Nintendo will stop supporting online services Wii U, 2DS and 3DS on April 9
Nintendo says that online functionality for the Wii U, 2DS and 3DS will no longer be supported from April 9. Previously, the manufacturer only shared that the services will be discontinued from April this year.
It company makes in a message it is known that from the stated date the consoles will no longer be able to use online services, including multiplayer modes, online leaderboards and data exchange. This concerns the New Nintendo 2DS XL and all old and new Nintendo 3DS handhelds, including the XL and New variants. The Wii U Deluxe and Basic will also no longer be supported from then on. Until now, Nintendo has referred to third-party developers for support of games that are not from the Japanese gaming company. Now Nintendo is clarifying: “With some exceptions, support for all Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software will end.”
The New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL
The only exceptions are Pokémon Bank and Pokémon Transporter, online services to house the creatures in a virtual gathering place. Furthermore, the StreetPass function remains available for the 3DS, as this function relies on local data exchange. The comparable SpotPass uses an online connection and is therefore no longer available from the date stated.
Nintendo said in October 2023 that online services for the consoles would no longer be supported from April this year, but stated that this could also happen earlier. In a updated blog post the company wrote again: “Please note that if it becomes difficult to maintain online service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software, we may discontinue services even earlier than planned.”
The company also emphasizes that users can transfer eShop credit to a Nintendo account until February 11, 2024 to purchase games and other content for the Switch. Since last year, it has no longer been possible to purchase games for the relevant platforms via the eShop. Previously purchased games, DLC and updates remain available on the relevant consoles. Nintendo released the Network functionality for the respective consoles in 2012.
Update: as of 4/8, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.
—Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 24, 2024