Nintendo starts shutting down online play for Wii U and 3DS

You may be disappointed if revisiting the original Splatoon for Wii U or Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS was on your holiday break agenda. Reports from multiple users and media outlets, such as Nintendo Life, suggest that Nintendo has started limiting online play for these consoles. This happened right before Christmas Eve, which some may consider a Bowser-esque move.

Although we were aware of this impending event, Nintendo’s initial announcement stated that the shutdown would not occur until early April. It may not currently affect all players, so try going online with your console to see if you can still access it.

To give Nintendo credit, they never explicitly stated that the April end date was definite. They mentioned the possibility of stopping online services before their initial plan. However, it would have been considerate if they had given people a heads-up so they could enjoy one final multiplayer session of Kid Icarus: Uprising.

The recent announcement from Nintendo marks the closure of its 3DS and Wii U eShops in March. As a result, purchasing new games or accessing online features for older games will no longer be possible. The company’s Miiverse social network, available on both consoles, was also shut down in 2017; however, a post archive remains.

Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence. As one era ends, a new one begins – that’s just the way it goes. The gaming world can be unpredictable in this regard. Many beloved games are forgotten, similar to Goomba tears vanishing in the rain. However, on a positive note, there may be opportunities to invest in remakes at their full price, such as the upcoming release of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon for the Switch next year.