Nintendo will end global online multiplayer for DS and Wii in May

Nintendo will discontinue its Wi-Fi Connection service on May 20. The decision means that Nintendo DS or Wii owners will no longer have access to online multiplayer from that date. Games for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS have not been affected by the service shutdown.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is a free service from Nintendo that allows owners of Nintendo devices to play against each other over the Internet. However, on May 20, Nintendo will pull the plug from the service. From that date, online play options for the Nintendo DS, DSi and Wii will no longer be available, as will matchmaking and leaderboards.

The step does not affect other services such as the browser, YouTube, the Shop and Pay & Play. Owners of the Wii U and 3DS can only experience it when running Wii software in Wii Mode and playing DS games on the 3DS, respectively.

Nintendo stopped production of the Wii in October 2013 and some built-in apps were also removed earlier. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection has never been a very important service for the consoles, but there were many games that supported it. The shutdown has been announced by Nintendo on several continents, including the US, but not yet in Europe. That announcement is expected to follow.