Wii U and 3DS online services shutting down: Here're all the details (including public reactions & alternatives)

After a long glorious run, the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U journey is finally at its end, as Nintendo has officially announced that they will be shutting down the online services of these consoles. But what does this mean? And how will it affect the company’s future?

It has been more than a decade since the launch of 3DS and Wii U. Both consoles have earned numerous accolades and praise during their lifetimes. But despite their success, like other good things in the world, these consoles also have to take their leave.

The online services for the 3DS and Wii U will shut down in early April 2024, which means that users will no longer be able to play online multiplayer games on these consoles.

Long time fans and users are very upset by the announcement. As discontinuing the online services of the consoles will mean they can no longer enjoy some games with their friends of other players. Including beloved titles such as Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Pokemon X and Y with their friends of other players.

According to Nintendo, shutting down is part of the natural lifecycle for any product line as they are less used by consumers over time. Previously, the eShop for these consoles was shut down in a similar manner, on March 27th, 2023.

The discontinuation of these consoles may have a minor impact on the revenues of the publishers and game developers. But the chances are slim as the last released game for the 3DS and Wii U was back in 2021. This inactivity was one of the main reasons for the shutdown.

Currently, Nintendo wants to put all of its focus on the Nintendo Switch and its rumored successor, Nintendo Switch 2. Overall, Nintendo’s decision to shut down the online services for these consoles is a natural part of the product lifecycle, and it will not have a significant impact on the future of the company.

Hardware wise there aren’t many solutions for this issue. However, players can use certain third-party software that can emulate online support for these consoles.

One of these softwares is Pretendo Network. It is an open-source Nintendo Network replacement that aims to build custom servers for the Wii U and 3DS family of consoles. Pretendo is currently not in a state that is ready for public use, but once it is, users will be able to use Pretendo simply by running their homebrew patcher on their console.

Another option is Citra, and unlike Pretendo, 3DS users can use it right now. Citra can be used as an alternative for live online support. Citra’s multiplayer feature has the ability to emulate local wireless multiplayer over the internet, and users can play together with their friends across the world in the latest Canary builds of Citra

However, it is important to note that Citra and Pretendo are not official Nintendo services, and they may not be as reliable as the original servers.

Note: We have more such stories in our dedicated gaming section, so be sure to follow them as well.

Feature image source: Nintendo

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