Over 200 Days Post Closure, Nintendo Network’s Final User Logs Off Following 3DS System Crash

Can you believe it? After 209 days as of November 3rd, the unexpected finally came to pass. The last devoted user of Nintendo’s now-defunct Nintendo Network servers for the Wii U and 3DS, famously known as Fishguy6564, was ousted when his Nintendo 3DS crashed. For nearly two-thirds of a year, he’d kept it consistently connected to the Mario Kart 7 servers. Now, the journey ends—or does it?

Thankfully, for fans of this well-loved yet outdated hardware, there’s a silver lining. With custom system firmware, users can tap into Homebrew software or even Pretendo. This fan-driven service resurrects shuttered Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games with replacement servers. While Pretendo’s library is somewhat sparse, it plays a crucial role in keeping these modern classics playable and preserved.

As it turns out, Fishguy6564’s trusty Nintendo 3DS was running a patched version of the system, maintaining an ongoing lobby with bots—and occasionally another player—skirting around the official shutdown. In a chat with GamesRadar during this streak of persistence, he admitted, “I didn’t think we’d even get past the official shutdown. From there, it became a challenge to see just how long we could last.”

It seems that all good things must end. Still, with Pretendo servers standing strong, fans with modded original hardware can continue their nostalgia trip. On the 3DS, some of the available Pretendo-compatible games include hits like Mario Kart 7, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and Mario Maker 3DS. As for the Wii U, you can dive back into Mario Kart 8, Mario Maker, Splatoon, and Pokkén Tournament. Depending on the game, Pretendo can offer anything from basic online play to more sophisticated server features.

A sad reality is that many exclusive eShop gems for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U can’t be played anymore through official channels unless they’re already installed. While none might be blockbuster titles, it’s truly a loss for them to fade into obscurity. The true drawback of gaming in this digital age is the permanent disappearance of official servers and legitimate access, leaving it up to gaming historians, modders, and, occasionally, pirates to keep these treasures alive.