You read that title correct. Nintendo is putting to bed some of the online services for the DS, DSi and Wii. A very solemn press release was posted on their site.
As of May 20th, 2014, the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service will be discontinued and it will no longer be possible to use online features of Nintendo DS/DSi and Wii software such as online play, matchmaking and leaderboards.
On their list of canceled services, they put the good news first.
The following services are not affected by the termination, and will continue to be available after May 20th:
Internet Channel
Nintendo DS Browser
Nintendo DSi Browser
Nintendo DSi Shop
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay & Play
Wii Shop Channel
YouTube
Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games will not be affected but it will not be possible to use online features of Wii software played in Wii Mode on Wii U, and of Nintendo DS games played on Nintendo 3DS family systems.
For a full list of the recently departed titles and services, head on over to the Obituary HERE. Some notable deaths are:
Animal Crossing Wii & DS
Mario Kart Wii
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
ALL of the Pokemon DS games
There is speculation that you will still be able to trade last generation Pokemon with the Poke Bank, but that has not been confirmed.
This announcement comes on the tail of some troubling financial murmurs from Nintendo. I myself see this departure from their last gen online market, as a means to cut the fat and focus on their current WiiU and 3DS services. Let’s hope this isn’t a sign of more coming trouble from the video game giant.