Shutdown Details
Nintendo is set to shut down online services for the 3DS and Wii U on Monday, April 8, 2024, at specific times based on different time zones. Players in the UK should take note that the shutdown will occur at 12:00am BST.
Impact on Players
After the shutdown, online play for most games on the 3DS and Wii U will cease to function. While a few third-party games may still be playable, services like Spotpass and 3DS' Badge Arcade will also come to a halt. DLC for certain games that cannot be downloaded via the eShop will no longer be accessible, affecting titles like the Monster Hunter series. Players of games such as Mario Maker will lose access to user-made levels unless they download them before the deadline.
What Happens to Purchased Games?
Players who have purchased games before the shutdown will still be able to download them even after the services close, with the exception of DLC packs acquired through the game itself. Nintendo has assured players that this access will remain available in the foreseeable future.
Pokemon Bank and Pokemon Home
Despite the online service shutdown, Pokemon Bank will continue to function. Players can transfer their Pokemon from the 3DS to Pokemon Home for free, provided they downloaded the app before the eShop closure last year.
For more Nintendo updates, you can also read about the recent success of new players at Pokemon's largest tournament.
