The elimination of the Nintendo Wifi Connection service means that features like online play and leaderboards will no longer be available for the Nintendo DS and Wii.
Nintendo has announced that the Wifi Connection Service for the Nintendo DS, DSi and Wii systems will soon be shut down. Services like the Internet Channel, Netflix, the DS/DSi Browser, Wii Shop Channel and YouTube will not be affected, but online play, matchmaking and leaderboards will no longer be accessible.
Wii and WiiWare games affected by the shutdown include Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City, Mario Kart Wii, Pokemon Battle Revolution and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The list of affected DS/DSi titles is more extensive, with a number of Pokemon and Professor Layton games losing functionality, along with Animal Crossing: Wild World, Diddy Kong Racing DS, Mario Kart DS, Metroid Prime Hunters, Picross 3D and numerous others. The Kirby TV Channel, Mario Kart Channel and Wii Speak Channel will also be lost.
Nintendo responded to inquiries with a statement saying that the shutdown is worldwide and that online play for Wii U and 3DS games will not be affected. “Our focus now shifts to readying our Wii U and Nintendo 3DS matchmaking services for upcoming games such as Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros,” the statement said. “We at Nintendo sincerely thank our fans for their continued support of our company’s legacy systems. Your enthusiasm for games made for these systems speaks to their longevity, and the passion of Nintendo fans.”
Details of the coming service shutdown, including a full list of games it will affect, are available from Nintendo. The Nintendo Wifi Connection service will be terminated on May 20.
