Nintendo has officially announced that online play for its aging 3DS and Wii U consoles will cease on April 8th, 2023. The shutdown will affect online multiplayer gaming, rankings, and content distribution for both devices.

The news, delivered via Nintendo’s website last week, marks the final stage of the legacy systems’ demise after the company ended digital purchases on the platforms’ eShops last year. Pokémon Bank and Transporter cloud services will continue for now, but may also eventually shutter.

While games will still be playable offline, the discontinuation of the SpotPass feature means new content updates will no longer be pushed to devices. Local communication through StreetPass will remain unaffected.

In their statement, Nintendo thanked loyal 3DS and Wii U players for years of online engagement but said maintaining the services was no longer feasible. The company continues to shift focus to its blockbuster Switch device and rumored new hardware on the horizon.

The termination of online functionality spells the end of an era for Nintendo’s dedicated portable and penultimate home console. Once vibrant online communities now face offline exile, closing the curtain on more than a decade of connectivity.

Nintendo advises players to enjoy supported games offline before the April 8th deadline. After that date, the 3DS and Wii U will transition to a strictly offline retirement.