Nintendo 3Ds and Wii U are two consoles that belong to the same generation. Both of them were launched very close to each other, and both were pretty innovative for their time. And one thing that was unique beyond everything else was their online support.

Unlike their predecessors, Nintendo 3Ds and Wii U offered gamers flawless online connectivity for online play. And players enjoyed games like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. through it. But now, Nintendo has finally announced the end of online connectivity for these consoles.

Nintendo sets a date for the end of 3Ds and Wii U’s online services

It’s pretty common for console holders to end online connectivity for their older consoles. Sony did the same for the PS Vita and PSP. In fact, they just went ahead and discontinued the online stores for those consoles. Now Nintendo too is doing something similar in early April 2024, but they are doing this for not one but two consoles, the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U.

Wii U, as fans might remember, was launched back in 2012 to a mixed response from both fans and critics. The console caused confusion amongst fans of Nintendo. Many could not understand the purpose of this console. They did not even understand how this console was any different from its predecessor, the Wii. This confusion, as well as Nintendo’s insistence on forcing the implantation of that gamepad in every game, made that console a hard sell.

On the other hand, Nintendo 3Ds was a massive success. A portable console that is very powerful for its class and is capable of showing gamers 3D visuals without any 3D glasses This console became an instant success, and Nintendo too decided to support it by releasing as many awesome games for it as they could.

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While there’s some doubt about the current player base of Wii U, it would be hard to say goodbye to online services on 3Ds. The console is still beloved and still has numerous games that just shine when played online.

Do these consoles become useless after removing online connectivity?

No, the consoles remain functional, and fans can easily play every game on them, albeit offline. The online connectivity mostly comes in handy when playing a multiplayer-friendly game. For example, games like Street Fighter 3D, Tekken 3D, Mario Kart 7, and Super Smash Bros. for 3D use online connectivity to allow multiplayer gameplay.

One silver lining is that those who have purchased any games from 3Ds or the Nintendo Wii U eShop will be able to download those games even after the termination of online service. So all is not lost; just give up your plans for some wholesome Zelda co-op after April 2024.

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