Nintendo announced early in October 2023 that the online play and functionality for the 3DS and Wii U systems will officially go offline for good in April 2024. This includes exclusive software for the New Nintendo 3DS as well. Nintendo America made the statement as follows:
“Thank you very much for supporting our products. In early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. This also includes online co-operative play, internet rankings, and data distribution.”
Nintendo Americas Support website
In addition, it is important to note that the site stated, “We will announce a specific end date and time at a later date. Please note that if an event occurs that would make it difficult to continue online services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software, we may have to discontinue services earlier than planned.” Nintendo’s site Q&A further clarified that StreetPass will still be available even after online functionality ends because it is a local communication feature. The online services Pokemon Bank and Poke Transporter will also still be usable after the end of online functionality, “but that may also end at some point in the future” according to the site. With this in mind, it is wise for players (especially Pokemon trainers) to plan their transitions accordingly. See Nintendo’s complete statement and Q&A here.
While it is sad to see the final curtain call drop on the 3DS and Wii U era, seasoned developers know that it is also a sign of better things to come. Changes like these are necessary in order for Nintendo to upgrade their systems for whatever new exciting video game technology awaits us. Hopefully, this will be a sufficient amount of time for video game historians to come up with solutions for preservation work of past games. To put it in the words of a certain rhetorical salesman, “Whenever there is a meeting, a parting shall follow.” This is a good opportunity to savor another online play of Super Smash Bros. 3DS one last time.
