Archive link: https://archive.ph/aWo6a
In early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end for Nintendo 3DS* and Wii U software. This also includes online co-operative play, internet rankings, and data distribution.
We will announce a specific end date and time at a later date.
Please note 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.
- This includes software exclusive to New Nintendo 3DS
There really should be a law requiring companies which provide online services to be required to release self-hosted server software once they discontinue the provision of the service.
Why though? Why not just acknowledge that these services are ephemeral?
They don’t have to be. 30 year old PC games have their server software bundled with the game; the ephemeral aspect of current online services is entirely artificial.
And it’s incentivized by the people buying into it. If people collectively woke up and started asking questions, this wouldn’t be an issue.
Instead, we buy into them and then try to force them to open up through legislation.
Imagine if cars were really unsafe. Would you say, “we shouldn’t legislate car safety, we should all just wake up and start buying safer cars!”
When was the last time Mario Maker killed a man?