Nintendo Shuts Down 3DS and Wii U Online Play in April 2024: What It Means for Players
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Published on: October 04, 2023
Description
Nintendo has officially announced the upcoming discontinuation of online play and related network features for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U consoles, marking another significant step in the company’s phase-out of legacy hardware.
The end of online services for these platforms is scheduled to take effect in early April 2024, further underscoring Nintendo’s shifting focus towards the Nintendo Switch and its ecosystem.
Originally released in 2011 and 2012 respectively, the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U brought robust online functionality to millions of players worldwide.
Features such as online cooperative play, leaderboards through internet rankings, and various content distribution services became key parts of the user experience.
However, Nintendo confirmed via its Customer Support page that these capabilities will be sunset beginning in April 2024.
In the statement, Nintendo thanked its players for their longstanding support, clarifying that the shutdown covers both first-party and most third-party titles for the two systems.
“Nintendo will conclude support for online play and any services that rely on network communication for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software in early April 2024.
This includes online co-operative features, internet rankings, and the delivery of in-game data,” the company’s announcement summarized.
While the specific end date has yet to be revealed, Nintendo stated that further details will be provided as April approaches.
The company also noted that any significant operational challenges could result in an earlier shutdown.
For users concerned about access to their purchased titles, Nintendo has offered reassurances.
Software updates and the option to redownload digitally owned games will remain available on the Nintendo eShop for both Nintendo 3DS and Wii U "for the foreseeable future." Furthermore, while many games’ online capabilities will be affected, some select third-party titles may still retain their multiplayer access—though players are encouraged to check with individual publishers for specifics.
Key connected services like Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter will continue to function for now.
Nintendo cautioned, however, that these services are not guaranteed to be permanent and may also conclude at a later date.
This network closure comes a year after the eShop for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U ceased accepting new purchases, a move that was broadly viewed as a significant challenge for game preservation efforts.
As millions of players prepare for this latest change, the conclusion of online play on these platforms marks the end of an important era for Nintendo’s online gaming landscape.
For more information and updates on the official end date, players can refer to Nintendo’s Customer Support resources.
