Dive into the Winter Wildcards campaign to spread some holiday cheer in your Ultimate Team squad! This event kicks off December 20 and lasts until January 3.

• Disney Dreamlight Valley: Celebrate with the Gift of Giving event from December 18 to December 31. Join the fun with the Build a Snowman Event, craft gifts for Villagers, fish for festive rewards, and be on the lookout for surprises on December 25!

• Overwatch 2: Enjoy Winter Wonderland’s return! Complete challenges to grab frosty rewards like the Winter Chic Widowmaker skin. Whether it’s Mei’s Snowball Offensive or Freezethaw Elimination, there’s something for everyone until January 6.

• Rocket League: Frosty Fest is back for 2024, bringing with it a sleigh-full of challenges, rewards, Golden Gifts, and more from December 10 to December 31.

• Apex Legends: Hop aboard for the Winter’s Haunt Event with the Winter Express LTM! Collect Ice Gems to unlock cool rewards from the Reward Shop, featuring 30 iced-out cosmetics like Legendary Skins, and a chance to snag 150 Heirloom Shards, the Bloodhound heirloom “Winter’s Bane,” and the reactive Hemlock skin, “Attunement.” This is on now through January 6.

Nintendo Music:

• High-Flying Tracks: Soak in the incredible sounds of the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword soundtrack, now available on Nintendo Music, the new app for Nintendo soundtracks! Immerse yourself in the thrilling world of the game through tracks that play during exploration and epic battles. Note, Nintendo Music is exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online members.

Activities:

• Tetris® 99 44th MAXIMUS CUP: Tap into Zelda’s wisdom in the Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom-themed event. Collect 100 event points as you play Tetris 99 online during the event from December 19, 11 p.m. PT to December 23, 10:59 p.m. PT, to unlock a special theme with art, music, and Tetrimino designs inspired by Zelda.

• Animal Crossing Cozy Winter Sweepstakes: Brr! Warm up with the Animal Crossing Cozy Winter Sweepstakes! Enter for a chance to win a delightful set of prizes perfect for creating a snug Animal Crossing scene in your living room. Enter by February 18, 2025.

Nintendo eShop Sales:

Check out all the latest offers and find some great deals this week!

Whether you’re facing off in Tetris or exploring the music world of Zelda, there’s plenty to get excited about. Share what you’ll be playing this weekend!