Nintendo kills Wi-Fi Connection service on DS, Wii consoles

MANILA, Philippines – Nintendo announced the termination of its Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service effective Tuesday, May 20th, 2014 affecting a range of popular Nintendo DS and Wii games. 

Online play, matchmaking, competitions and leaderboards will no longer work on the Nintendo DS/DSi handheld devices and the Wii console. Some of the popular titles affected by this change include Mario Kart Wii, Pokemon Battle Revolution and Super Smash Brothers Brawl. 

Unaffected services include the Internet Channel, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, Nintendo DS Browser, Nintendo DSi Browser, Nintendo DSi Shop, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay & Play, Wii Shop Channel and Youtube.

Users of the newer Wii U and the Nintendo 2DS/3DS devices will not be affected by the change except when playing any of the affected Wii and DS titles. New Wii U and 3DS games are also unaffected by the shut down.

Affected Wii and WiiWare games include:

• Animal Crossing: Let’s Go to the City
• Battalion Wars 2
• Boom Street
• Dr. Mario & Germ Buster
• Dr. Mario Demo
• Endless Ocean
• Endless Ocean 2: Adventures of the Deep
• Excitebike World Challenge
• LONPOS
• Mario Kart Wii
• Mario Sports Mix
• Mario Strikers Charged Football
• Pokémon Battle Revolution
• Samurai Warriors 3
• Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl
• The Last Story
• ThruSpace™ High Velocity 3D Puzzle
• Trauma Center New Blood
• WarioWare: Do It Yourself Showcase
• Wii Chess

Affected Wii Channels

• Kirby TV Channel
• Mario Kart Channel
• Wii Speak Channel

Affected Nintendo DS/DSi and Nintendo DSiWare games

• 100 Classic Book Collection
• 42 All-Time Classics
• Advance Wars: Dark Conflict
• Animal Crossing: Wild World
• Custom Robo Arena
• Diddy Kong Racing DS
• Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
• Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
• Inazuma Eleven
• Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard
• Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm
• Jam with the Band
• Mario Kart DS
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!
• Metal Torrent™
• Metroid Prime Hunters
• Nintendo presents: Style Boutique
• Picross 3D
• Picross DS
• Pokémon Black Version
• Pokémon Black Version 2
• Pokémon Conquest
• Pokémon Diamond
• Pokémon HeartGold Version
• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness
• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time
• Pokémon Pearl
• 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 Pandora’s Box
• Professor Layton and the Curious Village
• Professor Layton and the Lost Future
• Professor Layton and the Spectre’s Call
• Puzzle League DS
• Star Fox Command
• Sujin Taisen: Number Battles
• Tenchu: Dark Secret
• TETRIS DS
• The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
• Walk with me! Do you know your walking routine?
• WarioWare: Do It Yourself

With Nintendo reporting its 3rd annual loss of $457 Million for 2013 and the Wii U selling poorly, it is not surprising that Nintendo is deciding to focus resources on its latest brands the Wii U and 3DS.  – Rappler.com