It’s finally come to an end! It took a staggering 209 days as of November 3, but Fishguy6564, our last active user of the now-defunct Nintendo Network servers for the Wii U and 3DS, was finally disconnected. After nearly two-thirds of a year tuned into Mario Kart 7 servers, his faithful Nintendo 3DS decided to crash. And while the dream has ended in some ways, it carries on in others [h/t GamesRadar].
For those of us clinging to this out-of-date yet beloved hardware, there is still hope thanks to custom system firmware. This unlocks paths to Homebrew software and Pretendo, a fan-operated service that replaces the dormant Nintendo Network servers for 3DS and Wii U games. Although the Pretendo-supported games catalog is not extensive, it’s a lifeline that helps keep the legacy and fun of these relatively modern systems alive.
Before Fishguy6564’s trusty Nintendo 3DS bowed out amid its Mario Kart 7 quest, the system was modified to maintain a lobby filled with bots, previously populated by one other devoted player. This setup rolled on until the inevitable system crash, a workaround that outlasted the official server shutdown. Reflecting on this remarkable marathon, Fishguy6564 shared with GamesRadar, “I never thought we’d push through the official shutdown. From then on, it just became a challenge to see how long this could last.”
Eventually, it seems, they hit a wall. Fortunately, Pretendo servers offer a refuge for those with modified hardware, allowing them to keep enjoying some of their cherished games. This opportunity is not universal across all titles, but for the 3DS, Pretendo includes games like Mario Kart 7, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and Mario Maker 3DS. Meanwhile, the Wii U lineup features Mario Kart 8, Mario Maker, Splatoon, and Pokkén Tournament. Depending on each game’s unique features, Pretendo can either bring back basic online play or revive more intricate server functions.
One downside is that many historic eShop exclusives for the 3DS and Wii U are now unplayable through legitimate channels, unless already installed. While these games might not have been flagship titles, their near extinction is still a loss. The harsh reality of our post-online gaming world is that without official servers, the responsibility of preserving these games falls to dedicated historians, modders, and—as a last resort—pirates.
