Nintendo
has shut down the
Wii U
and
3DS
'
online play
months ahead of
schedule
, leaving fans of these older
consoles
without access to online gameplay. Users have reported that the company shut down the service before Christmas Eve, which is earlier than the scheduled termination.
A news report from
NintendoLife
has revealed that several gamers have shared posts about encountering error codes while trying to access online play for the previous-generation 3DS and Wii U consoles.
These players believe this is part of the online play shutdown that Nintendo announced would occur in 2024.
Affected users have reported receiving either 'Error Code 006-0303' on the 3DS or 'Error Code 106-0303' on the Wii U when attempting to play online with a
Nintendo Account
. These access errors suggest the "beginning of the end" for the previous-gen consoles, which they observed in late December 2023.
Earlier this year, players were informed about the plan to shut down the online play, but the exact date remained undisclosed. Although the company had previously announced that it would keep the servers running until April 2024, it did not confirm it as an absolute assurance. Additionally, the company stated that it could pull the plug on the servers before the specified date as well.
The end is near for the Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo Wii U. Earlier this year in March, Nintendo shut down the eShop for these devices. So, the users will no longer be able to buy and download digital games.
Nintendo has been offering online gaming for a long time. It first offered online features for its Famicom, and now it offers a subscription-based
Nintendo Switch Online
for its current console.
English (US) ·