Nintendo announced that online play and other online communication features for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U will be shutting down on April 8, 2024. Certain software will not be affected by the shutdown of online services.
Firstly, it will no longer be possible to combine the Nintendo eShop fund balance between a Nintendo Network ID and a Nintendo Account starting March 11. Before March 11, it is advised link both accounts together and merge wallets to ensure the remaining balance may be used on Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Online Play Shutting Down
On April 8, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. This includes online co-op, internet rankings, and data distribution. Players may re-download software if needed for the foreseeable future. Pokmon Bank and Pok Transporter are unaffected, but Nintendo notes that service may still end in the future for these applications.
Here’s a full Q&A from Nintendo’s support website:
Q&A
Will I still be able to play offline even after online services end?
Yes. Players will still be able to use features and game modes that do not require online communication.
Will any online services still be available even after online services generally end?
It will still be possible to use online services for the following software but that may also end at some point in the future.
- Pokémon Bank
- Poké Transporter
Are you also ending online services for software from publishers other than Nintendo?
With some exceptions, online services will end for all Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Please contact publishers for information about the online services for their software.
Will it still be possible to download update data or purchased software?
For the foreseeable future, it will still be possible to download update data and redownload purchased software and downloadable content from Nintendo eShop.
When online services end, will StreetPass and SpotPass no longer be available either?
StreetPass uses local communication between Nintendo 3DS family systems, meaning that it will still be available even after online services end. However, because SpotPass uses online communication, SpotPass features will no longer be available.
For example, you will be able to use StreetPass in StreetPass Mii Plaza, which is pre-installed on Nintendo 3DS family systems, but you will no longer be able to use features that use online communication (such as receiving new panels in Puzzle Swap).
