This must be the most random piece of news that we have heard in 2023. Nintendo has announced that online multiplayer functionality has returned for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon… for Wii U. Online services were shut down earlier this year in March, and many were led to believe that was it for the console, the final nail in the coffin. Who could blame them when the Nintendo eShop for the Wii U (and 3DS) were also officially closed down in March as well.
That said, Nintendo released a statement earlier today saying that they were working with issues with vulnerability that have now been resolved. In order to resume online play for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon, Wii U owners will need to download the latest update. This is great news that these two games are still getting support in 2023, but Nintendo’s statement also comes with a warning that should further issues arrive, they will pull the online service on short notice.
If you are interested in reading the full statement from Nintendo, you can check it out below.
Notice Regarding the Ending of Current Maintenance for Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 on Wii U
Applies to: Wii U Deluxe, Wii U Basic
In March 2023, Nintendo paused network services for the Wii U games Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 to address a vulnerability related to online play. The issue has now been fixed, and so we will resume online play for these games based on the schedule below. Please accept our sincere apologies for the extended waiting period.
August 2, 2023 at 6:00pm Pacific Time – Resume Service
To resume online play, downloading a new update will be necessary for each title per the release timing noted above.
If further issues occur which make it difficult to continue supporting online play, we may have to discontinue the online play service for the Wii U games Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 at short notice. Should this occur, please note that offline play would continue to function normally.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Are you still rocking the Wii U and playing Mario Kart 8 or Splatoon? Are you happy to see online multiplayer return to these games? Do let us know in the comments
Source: Nintendo America Support
