As tributes flood in for the 3DS and Wii U servers, some tireless Nintendo survivors stay connected and refuse to let their beloved online modes die

2024-04-11

GamesAs tributes flood in for the 3DS and Wii U servers, some tireless Nintendo survivors stay connected and refuse to let their beloved online modes dieWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Nintendo)

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS key art.

Earlier this week, the servers supporting online services for all 3DS and Wii U games met their end. Although it’s a sad time for anyone who has a place in their heart for the games affected, the community efforts that have followed since are so wholesome that it almost makes the whole thing worth it. Tributes have been flooding in to honor the fallen online modes, and a dedicated subsection of fans are somehowstillholding on as the last survivors of the official servers.

Wait that’s me ! Ohhhh so It Was You ! 😊April 9, 2024

I might’ve been a little dramatic about it https://t.co/iH7oh2fBvB pic.twitter.com/5dJ7TrzKH8April 10, 2024

Otherwise, in a fan art trend so sad it genuinely made me cry, numerous talented artists have been re-drawing the vibrant room seen in the splash screen shown when you load up Splatoon from the Wii U menu. Rather than being filled with decorations and items on the shelves, people have been drawing it totally barren, as though the Inkling who lived there has moved out. Was not personally prepared for this level of emotion from Splatoon fan art, but here we are.

I shall always cherish the memories… https://t.co/oVjqmKEPGY pic.twitter.com/P3DuG4slLGApril 10, 2024

My attempt for the empty roomWill always cherish the memories https://t.co/qJBcc0cL2M pic.twitter.com/zKtOYHpsujApril 10, 2024

While there’s still a chance that there’s more people out there that the community hasn’t been able to account for, many are doing their best to document their time from beyond the void. Server owner LAFFS managed to stream around 40 hours of Pokemon X online after the servers were meant to go down, before tragically getting a connection error.

Meanwhile, Twitter user Joziken has been continually updating a thread to prove that they’restillactive on the Pokemon servers. Surprisingly, they found that trades with other players still worked for over 24 hours after the supposed shutdown, but now, it’s just the Player Search System (PSS) that’s still working, allowing the last players to send out messages to each other.

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

12:20: We just have confirmed another player still online in Pokémon ORAS, @Rozoken! That makes 6 people found so far, including another called Pix who was confirmed while I slept. We lost @Docturo836! I’m sorry.#Nintendo#Pokemon#XY #ORAS#SM #USUM#PSS #WiiU#NintendoNetwork pic.twitter.com/1orgGudScrApril 11, 2024

(Image credit: JLDude)

A comparison of the online player map for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS on the day of the server shutdown VS two days later.

It’s truly bizarre that things have been able to keep working so long for this select few, and there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason why. For now, it’s a waiting game – the goal is obviously to keep going for as long as possible, but with the threat of connection errors constantly looming, no one can know for sure how long they’ll be able to hang in there.

You can still rely on the Nintendo Switch servers for online fun - if you’re looking for some recommendations, be sure to check out our roundup of thebest Nintendo Switch games.

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CATEGORIESNintendo SwitchPlatformsNintendo

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

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1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2

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Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

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3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

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