Super Smash Bros. for 3DS encounters a dilemma as its DLC becomes inaccessible following the closure of the system's eShop. With a rich history dating back to its 1999 debut, Super Smash Bros. has been a beloved franchise, especially with the success of its 3DS and Wii U versions. Although the Switch has taken the spotlight for Nintendo, the discontinuation of the eShop services for older consoles signals the end of an era, possibly jeopardizing the preservation of Nintendo's classic games.
Previous iterations of Super Smash Bros. traditionally offered all available content upon release, a practice that changed with the 3DS and Wii U editions. While the latest installment, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, continues to receive online updates even years after its 2018 launch, users of the 3DS version are now facing issues with their DLC.
Gamers who had purchased DLC for Super Smash Bros. for 3DS are now unable to re-download their content. A Reddit post by user Tjoeb123 sheds light on this problem. In a video shared by the user, attempting to access the game's DLC shop on their 3DS prompts an error message stating, 'This service has been discontinued. Thank you for using this service.' This consequence stems from the complete closure of online services for older Nintendo consoles, leaving users who uninstalled the game without the ability to retrieve their paid DLC.
Closure of Online Stores Raises Preservation Concerns for Super Smash Bros. Franchise
The inability to access DLC content raises alarm among game preservationists, especially for a franchise as iconic as Super Smash Bros. Despite efforts to transfer content to SD cards, challenges persist. Players seeking to revisit older Super Smash Bros. titles are now unable to access any previously purchased DLC. Without an SD card containing the DLC, individuals purchasing used 3DS cartridges will miss out on crucial additions like Bayonetta and Cloud.
While many players currently enjoy Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the game received continuous DLC updates until Sora from Kingdom Hearts was introduced. Following the online store closures for the 3DS and Wii U, a similar fate may await the Switch's online services. In such a scenario, future players might miss out on pivotal characters due to a lack of initial release access. To address this issue, a comprehensive edition of Smash Bros. Ultimate might be beneficial, incorporating all content into one accessible version, a move eagerly anticipated by fans.