Mario Kart 7 Players Keep Nintendo Network Alive After Wii U and 3DS Online Shutdown

Nintendo Network Players Keep Online Legacy Alive After Wii U and 3DS Shutdown In April 2024, Nintendo officially terminated online services for its Wii U and Nintendo 3DS consoles, marking the end of an era for the Nintendo Network.

This decision, announced months in advance, closed the doors for millions of players who had relied on services such as online multiplayer, leaderboards, and social features since the platforms’ introduction.

Major titles, including Mario Kart 7, Super Mario Maker, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Splatoon, saw their online communities forced offline — or so it seemed. Despite Nintendo’s server shutdown, a small cohort of passionate fans have managed to keep portions of the Nintendo Network active, underscoring the enduring legacy of these beloved titles.

Notably, two players, known by their Twitter handles @fishguy6564 and @marioiscool246, took on the challenge to maintain activity in Mario Kart 7.

For nearly a month after the official shutdown, the duo programmed two bots to compete in the game’s final online lobby, logging over 13,000 races in the process.

However, a technical hiccup ended @marioiscool246’s run when a system freeze occurred during a Luigi’s Mansion circuit, leaving @fishguy6564 as the sole remaining Mario Kart 7 player on the Nintendo Network. These efforts are not isolated to Mario Kart 7.

According to updates from community member @GaffsNotLaffs, monitoring through the "Nintendo Network After Hours" Discord server, only four known players remain connected across the entire Nintendo Network.

Alongside the last Mario Kart 7 enthusiast, there are singular players still active in Super Mario Maker, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Splatoon on the Wii U.

Community interest remains high, as these individuals represent the final vestiges of official online activity for the platform. The departure of other notable players marks further milestones in Nintendo Network’s sunset.

For example, the well-known Xenoblade Chronicles X player Eeveh-roo-deh (イーヴェルーデ) recently disconnected, and another user named Amanda was the final participant in Pokémon X & Y’s online services, closing the chapter on Generation VI’s connectivity. Nintendo’s decision to close Wii U and 3DS network features is seen by many as a shift toward its current platforms, such as the Nintendo Switch and digital storefronts like the eShop.

However, the persistence of these last remaining players illustrates the powerful sense of community and nostalgia that surrounds Nintendo’s past hardware and games.

As the Nintendo Network enters its epilogue, the dedication of this so-called “Elite Four” serves as a testament to the lasting impact of Nintendo’s legacy systems and the enduring engagement of its fanbase.

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