Nintendo officially announced the termination of online play and communication (such as receiving new panels in Puzzle Swap) for its 3DS and Wii U consoles, effective April 2024. This news means a farewell to the online functionality for beloved games like the inaugural Splatoon, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. 4, Mario Maker, and Xenoblade Chronicles X. Although the fate of third-party games remains slightly ambiguous, Nintendo has clarified that, with a few exceptions, the online services for all software on these platforms are heading towards a shutdown. For instance, if you’re still playing Minecraft or Terraria on Wii U, you’ll likely have to stick to single-player.
As of early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 4, 2023
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The few exceptions to the rule
In the wake of this announcement, Pokémon Bank emerges as a lone survivor, continuing to offer online services for now. However, Nintendo has been candid in stating that support for Pokémon Bank “may also end at some point in the future.” The plan is to pull the plug on online functionalities in April; unforeseen circumstances could hasten this process. The closure is not just limited to games. For those who enjoy collecting badges from the arcade onto their 3DS home menu, it’s advisable to hasten your pace as post-service termination; any attempt to use the software will meet with an error message.
Past closures and community reactions
This isn’t the first time Nintendo has decided to close digital doors. The digital storefronts for Wii U and 3DS were shuttered earlier, ceasing the digital purchase of new games on these platforms. The decision to end online services is seen as a tactic to migrate the remaining users to the Switch console, albeit at the cost of preserving the extensive game libraries of the two erstwhile consoles. The news has unsurprisingly left the gaming community disheartened.
A glimpse into the future
As the curtains gradually draw to a close for online 3DS and Wii U services, the focus inevitably shifts towards what lies ahead. The gaming community is now abuzz with discussions, speculating the features of the forthcoming Switch 2 and how it might bridge the current gap. The consensus tilts towards a hope that Nintendo would incorporate a control scheme in the new console to accommodate the DS/3DS/Wii U, preventing them from becoming mere relics of the past. Meanwhile, the burden of reviving online play for these treasured games rests on the shoulders of the ardent fans unless Nintendo decides to port the older game library to newer platforms.
In retrospect, the Wii U and 3DS journey reflects contrasting tales of success and challenges. While the 3DS soared with over 75 million units sold since its launch in 2010, the Wii U could muster only around 13 million sales post its 2012 launch till its discontinuation in 2017. Looking ahead, Nintendo’s CEO, Shuntaro Furukawa, emphasized the crucial role of the existing Nintendo Account system in ensuring a smooth transition to the upcoming generation of hardware post the Switch era. His statement underscores the underlying challenges in building and retaining customer relationships with each new network launched on the preceding systems.
