Today Nintendo pulled the plug on the Wi-Fi features for the Wii, DS, and DSi. This effectively removes online multiplayer from those platforms' games as well as matchmaking and leaderboards.
In case you're wondering: you can't just pop a Wii game into your Wii U or a DS game into your 3DS to get the multiplayer back. The shutdown affects all Wii and DS software regardless of what software you're using.
Certain online features weren't affected by the change, though. You can still use the Wii Shop Channel or DSi Shop to make purchases. Video-on-demand, likewise, is unaffected.
The move reflects Nintendo's focus on newer hardware like the Wii U, 3DS and 2DS. The Wii and DS now exist as offline, budget alternatives. Nintendo hinted at this strategy when they released the Wii Mini, a $100 model of the Wii without Ethernet or Wi-Fi support.
"We at Nintendo sincerely thank our fans for their continued support of our company’s legacy systems," the company said today. "Your enthusiasm for games made for these systems speaks to their longevity and the passion of Nintendo fans."
The full list of Nintendo-published games affected by the shutdown is below. You can find a list of every affected game, regardless of publisher, at Nintendo's website.
Nintendo DS
- 100 Classic Books
- Animal Crossing: Wild World
- Advance Wars: Days of Ruin
- Clubhouse Games
- Custom Robo Arena
- Diddy Kong Racing DS
- Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
- Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
- Fossil Fighters: Champions
- Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- Mario Kart DS
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem
- Metroid Prime Hunters
- Personal Trainer: Walking
- Picross 3D
- Picross DS
- Planet Puzzle League
- Pokémon Black Version
- Pokémon Black Version 2
- Pokémon Diamond Version
- Pokémon HeartGold Version
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
- Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time
- Pokémon Pearl Version
- Pokémon Platinum Version
- Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs
- Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
- Pokémon SoulSilver Version
- Pokémon White Version
- Pokémon White Version 2
- Professor Layton and the Curious Village
- Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
- Professor Layton and the Last Specter
- Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
- Star Fox Command
- Style Savvy
- Tenchu: Dark Secret
- Tetris DS
- WarioWare DIY
Nintendo DSiWare
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
- Metal Torrent
- Number Battle
Wii
- Animal Crossing: City Life
- Battalion Wars 2
- Endless Ocean
- Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep
- Excitebots: Trick Racing
- Fortune Street
- Mario Kart Wii
- Mario Sports Mix
- Mario Strikers Charged
- Pokémon Battle Revolution
- Samurai Warriors 3
- Sin & Punishment: Star Successor
- Super Smash Brothers Brawl
- Wii Music*
WiiWare
- Dr. Mario Online RX
- Excitebike: World Rally
- LONPOS
- Maboshi's Arcade
- My Pokémon Ranch
- ThruSpace
- WarioWare DIY
Other
- Wii Speak**
- Wii Speak Channel**
* - Services that require Internet communication ended on June 28, 2013.
** - As Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is required to use this title, it is no longer functional
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