It's the end of an era. Or perhaps the second end to an era. Following on the heels of Nintendo's decision to shut down the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U eShops and delisting all digital games for both platforms, is the announcement that online play for the two systems will also be discontinued. In April 2024, all online functionalities for all 3DS and Wii U titles will no longer work, including SpotPass. The shutdown of online servers for 3DS and Wii U games will happen just about 10 years to the day that Nintendo took down online play for the Nintendo Wii and DS.

In a FAQ regarding the announcement, Nintendo stated that support for Pokemon Bank will continue for now, though the service, "may also end at some point in the future".

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.

You can find more information about badges for decorating the Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu using Nintendo Badge Arcade here.

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.

We sincerely thank players for using the online services of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software over a long period of time and apologize for any inconvenience.

* This includes software exclusive to New Nintendo 3DS.

Source

 

[InsaneNutter]

I need to hurry up migrating all my past Pokemon from Gen 4 to 5 so I can get them in to PokeBank then Pokemon Home.

Will be a sad end of an era when its no longer possible to transfer Pokemon from the GBA games all the way to modern games. Good to see Nintendo do somewhat recognise this and will keep Pokemon Bank working for now anyway...

 

[ThommoMC]

Looks like it’s Pretendo’s time to shine

 

[17hitcombooo]

aw man what if i wanna use the 3ds browser

 

[Kitocco]

Pour one out for Kid Icarus Uprising's still fun online & the peeps playing the best Animal Crossing.

As I've said in another thread:

Yeah they're DEFINITELY dropping that announcement for the announcement of their next system soon to distract people from this move, it's like clockwork for them "Sephiroth after #FreeSmash, Pokémon Gen 9 after Smash was pulled from EVO, a TOTK video after shutdown of 3DS & Wii U eShops). Either that or a demo for Super Mario Wonder.

Jade aside, this is legitimately saddening, as the 3DS (and Wii U to a lesser extent) were systems I spent a lot of time on. It's a real shame we'll be losing New Leaf, Pokémon, and Kid Icarus Uprising's online modes to this. Kid Icarus especially, as I didn't play the other popular competitive multiplayer games back then.

Well... see you all on Pretendo Network, hopefully!

 

[YuseiFD]

The end of an era...

 

[zoogie]

Queue up the obligatory indignant MVG vlog in the morning

 

[PopcornSweetie]

aw man what if i wanna use the 3ds browser

I think that one will still work? The Wii Internet Channel and DSi Browser still work, although very outdated.

 

[seseiSeki]

I need to hurry up migrating all my past Pokemon from Gen 4 to 5 so I can get them in to PokeBank then Pokemon Home.

Will be a sad end of an era when its no longer possible to transfer Pokemon from the GBA games all the way to modern games. Good to see Nintendo do somewhat recognise this and will keep Pokemon Bank working for now anyway...

Is there really a point to transfer older Pokémon to Home, when the new games don't support all of them and they would most likely be outdated anyway? I'm not crying that the new games don't include every Pokémon, just genuinely curious how you think about transferring Pokémon.
I recently transferred my Swampert from Emerald to Soul Silver, bred a new one with better IVs, since it's easier in the newer game and replaced all its moves, because of the physical/special split that made better moves available. Basically the only thing I got from the transfer was "unlocking" the Swampert line in Soul Silver, which I could've done by picking Mudkip after clearing the game or trading with others in the GTS.
Way back, I thought it was pretty cool to have my old Pokémon in the newest game. But they mostly just sit in a box doing nothing. Would've been cooler to have them greet me in their original game, when I boot that up again

 

[Scarlet]

I can’t be the only one wondering why they bothered to bring Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 back online if they’re just going to shutter everything next year lol

 

[SylverReZ]

View attachment 397324​

It's the end of an era. Or perhaps the second end to an era. Following on the heels of Nintendo's decision to shut down the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U eShops and delisting all digital games for both platforms, is the announcement that online play for the two systems will also be discontinued. In April 2024, all online functionalities for all 3DS and Wii U titles will no longer work, including SpotPass. The shutdown of online servers for 3DS and Wii U games will happen just about 10 years to the day that Nintendo took down online play for the Nintendo Wii and DS.

In a FAQ regarding the announcement, Nintendo stated that support for Pokemon Bank will continue for now, though the service, "may also end at some point in the future".



Source

That was... poorly timed. Can't wait for more revival servers.

 

[AsPika2219]

RIP... Goodbye 3DS and Wii U online...

 

[assassinz]

Spotpass won't work? I didn't know they used servers for that.

 

[Stan4d]

Looks like it’s Pretendo’s time to shine

I also heard that rverse from the 3DS is making its way to Wii U

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

So some of the best Monster Hunter games are going to be dead?

4U needs a rerelease. 3U (via wiiu ad-hoc) needs a re-release. And XX is dead too (also on switch)

 

[InsaneNutter]

Is there really a point to transfer older Pokémon to Home, when the new games don't support all of them and they would most likely be outdated anyway? I'm not crying that the new games don't include every Pokémon, just genuinely curious how you think about transferring Pokémon.

It's more that I've spent since 2016 trying to preserve as many event Pokemon as possible from the Gen 3 GBA games, even obtaining the official event distribution software for quite a few events.

As someone who has been playing Pokemon since 1999 I just think it would be cool to have one of each event Pokemon in Home, at some point Pokemon is going to lose its 20+ years of backwards compatibility, so it will never be possible to do this again.

As its a game about collecting it will be nice to have my collection accessible in the future if I desire.

Here is a public Gen 3 event save myself and many others have contributed to over the years: Pokemon GEN3 Legit Event Pokemon Save - its possible to distribute your own unique Pokemon also however.

 

[EpikJimmer]

ok this is bullshit
guys we gotta pull off a wimmfi for mario kart 7 or else i might not live (unless ctgp 7 uses its own servers then ok im stupid)

 

[Xzi]

Not surprised it's happening, but kinda surprised it's happening before the launch of Switch 2.

 

[Tweaker_Modding]

bro what the fuck. this is what i wake up to?

they not long fixed the mario kart 8 and splatoon servers just to pull the plug on them again in a few months time

 

[console]

That's very sad news! I own Nintendo 3DS XL and New Nintendo 3DS XL never bought digital games from Nintendo store online because something wrong with it can happen like shut down means can't get digital game back when server shut down. That's why I always stick with physical copies of games forever and not have to worry about server shut down where Nintendo kill support off.

RIP Nintendo eShops.