Nintendo Sets Final Date for Online Services Shutdown
Hey gamers! Big news from the world of Nintendo: they’ve announced the exact date when they’ll be shutting down online services for both the 3DS and Wii U. But don’t worry, you still have a couple of months left to get your fill of playing some classic Call of Duty on the Wii U.
Concrete Date for Closure
Back in late 2023, Nintendo made an announcement that the online elements of the 3DS and Wii U would be coming to an end in early April 2024. Now, we finally have a concrete date: April 8, 2024. It’s great to have this certainty, especially for the one person who bought a brand new Wii U in 2023 and was facing an uncertain future for their prized possession.
So mark your calendars, gamers! April 8, 2024, is the day when “online play and other functionality that uses online communication” for 3DS and Wii U will bid us farewell. This includes online co-op play, internet rankings, and data distribution. It’s a sad day, but all good things must come to an end.
What about Pokemon Bank and Nintendo eShop Balance?
Now, you might be wondering what will happen to certain features like Pokemon Bank and your Nintendo eShop balance. Well, here’s the scoop: Pokemon Bank will still be usable even after the rest of the online services shut down, but there’s a chance it might be discontinued further down the line. As for your unused Nintendo eShop balance, you have until March 12 to transfer it to your Nintendo Account, so you can still access it on the Switch.
Of course, there is a caveat. Nintendo added that “if an event occurs that would make it difficult to continue online services for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software, we may have to discontinue services earlier than planned.” Let’s hope that doesn’t happen and we can enjoy online gaming on these consoles until the very end.
How Many Team Deathmatches Can You Fit In?
Now, let’s talk about something a little more light-hearted. If you’re one of those interesting people who’ve stuck around to play Call of Duty Black Ops 2 on the Wii U in recent years, you might be wondering just how many team deathmatches you can squeeze in before April 8.
Here’s a little calculation for you. In Black Ops 2, deathmatches usually end either once one team earns 75 kills or a ten-minute time limit is reached. So, if you stop playing at 5 PM UK time today, you’ll have about 74 days and six hours until 11 PM (a sensible bedtime) on April 7. That’s approximately 106,920 minutes.
Now, assuming you can get into and out of each deathmatch in about two minutes, you could potentially play 8910 deathmatches if you played non-stop between those two points in time. But that number assumes that each match runs to the time limit, without any team hitting the 75 kill mark. If you’re a pro player with a great K/D ratio, you could potentially play even more matches.
Of course, it’s practically impossible to play that many deathmatches in reality, but hey, it’s fun to think about what could be done in theory.
Conclusion: Say Goodbye to Online Gaming on 3DS and Wii U
As the date for the shutdown of online services for the 3DS and Wii U approaches, it’s time to bid farewell to online gaming on these consoles. It’s been a great run, but all good things must come to an end.
So, gamers, make the most of these remaining months to enjoy your favorite online games on the 3DS and Wii U. Whether it’s battling it out in Call of Duty or exploring the virtual world of Pokemon, let’s cherish these moments and create lasting memories.
And remember, while the online services may be ending for the 3DS and Wii U, the gaming world continues to evolve. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and new gaming experiences on the horizon.
Game on!