For those who don’t know, the sun is setting on the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U’s online functionality. This is causing concerns about the unforeseen consequences of the impending Nintendo Network shutdown. While the April 2024 date might seem distant, recent issues have exposed vulnerabilities in Nintendo’s legacy server infrastructure. This could leave some beloved features on these classic consoles hanging by a thread.
As found by Pretendo, one major hurdle unearthed is the inability of new accounts to connect to game servers. A complex web of server interactions, previously undocumented, was the culprit. Thankfully, Nintendo seems to have rectified this problem, but it is a stark reminder of the fragility of online experiences on these aging platforms.
Another thorn in the side of online functionality is the discovery that new friends made on the 3DS aren’t syncing with other servers. This means Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and potentially other titles relying on friend connections, could become ghost towns for new players. While the issue has yet to be officially confirmed for the Wii U, the shared nature of their friend servers makes it a likely candidate for similar woes.
Super Mario Maker was also falling victim to these issues. Its direct connection to Amazon’s cloud service, rather than the Nintendo proxy adopted by other games, left it vulnerable to a recent update that dropped support for outdated security protocols. This effectively bricks online functionality for new players, preventing them from uploading creations or sharing their maker profiles. Thankfully, Nintendo patched the game to utilize the proxy server, which will help with access.
These issues, while seemingly resolved for now, paint a concerning picture for the future of online experiences on the 3DS and Wii U. The official shutdown is looming, and more cracks in the aging infrastructure could appear. While we’ll keep an eye on things, it seems that the days of using older consoles are over due to their online capabilities.
