The Nintendo Wii U and 3DS online services will be terminated this April, but users will still be able to download purchased software and updates for their games.
Earlier today, the Japanese company confirmed that on April 8th at 4 pm PDT, the online services for the two consoles will be terminated, meaning that online communication, as well as online multiplayer, will no longer be available.
At 4 pm PDT on April 8, 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.
In a FAQ, Nintendo also provided some clarification on certain topics. Even after the online services for the two consoles are terminated, some software, such as Pokémon Band and Poké Transporter, will continue working as intended. Additionally, users will be able to download purchased software and update data for the foreseeable future, so if there's any 3DS or Wii U game you never got to purchase on the eShop, now is the time to do so. In case there's some unused eShop balance, it is possible to merge it with a Nintendo Account so that it can be used on Nintendo Switch until March 11th.
More information on the termination of the Nintendo Wii U and 3DS online services can be found on Nintendo's support website.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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