Former online service for the Nintendo 3DS family and the Wii U
Nintendo Network
Developer
Nintendo
Type
Online service
Launch date
3DS
WW: January 26, 2012; 12 years ago (January 26, 2012)
Wii U
WW: November 18, 2012; 11 years ago (November 18, 2012)
Web
WW: April 24, 2013; 11 years ago (April 24, 2013)
Discontinued
April 8, 2024; 22 days ago (April 8, 2024)
Platform(s)
Nintendo 3DS family
Wii U
Web
Status
Defunct
The Nintendo Network[a] is a defunct online service formerly ran by Nintendo that provided free online functionality for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U systems and their compatible games. Announced on January 26, 2012, at an investors' conference, it was Nintendo's second online service after Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Former president of Nintendo Satoru Iwata said, "Unlike Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which has been focused upon specific functionalities and concepts, we are aiming to establish a platform where various services available through the network for our consumers shall be connected via Nintendo Network service so that the company can make comprehensive proposals to consumers."[1][2]
On April 9, 2024, Nintendo shut down the Nintendo Network. Online functions such as online play, global leaderboards, SpotPass, and most other online features of both the Wii U and 3DS are no longer accessible. The only services which remain online are Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter, system software and game updates,[3] the 3DS theme shop, and re-downloading previously purchased software from the Nintendo eShop for their respective systems.
The Nintendo Switch only uses the subscription-based Nintendo Switch Online service instead of using Nintendo Network as its online platform. Active Nintendo Network IDs could still be linked to the Nintendo Switch via Nintendo Accounts, but the ability to merge Nintendo eShop funds ended on March 11, 2024.
A third-party fan revival of the Nintendo Network, called the Pretendo Network, is a free-and-open source replacement for Nintendo Network services. As of April 2024[update], the Pretendo Network is still in development, with services currently available via an early access beta.[4][5][6]
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^Iwata, Satoru (27 January 2012). "Corporate Management Policy Briefing/Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2012". nintendo.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
^Yin-Poole, Wesley (27 January 2012). "Nintendo Network for Wii U and 3DS revealed". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
^"Nintendo Support: Announcement of Discontinuation of Online Services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software". en-americas-support.nintendo.com. Archived from the original on 2024-04-08. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
^Cite error: The named reference pretendo1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference pretendo2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cripe, Michael (2024-04-09). "Nintendo Shuts Down Online Services for Wii U and 3DS, but Fan Project Pretendo Is Keeping Them Alive". IGN. Archived from the original on 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
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Global Information