Nintendo has officially announced the precise date for the permanent shutdown of the Wii U and 3DS online servers
With the Switch 2 on its way, it is now time to say goodbye to the past. Introduced to the market in 2012, the production of the Wii U was already discontinued in 2017. Now, Nintendo has announced that this year, the online features of the console will be deactivated. But it's not just the Wii successor being taken offline, as the online services for the 2010-released 3DS are also being discontinued.
Nintendo Will Soon Be Shutting Down The Online Services For WiiU & 3DS
On Twitter, Nintendo America announced that on April 8, 2024, midnight GMT/4pm PDT/7pm EST, online games and other features utilizing online services will be discontinued for the Wii U and 3DS. This also includes online co-operative play, internet rankings, and data distribution.
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.Find out more: https://t.co/VdIdewGmB5
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 24, 2024
It will also no longer be possible to purchase new software in the eShop for these consoles. If you have any remaining eShop points on your account, you can transfer them to your general Nintendo account until March 11, 2024 6pm GMT/10am PDT/1pm EST and use them on the Switch.
In a Q&A on their support page, Nintendo clarifies that playing offline on the consoles will, of course, still be possible. You will also be still able to redownload previously purchased software from the eShop. Other than that, the online services for almost all Nintendo 3DS and WiiU softwares will end, no matter the publisher. The only exceptions from this are the Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter, apps that allow you to store your Pokémon from the 3DS games in a cloud.
Farewell, Wii U and 3DS! I'll never forget the countless hours I spent with the Ace Attorney trilogy on the handheld. And let's not forget, it was the WiiU that gifted us Breath of the Wild! Sort of...
Anyway, it's time to move on. Hopefully to a brand-new Nintendo console soon.