Gaming console maker Nintendo on Wednesday announced its decision of shuttering Wi-Fi Connection service that supported the company’s original Wii and DS units in May.
The shutdown will mean that titles such as Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros and all of the Pokemon Nintendo DS titles will no longer support online capabilities with effect from May 20.
“As of May 20th, 2014, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service will be discontinued and it will no longer be possible to use online features of Nintendo DS/DSi and Wii software such as online play, matchmaking and leaderboards. The Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop will not be affected however, and will continue to be accessible after May 20,” said Nintendo.
DSi Shop, DS Browser, and DSi Browser are the services that will continue working on the DS while Netflix, Hulu, Wii Shop Channel, Internet Channel, Pay & Play and YouTube are some of the Wii services that will remain unaffected despite the shutdown.
Access to the consoles’ matchmaking and multiplayer features will not be available to gamers post May deadline. However, this won’t affect internet browsing or online stores for either system.
As announced earlier, Nintendo will also be shutting down its free Video app for the 3DS at the end of March.
The move has been officially announced on several Nintendo sites, including Japan, Australia and America, indicating that the closure is expected to take effect globally.
[Source: Nintendo Australia, Nintendo America]
