Nintendo to End Online Support for 3DS and Wii U Next Year. Here’s What to Know

Nintendo this week stated it’ll finish on-line assist for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U fashions in April 2024. This change will have an effect on the Nintendo 2DS, New 2DS XL, 3DS, 3DS XL, New 3DS and New 3DS XL in addition to the Wii U Deluxe and Wii U Basic.

Though the corporate hasn’t introduced a particular date for when on-line assist will formally be minimize off, it did let clients know that “if an occasion happens that will make it troublesome to proceed on-line companies for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software program,” the corporate “might should discontinue companies sooner than deliberate.” Nintendo shuttered the 3DS and Wii U’s on-line retailers in March.

The firm did not instantly reply to a request for extra remark.

Fans who comply with Nintendo carefully will discover that the corporate is nearly overdue for the discharge of a brand-new console. With rumors of an upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 flying and Nintendo persevering with to stop assist for its older consoles, this transfer could possibly be an indication that the gaming large is making ready for a brand new launch. 

Read on when you’re a fan of the 3DS or the Wii U and also you’re questioning how this may influence your capability to make use of your consoles. For extra, this is our evaluation of the Nintendo Switch OLED mannequin. 

What does this imply for my 3DS and Wii U? 

Essentially, after Nintendo cuts assist in April of subsequent 12 months, you may not be capable to entry the web on the 3DS and Wii U. That means on-line rankings, on-line cooperative play and some other options that require an web connection will not be supported. 

However, customers will nonetheless be capable to use their consoles to play video games offline, so you do not have to fret about shedding the power to play your favourite video games outright. And cooperative play is not completely off the desk, customers will nonetheless be capable to play video games collectively regionally, which suggests each consoles are on the identical Wi-Fi community. 

Updates and beforehand downloaded video games will even nonetheless be out there to entry by the Nintendo eShop for the “foreseeable future,” in keeping with the corporate.

It’s vital to notice that there could possibly be some exceptions to the corporate’s ceasing of on-line assist. Nintendo suggests reaching out to publishers for particular info on whether or not their software program can be affected. 

For extra, try the finest handheld online game consoles of 2023.