In inevitable but still devastating news, Nintendo has decided that Miiverse has run its course. With the Nintendo Switch having an incredible debut year and the Wii U never hitting the mainstream in any capacity, this isn't a shocker, but it is a disappointment for Nintendo fans and game preservationists everywhere. During the Wii U's lifespan, almost every game made by Nintendo supported the chat service in some capacity, and shutting down these services will cripple
During the Wii U's lifespan, almost every game made by Nintendo supported the chat service in some capacity, and shutting down these services will cripple an entire swath of Nintendo history. The full list of affected games is on Nintendo's website, and their support page has specified the exact changes to several top titles.
- Super Mario Maker (Wii U): Users will still be able to share levels, but will no longer be able to comment on them.
- Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (Wii U, Nintendo 3DS): While users will still be able to play Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars and complete all 88 levels in the main game, the Community feature will be discontinued, preventing players from sharing levels and receiving additional Stars. As there will be a limit to the number of Stars that can be obtained, not all objects may be unlocked from the Workshop.
- Splatoon (Wii U): Miiverse posts will no longer display in Inkopolis Plaza or the game's stage maps.
- Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (Wii U, Nintendo 3DS): The Miiverse stage will still be playable, but Miiverse user posts will not display in the background. Players will also be unable to post replays to YouTube/Miiverse, share stages or create tournaments.
- Mario Kart 8 (Wii U): Players will not be able to upload gameplay videos to YouTube since they also post to Miiverse at the same time. The tournament function will also not be available.
- Super Mario 3D World (Wii U): In Super Mario 3D World, the Miiverse posts that appear on the course select screen and when selecting courses will disappear. Players will still be able to collect in-game stamps, but not post them to Miiverse.
- Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U): In Xenoblade Chronicles X, the BLADE report feature will no longer be available.
Nintendo has set Miiverse closing date for November 8th.
Quick Take
I can't say I've spent a lot of time with the Wii U. I bought the console specifically to play Mario Maker and only dabbled in other titles. However, the fact that a service as pervasive as Miiverse is getting the ax so quickly shows that Nintendo still has a long way to go in "getting" online services. After all, there are mainline Mario titles with collectibles tied to the service. If Nintendo can't even avoid damaging its biggest franchise, you know we're all in trouble.What's your opinion on Miiverse shuttering? Do you wish Nintendo had a Miiverse replacement on Switch? Do you think Nintendo should continue selling games like Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars even when they've lost significant functionality due to closing miiverse? Let us know in the comments below!
