Nintendo is preparing dual-console users to move on for good. An announcement that immediately worried Pokemon players.
Nintendo once again took the floor to reveal the future of two machines which had very different destinies. One of them was one of the manufacturer’s biggest successes, and the other, one of its biggest flops in its entire history. However, this does not really matter since both are today treated the same way. The end is getting closer and closer.
Nintendo buries two more consoles
Wii U players can replay Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 online. These two console classics were temporarily suspended after the discovery of a vulnerability via multiplayer. If you were happy with the return of these two games, enjoy, it won’t last. Nintendo reveals that Online services for 3DS and Wii U games will be unavailable from April 2024.
Thank you for your continued support of our products. Starting April 2024, online play and other features using online communication will no longer be available for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. This includes online cooperative play, internet leaderboards, and distribution of data.
Please note that if an event occurs that makes it difficult to continue online services for 3DS and Wii U, we may have to terminate these services earlier than planned. We sincerely thank players for using the online services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software for so long and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Via Nintendo France.
The manufacturer also specifies that this judgment concerns “software exclusive to the New Nintendo 3DS”. Big N therefore plants one more nail in the coffin of these legendary consoles for completely opposite reasons.
End of 3DS and Wii U online services, what about the Pokemon Bank?
Does the end of online services on 3DS and Wii U games mean that the Pokemon Bank will be inaccessible? She is saved, but that may not be the case in the future. “It could also change later » indicates the firm. Good news for fans of the legendary franchise, even if a threat still hovers over its head. But what about the rest? Big N provided some detailed explanations.
From April 2024, the online mode of 3DS and Wii U games will be unavailable, but features not linked to an internet connection will not disappear. You can replay MK8 in a loop solo, or with others locally, if you want. This decision obviously impacts Nintendo productions, but also those of other publishers. “With few exceptions, all online services for 3DS and Wii U software will end. Contact the publishers to learn more about their software’s online services.
If eshop purchases have been deleted, it will still be possible, even after this date, to redownload your acquired titles as well as the associated updates. Finally, StreetPass will still work, but SpotPass will not. “StreetPass uses local communication between Nintendo 3DS family systems, which means that the functionality will still be available, even after online services end. However, as SpotPass is based on online communication, this feature will no longer be available..
This announcement from Nintendo was inevitable, but it really disappoints some people. Overall, tweeters regret this shutdown of online functionalities. Especially for Splatoon 1 and Mario Kart 8 which have only just returned. For others, it is a further sign that the manufacturer is totally focused on the future. With, among other things, the Nintendo Switch 2 in its sights.