Over 200 Days Post-Closure, Last Nintendo Network User Logs Off After 3DS Crash

At last, the end of an era! As of November 3, a whopping 209 days have passed since the official shutdown, marking the moment when the last steadfast user of Nintendo’s old Wii U and 3DS Nintendo Network servers, known as Fishguy6564, was finally disconnected. This happened when his Nintendo 3DS, which had been persistently hooked up to the Mario Kart 7 servers for almost two-thirds of a year, decided to crash. But although the dream has faded for now, not all is lost.

For fans of these nostalgic, though now unsupported systems, there’s a glimmer of hope in homemade solutions. Thanks to custom system firmware, players can access Homebrew software, and even Pretendo—a fan-managed service that offers alternative servers for certain 3DS and Wii U games whose official servers are no longer around. Although Pretendo doesn’t encompass the entire library, it still breathes new life into some beloved titles, keeping a slice of gaming history alive.

Before Fishguy6564’s journey on the Mario Kart 7 server came to an end, his 3DS was rigged to ensure a lobby filled with bots (and once another human player) could continue indefinitely until an inevitable crash, sidestepping the official network closure. Reflecting on this remarkable endeavor in an earlier chat with GamesRadar, he said, “I never imagined we’d last through the official shutdown. It turned into a challenge to see how long this could be maintained.”

Now, with this adventure reaching its natural conclusion, Pretendo remains a viable option, allowing modified hardware to keep some older gems playable. For the Nintendo 3DS, Pretendo supports games like Mario Kart 7, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and Mario Maker 3DS, while Wii U users can connect for Mario Kart 8, Mario Maker, Splatoon, and Pokkén Tournament. Depending on the game, Pretendo can restore either simple online functionalities or intricate server capabilities.

Sadly, as the sun sets on these historic consoles, many eShop exclusives are disappearing unless users have already downloaded them. While none of these were massive hits, losing access to them is a real pity, since they’re now just relics of the past. This situation highlights the key downside of our increasingly online-dependent gaming world—once official game servers are gone, preserving these games is left to historians, tech-savvy modders, and sometimes pirates.

On the brighter side, if you’re keen on keeping up with the latest in technology and gaming, getting involved with communities or newsletters is a great way to stay updated on your favorite discussions and insights.