Nintendo's older consoles are entering another phase of service wind-down as several streaming apps prepare to stop working on Wii U and 3DS.
Owners of Nintendo's Wii U and 3DS should take note of confirmed end dates for key video services and how the eShop changes implemented in 2023 affect access.
Google's YouTube app on Wii U will no longer be available starting in October, according to a brief notice from Google.
Until that month arrives, users can continue to watch YouTube on the console; after the service ends on Wii U, Google directs users to the Nintendo Switch for continued access to YouTube.
Crunchyroll notified users by email that its Wii U app will be removed from the Nintendo eShop on August 29.
The company stated that once the app is delisted, previously downloaded copies will no longer be able to access the Crunchyroll service on Wii U.
Crunchyroll also maintains a Nintendo Switch app for viewers who wish to continue using the service on Nintendo platforms.
There is also a Japan-focused shutdown on the 3DS platform.
Niconico has announced its 3DS app will go offline in April 2023.
Ahead of that shutdown, the sale of Niconico Premium Tickets will end on September 12.
The Niconico change primarily impacts users in Japan where the service is widely used.
These app shutdowns intersect with broader changes to Nintendo's digital storefronts.
As of late March 2023, it is no longer possible to purchase content on the Wii U and 3DS eShops, and users cannot download free content from those stores either.
That policy affects the ability to acquire or re-download video apps on the legacy hardware.
What this means for users: if you still use YouTube, Crunchyroll or Niconico on Wii U or 3DS, plan ahead.
The companies involved have published delisting dates and have pointed users to current platforms such as the Nintendo Switch where their apps remain available.
These announcements reflect the ongoing transition of third-party media support away from Nintendo's older hardware and toward current-generation systems and services.
Owners of Nintendo's Wii U and 3DS should take note of confirmed end dates for key video services and how the eShop changes implemented in 2023 affect access.
Google's YouTube app on Wii U will no longer be available starting in October, according to a brief notice from Google.
Until that month arrives, users can continue to watch YouTube on the console; after the service ends on Wii U, Google directs users to the Nintendo Switch for continued access to YouTube.
Crunchyroll notified users by email that its Wii U app will be removed from the Nintendo eShop on August 29.
The company stated that once the app is delisted, previously downloaded copies will no longer be able to access the Crunchyroll service on Wii U.
Crunchyroll also maintains a Nintendo Switch app for viewers who wish to continue using the service on Nintendo platforms.
There is also a Japan-focused shutdown on the 3DS platform.
Niconico has announced its 3DS app will go offline in April 2023.
Ahead of that shutdown, the sale of Niconico Premium Tickets will end on September 12.
The Niconico change primarily impacts users in Japan where the service is widely used.
These app shutdowns intersect with broader changes to Nintendo's digital storefronts.
As of late March 2023, it is no longer possible to purchase content on the Wii U and 3DS eShops, and users cannot download free content from those stores either.
That policy affects the ability to acquire or re-download video apps on the legacy hardware.
What this means for users: if you still use YouTube, Crunchyroll or Niconico on Wii U or 3DS, plan ahead.
The companies involved have published delisting dates and have pointed users to current platforms such as the Nintendo Switch where their apps remain available.
These announcements reflect the ongoing transition of third-party media support away from Nintendo's older hardware and toward current-generation systems and services.
