Fans of Nintendo's Wii U and 3DS consoles are preparing to bid farewell to the online services on April 8, which will mark a significant loss for the gaming community. The termination of online services has become a common occurrence in modern gaming, depriving players of online gameplay and, in some cases, rendering entire games obsolete. This impending shutdown is not unprecedented, as Nintendo has previously discontinued online services for the Wii and DS consoles, setting the stage for the fate of the Wii U and 3DS.
The Nintendo Wii boasted a range of online services, offering online multiplayer and a virtual store where players could access exclusive WiiWare games and classic titles through the Virtual Console. Regrettably, Nintendo ceased online multiplayer for the Wii in 2014, followed by the closure of the virtual shop in 2019. Similarly, online services for the Nintendo DS were phased out in 2014. Now, the same fate awaits the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.
While the Wii retained its virtual shop for some time after discontinuing other online features, the opposite is true for the 3DS and Wii U. The closure of the 3DS and Wii U online shops took place last year, although online services for select games on these platforms remained operational. However, this will change soon, as both the Wii U and 3DS online services will cease on April 8. Subsequently, all online functionalities of 3DS and Wii U games will be deactivated, prompting enthusiasts to dust off their consoles for one last hurrah.
Closure Date for Wii U and 3DS Online Services
- Monday, April 8
Fortunately, the majority of Wii U and 3DS games do not heavily rely on online multiplayer. Online features typically complement the core gameplay rather than define it. Nonetheless, exceptions exist, such as Splatoon. While the original Splatoon offers offline modes, its essence lies in the player-versus-player multiplayer experience.
With the impending shutdown of Wii U online on April 8, the original Splatoon is on the brink of closure. Once the Wii U online services are terminated, multiplayer for the original Splatoon will cease to function, leaving a mere shell of its former self. This development is disappointing for Splatoon enthusiasts; however, the silver lining is the availability of newer Splatoon titles on the Nintendo Switch. Both Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 are currently accessible with fully operational online modes, offering a fresh gaming experience for fans.