At last, the moment has arrived! On November 3, the final active user lingering on Nintendo’s now-defunct Nintendo Network servers for the Wii U and 3DS, known as Fishguy6564, experienced a disconnection when his Nintendo 3DS crashed. This happened after maintaining nearly continuous contact for 209 days, about two-thirds of a year, on the Mario Kart 7 servers [thanks to GamesRadar]. The journey has ended—although not entirely.
For fans of these now-unsupported devices and the beloved games they hold, there’s still a beacon of hope. Through custom system firmware, players can access Homebrew applications and even Pretendo, which allows fan-operated servers to replace the shuttered Nintendo Network servers. Although the lineup of games supported by Pretendo is not exhaustive, it goes a long way in preserving the legacy and enjoyment of these relatively modern gaming systems.
To mark the occasion, someone on Twitter shared their farewell to the Nintendo Network with an image and caption, “It’s over. Rest in peace, Nintendo Network,” highlighting the end of an era.
In an earlier interview with GamesRadar, Fishguy6564 recounted his time keeping his Nintendo 3DS connected to the Mario Kart 7 servers. Before the final disconnect, he’d set up the system to operate continuously with bots in an attempt to outlast the official shutdown. Reflecting on the endeavor, he admitted, “I didn’t think we would even survive the official shutdown. From that point on, it had simply become a test to see how long we could keep this going.”
While this particular tale has reached its natural conclusion, the Pretendo servers remain active. This allows owners of modified original hardware to continue playing some cherished titles. On the Nintendo 3DS, some of the games supported by Pretendo include Mario Kart 7, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and Mario Maker 3DS. For the Wii U, Pretendo supports Mario Kart 8, Mario Maker, Splatoon, and Pokkén Tournament. Depending on the game, Pretendo can offer anything from basic online play to more intricate server capabilities.
Regrettably, many classic eShop-exclusive titles for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U are difficult, if not impossible, to play legally today unless they’ve been installed already. Though these games might not have been major hits, it’s unfortunate they’re now largely inaccessible over time. This highlights the bitter reality of the post-offline gaming era: the permanent shutdown of official game servers makes game preservation efforts fall solely on the shoulders of historians, modders, and sometimes even pirates.
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