It looks like Nintendo is starting to limit the Wii U and 3DS’ ability to play online early (via Nintendo life).
The possible shutdown was first reported by Jonathan Barrow of Pretendo, an “open source Nintendo Network replacement” aimed at maintaining online functionality for the two platforms in question. Barrow’s findings suggest that gamers have recently been struggling to get Wii U and 3DS games online, part of a “slow rollout” of Nintendo’s plans to shut down the services.
Back in October, Nintendo announced that online services for the Wii U and 3DS systems would be discontinued sometime in early April 2024. This was supposed to be the next step in sending the former home console and popular handheld to the farm after their respective digital storefronts closed in March 2023.
“Please note that if an event occurs that makes it difficult to continue online services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software, we may have to suspend services earlier than planned,” the company said in an official statement at the time, which may provide an explanation for the events we are currently experiencing.
Polygon tested the issue by attempting to create a digital copy of it Super Smash Bros for Nintendo 3DS online only to get an error code previously assigned for the Pokemon Bank app. A quick scan of social media revealed that users were encountering unresolvable connection issues with the same error code in several different 3DS games, including Pokémon Ultra Sun And Ultramoon, Yo-kai Watch 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force HeroesAnd Animal crossing new leaf.
Polygon has reached out to Nintendo for more information and will update this story if we learn more. Whether this is a concerted attempt by Nintendo to put the final nail in the Wii U and 3DS coffins or a symptom of another problem, it’s clear that gamers only have a limited amount of time to enjoy online play on these two systems to enjoy. If you fancy another round of the last generation Super Smash Bros. Playing while you enjoy the holidays is something you should start doing sooner rather than later.
