It’s finally come to pass! After an impressive 209 days, as of November 3, the dedicated last remaining user of Nintendo’s decommissioned servers for the Wii U and 3DS, known online as Fishguy6564, has been disconnected. His Nintendo 3DS finally gave out after maintaining a near two-thirds of a year-long link to the Mario Kart 7 servers [h/t GamesRadar]. This marks the end of an era—though not completely.
For those who still cherish their now-unsupported Nintendo devices and enjoy their game collections, there’s still hope. Custom firmware can be used to unlock Homebrew software, opening the doors to Pretendo. This fan-driven service offers alternative Nintendo Network servers for games that lost official support on the 3DS and Wii U. While the selection of Pretendo-compatible games is somewhat limited, it still preserves the experience of these relatively recent gaming systems.
Before Fishguy6564’s console finally succumbed during its journey through Mario Kart 7’s server links, he had ingeniously configured his device to host lobbies filled with bots. This clever setup kept things running continuously despite the system’s official shutdown. In a previous chat with GamesRadar, he shared, “I didn’t think we’d make it past the official shutdown. Since then, it was simply a matter of seeing how long it could last.”
It appears a limit has now been reached. However, Pretendo servers remain active for those with modded hardware, allowing continued gameplay for beloved titles. On the Nintendo 3DS, options include Mario Kart 7, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and Super Mario Maker 3DS. On the Wii U, Pretendo supports games like Mario Kart 8, Super Mario Maker, Splatoon, and Pokkén Tournament. Depending on the game, Pretendo’s support can range from basic online play to more sophisticated server interactions.
Unfortunately, many cherished eShop exclusives for the 3DS and Wii U are no longer accessible through official channels, unless they’re already installed. While these weren’t blockbuster hits, losing them is still a significant blow to gaming history. It’s a stark reminder of the downside to our digital age: when official servers vanish, preserving games becomes a task for historians, dedicated modders, and yes, sometimes even pirates.
