For its Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U devices, Nintendo has unexpectedly announced the end of online service. Online multiplayer and other features, such as internet rankings and data distribution, will be discontinued starting in April 2024 for both consoles.
It comes after the shutdown of the Nintendo eShop, which was available online for both systems until March 2023. For a limited period, online multiplayer was still available, however it now seems that all services will be discontinued. Notably, this will make some video games unplayable, most notably the first Splatoon.
Nintendo thanked customers for their support over the years in a statement, but also warned that certain events could cause the 3DS and Wii U online services to go down earlier than intended.
“A particular finish time and date will be announced later. Please be aware that we could have to stop providing services sooner than expected if something happens that makes it difficult to continue providing online services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and thank gamers for using the online services of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software for such a prolonged length of time.
As Nintendo makes clear, while the majority of games will continue to run after the shutdown, those that depend on online multiplayer and demand a constant internet connection will no longer have access to a server. According to a Nintendo FAQ, only one online game, Pokemon Bank, will continue to be playable.
One small caveat for disgruntled players: it will still be possible to obtain update data, redownload previously purchased software, and download additional material via the Nintendo eShop in the future.
Nintendo has made it clear that while SpotPass won’t be available on the Nintendo 3DS since it depends on online connectivity, StreetPass will continue to work because it relies on local communication between Nintendo 3DS systems.
StreetPass Mii Plaza, which comes pre-installed on Nintendo 3DS family systems, will still let you use it, but you won’t be able to access any online communication-based features like obtaining new Puzzle Swap panels.
An important period in Nintendo history will come to an end with the formal shutdown of the online services for the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U. The curtain will close on these venerable systems starting in April 2024 as Nintendo concentrates on its future moves.