New copies of NWC-enabled games appear to be getting re-releases without the logo.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37284/nintendo-wi-fi-games-get-offline-reprints
At least one Wii game has been confirmed for a new print run that omits the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection logo from the packaging.
We have received a photo of a new copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl without the logo. The case also has an altered ESRB rating logo without the "Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB" statement that would usually come below it.
With the closure of NWC imminent, it seems Nintendo want to make it clear that these last-gen titles will no longer have online functionality. It is currently unknown just how many other titles for Wii and Nintendo DS are still in production sans the online connectivity information.
I wonder if 10 years from now this will be considered a rare label variation with a high value.
I wonder if the menus are going to be altered to remove the online options....There's no reason to assume they'd bother, since as long at it's not being falsely advertised on the box, it doesn't matter if still appears functionless in the game.
It is a variant and people will pay for it, more for the trolls who use the VGA service so they can try and flip near perfection in a sealed box for hundreds if not more.