It’s the end of a gaming era, as the final player still using theNintendo Networkhas been kicked out, meaning there are no more people playing Nintendo 3DS or Wii U games online.
The incrediblepopularity of the Nintendo Switchmeant that the online servers for the company’s previous systems were going to be turned off, as most of the player base had migrated to the handheld/console hybrid.
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Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Network (which managed the 3DS and Wii U’s online matchmaking and stores)would be turned offon August 13, 2025. The exceptions are Pokemon Bank and Pokemon Transporter, which will remain online for the foreseeable future.
Despite the closure, some fans were ableto stay in online games. This lasted for months until, on November 4, a Twitter/X user named Fishguy6564, the final person in Mario Kart 7, was kicked out of the game.
Fishguy6564 didn’t manually log out of the game. Instead, Mario Kart 7 had a hard crash, booting them out. As the last player in the game, this means that there are no more people on the Nintendo Network.
The Nintendo Network Is Finally Closed
It’s surprising that players were able to stay online for so long, considering the hard cut-off date for the whole service.
That being said, Nintendo’s focus has shifted to the massively successful Switch andits upcoming successor, so monitoring an older network probably isn’t a priority.
“It’s over. Rest in peace, Nintendo Network.”
The end of the Nintendo Network represents a sad day for fans, as another digital graveyard exists in the world of gaming, with many game modes no longer officially accessible.
This is especially tough for the Pokemon fans of the world, asPokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moonwere the last entries to contain the current Pokedex. From now on, online battle modes will be restricted to the limited pool of creatures available in each game.
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Hopefully, the Nintendo Switch’s online servers will stay up for longer. Considering the massive player base for the system, people will still be jumping into online games ofMario Kart 8 DeluxeandSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatefor years to come.
That being said, even the Switch and itssuccessor’s online infrastructurecould be on a limited lifespan, as no one knows what Nintendo has planned for its future consoles.
