Following the shutdown, an interesting fan project called Pretendo has gained attention. This project aims to recreate the Nintendo Network responsible for online play on the Wii U and 3DS.
According to the project’s official website, the creators have been working on custom servers for various Nintendo titles with online play features, aiming to preserve their online functionality. Although Pretendo is still a work-in-progress, many players are actively utilizing the service to continue playing online games on 3DS and Wii U.
Despite most games not being fully operational yet, players have been joining the service to play games like Splatoon and Mario Kart, with some successful attempts. Additionally, users have been adding each other as friends on the network, as this feature is fully functional.
Accessing the Pretendo Network requires some effort. While it’s possible to perform a DNS change to connect from a standard Wii U without homebrewing, connecting with a 3DS is more complex.
Therefore, the Wii U is currently the best option for accessing the network. The project’s potential impact on game preservation is significant.
Although Nintendo’s legal team may monitor the situation, it’s unlikely that Pretendo will encounter problems unless it starts charging for access. Currently, the service is free, and efforts are underway to enable online play for titles such as Mario Maker and Splatoon, among others.
As it stands, the project is working on ensuring the online functionality of these games for the foreseeable future.
