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Nintendo has announced that Online servies for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software will be ending in early April 2024 although Pokémon Bank will still continue but also may end at some point in the future. The Pokémon Company is encourage players to transfer their Pokémon to Pokémon HOME at their earliest convenience. This announcement follows the previous one about the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShop discontinuing in March 2023.

Announcement of Discontinuation of Online Services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software

Applies to: New Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 2DS XL, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 2DS, Wii U Deluxe, Wii U Basic

Thank you very much for supporting our products. In early April 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. We will announce a specific end date and time at a later date.

Please note that if an event occurs that would make it difficult to continue online services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software, we may have to discontinue services earlier than planned.
We sincerely thank players for using the online services of Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software over a long period of time and apologize for any inconvenience.

* This includes software exclusive to New Nintendo 3DS.

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

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).

Source: https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63227/
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