In a nostalgic update, Nintendo has turned off the online servers for both the Wii U and 3DS consoles. As a result, online multiplayer gaming has ended for both platforms, and popular games like Mario Kart 7 for 3DS and the original Splatoon for the Wii U are now limited to single player or local multiplayer experiences. Similarly, the first Super Mario Maker also becomes ineffective as there will be no way to access and download player-created levels.
Both platforms had their controversies. The 3DS was initially seen as lackluster following the highly successful DS but eventually carved a successful niche for itself. This was mainly due to an array of well-received titles like Super Mario 3D Land, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and Fire Emblem Awakening, alongside online-only games like Pushmo and BoxBoy!.
As for the Wii U, despite being the successor to the extremely popular Wii, it struggled to find a substantial audience and is widely considered a misstep by Nintendo. The console’s design, featuring a touchscreen tablet alongside a standard television screen, failed to deliver a compelling case for the “asymmetric gameplay” concept it attempted to adopt.
However, like the 3DS, the Wii U offered a selection of high-quality first-party games. Titles like Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario Maker, Super Smash Bros., Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Pikmin 3, and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker were enough to keep the console afloat.
Interestingly, many of these Wii U games may feel familiar even to those who never owned the console as Nintendo re-released several of them on the Switch following the Wii U’s commercial failure. It’s also worth noting that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a major hit on the Switch, was initially developed for the Wii U.
Indeed, the design and failure of the Wii U likely propelled the creation of the Nintendo Switch. Both devices feature portability, but the Wii U required players to remain linked to a bulky console, while the Switch itself is the playable (and less bulky) console. As of December, the massively successful hybrid Switch has sold over 140 million units, whereas the Wii U only sold fewer than 14 million units during its time.
Nintendo had already shuttered the online stores for the 3DS and Wii U last year, marking this server shutdown as the final farewell. However, in a last hurrah, speedrunners successfully managed to beat a Super Mario Maker level just a few days ago, a feat long deemed impossible. This aptly reminds us that there’s always room for success, even against the odds. It’s now time to bid adieu to these two old companions and fondly reminiscence on the experiences they’ve provided.
