Topic: Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Shutting Down on May 20

[CurtDogg]

Wii Shop, DSi Shop and third-party video services will remain active.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/36695/nintendo-wi-fi-connection-shutting-down-on-may-20

In-game services that use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection on Wii and DS will be shutting down as of May 20, 2014.

Nintendo has announced through their official Japanese website that after nearly 10 years, the Gamespy-powered online service, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, will be coming to an end. The Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop Channel, Internet Channels and third party video channels such as Youtube will remain active, but all other online features, such as online multiplayer and unlocking content via connecting to the internet, will no longer be available.

We have yet to learn if Nintendo WFC services will be ceasing in North American and PAL territories as well. UPDATE: Nintendo of America has confirmed that WFC functionality will be ending in North America as well.

[UncleBob]

Sadface... but, really.... Mario Kart Wii and the occasional Brawl (but not really, haven't touched it in quite a while)? No big loss?

[Oblivion]

I thought stuff like Brawl was Peer to Peer?

[UncleBob]

I think most of it is - but it still needs the network to set up the connection, right?

[Shaymin]

Welp, looks like I'll be running into BJ on Mario Kart 8 instead of on Wii.

[pokepal148]

Didn't expect them all to go down at once, I was expecting a more gradual case by case type system over the next few years

[ClexYoshi]

well, this is kinda sad inasmuch that this means the end for the occasional rogue Gen 5 pokemon battles on youtube and that I can also snap my copy of Pokemon Battle Revolution over my knee for reals now because of how totally useless it will be.

Another skill I can finally retire is my snaking prowess. otherwise, I can't really think of a way this will bite me.

[thumbscar]

Nintendo is going through lessons learned 5-8 years ago by many other hardware and software developers. Long term online services are hard to future-proof. At the very least, if Nintendo is doing this, then they are certainly thinking about the longevity of their current infrastructure.

[UncleBob]

I wonder if they'll do a Halo-esque thing where they won't kick people off, but won't let anyone else log in and wait for the last person to quit.

Because it wouldn't take long, as much as you get kicked off of WiFi connect. .

Seriously, though... LAN Modes for all Nintendo titles.

[Adrock]

I expected someone to post the "And nothing of value was lost" clip. I barely used online play, but this sucks for people still keeping the dream alive. I suppose Nintendo figures sequels to their more popular multiplayer games are coming out this year so maybe people will upgrade.

I think the only game I'll be upset about when the online shuts down is Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D since that's currently the only game I play online.

[Stratos]

Well, good thing I upgraded to a Wii U shooter since all of the old ones are going to be down. I had half hoped that they would let the multiplayer keep going indefinitely since it was mostly P2P.

[Oblivion]

Does anyone forget about all the DS Pokemon games? WHat about Black and White 2, which aren't very old?

[Weetrick]

This is a major downside of modern gaming.
Fortunately, I can't remember the last time I logged into a NWC game.

[Ceric]

Back in my Day you just needed the other person's Phone Number.

[lolmonade]

Back in my Day you just needed the other person's Phone Number.

You just brought back a flood of memories playing Diablo 1 & Warcraft 2 online, having to play late at night so my using the phone line wouldn't piss off my parents.
 
This doesn't affect me personally, but this is one of the consequences of having games that hinge on the online services to offer the full experience.  Reminds me of Demon's Souls, and how they've planned to shut down their servers several times, only for the rabid fanbase of the game to pitch a fit until they relented.
 
I wonder how long they'll support the Wii virtual console service...there are a LOT of games I've been meaning to download/try off of there, and i'd hate to see them evaporate from thin air and being left with Wii U's paltry offerings.
 
 

[broodwars]

Well, all 5 people in the Wii's online userbase will have to find something else to play now. I can't imagine those servers were seeing that much action these days.

[Oblivion]

And like I said before, no one ever plays pokemon on their DS, right? I mean, there isn't a lot of people on Mario Kart Wii still, either!

[Stratos]

It was a lot more than 5. When I was playing Modern Warfare 3 last Fall there were still several hundred people online whenever I was playing. There is the chance that those people will finally migrate to the Wii U...and a few hundred added to Wii U sales is better than nothing right?

[Rodrigue]

there are still plenty of people playing competitive games, most notably jump ultimate stars.

and if it includes games which have DLC, it will really screw people over. is there a list of ds games with dlc somewhere? i want to make sure i do not miss downloading that content before it's gone.

[Mop it up]

It's a real shame and a bit of a surprise. I didn't think they would shut it down this early, especially since some of the games are still being sold today. I wonder if Nintendo are entering penny-pinching mode since they're losing money.

[Ian Sane]

Seems a little quick to discontinue this.  At first I thought this included the store as I still have some credit on the store I have to spend.

How does this affect transferring Pokémon from the DS games to the Pokebank?  They just released that service.

[the asylum]

It's just the Nintendo Wi-Fi Network that the DS and Wii used, not the Nintendo Network that the Wii U and 3DS use

[UncleBob]

is there a list of ds games with dlc somewhere? i want to make sure i do not miss downloading that content before it's gone.

That would make a great idea for an article...

http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/vyWpoM6CBIe6FjW8NIY7bvzOrgBURhzw

Here's a good starting point - I didn't realize there were so few WiFi Connect games...

*edit* I should have looked at that list more - I would have noticed several titles missing.

http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/games-wifi.jsp

[ymeegod]

I guess it's an standard practice since EA's been doing it for years but I would love a heads up more than a month?  Like six months, maybe a year. 

Anyone up for some DQIX?  Last month to start the game.

[Adrock]

This is especially weird considering Wii U and 3DS are backwards compatible. Nintendo is essentially forcing players to move to newer installments of those series. The kill switch date is kind of strange as well, 10 days before Mario Kart 8 when there are 30+ millions of Mario Kart Wii out there. I suppose many who even played online could have already moved onto Mario Kart 7.

I would love a heads up more than a month?  Like six months, maybe a year.

Nintendo gave nearly three months, but yeah, six months to a year would have been preferable.