Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop Closure: Last Chance to Download Monster Hunter DLC

Nintendo fans are approaching a significant milestone in the company’s hardware and digital content history.

On April 8, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.

EST (4:00 p.m.

PST), Nintendo will officially shut down online functionality for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems.

This move marks the end of an era for two platforms that have been highly influential in both handheld and home console gaming.

Among the games most affected by this closure are several beloved entries from Capcom’s Monster Hunter series. As earlier announced by Nintendo, all online services—including the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops—will be discontinued on April 8, 2024.

This impacts purchasing, redownloading, and accessing downloadable content (DLC) for a broad range of classic titles.

Capcom, the developer behind the acclaimed Monster Hunter franchise, officially notified players via the Monster Hunter Twitter account, advising fans to ensure they have downloaded any desired DLC for legacy Monster Hunter games before the shutdown occurs. A Capcom representative communicated via the official channel that after the closure, all DLC content for the affected Monster Hunter games will no longer be available for download.

However, any content acquired prior to the closure will remain playable on the respective consoles, including in ad-hoc or offline modes.

Players are urged to act quickly as this is the final opportunity to download and back up any remaining digital content related to these games. The following Monster Hunter titles will be directly impacted by the eShop and online services shutdown: - Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Nintendo 3DS) - Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Wii U) - Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate - Monster Hunter Generations - Monster Hunter Stories While Monster Hunter Stories is set to receive ports to new platforms—complete with its full suite of DLC—the same cannot be said for other past Monster Hunter games.

Despite the franchise’s significant growth, especially following Monster Hunter World on modern hardware and platforms like the Nintendo Switch, earlier titles remain exclusive to the 3DS and Wii U ecosystems.

This means that once the eShops close, fans of the traditional Monster Hunter experience will lose access to a wealth of downloadable missions, gear, and in-game items unless they have secured them ahead of the service discontinuation. Capcom’s proactive communication gives players one last opportunity to preserve their digital Monster Hunter collection for posterity.

As the deadline approaches, it is imperative for owners of either platform to verify that all desired DLC and software is backed up locally.

Once the eShops and associated online services are terminated, any unclaimed content will be permanently inaccessible—even for previous purchasers. For those passionate about classic Nintendo hardware and Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, this eShop closure serves as a solemn reminder of the impermanence of digital content and the importance of digital preservation.

Be sure to secure your content and celebrate the legacy of these iconic titles while you still can.

Nintendo 3DS Monster Hunter Nintendo eShop Wii Wii U 3DS Xbox Series X|S DLC Capcom Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate Monster Hunter Generations Monster Hunter Stories Nintendo Switch