Media Molecule layoffs result in end of live curation support for Dreams

We knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier to say goodbye. Nintendo shut down the online servers for both the Wii U and 3DS today. This means the end of online multiplayer gaming for both consoles, turning Mario Kart 7 for 3DS and the original Splatoon for the Wii U into single player or couch co-op experiences. The first Super Mario Maker is also effectively dead, as there’s no way to browse for and download player-created levels.

Monday, April 8 is the end of an era for Nintendo, as the online services for both the Wii U and 3DS are shutting down after today. Many Nintendo fans have been dreading April 8, as it means that the online functionality for a significant number of games will cease to function. For some games, this means losing certain game modes. For games with a heavy online focus, it means that they will effectively cease to exist.

Back in October 2023, the announcement was released that the time for the 3DS and Wii U to die is here…and it is quite sad. On Monday, April 8, 2024 Nintendo is shutting down the online servers for both the consoles as they have aged over time, leaving the Nintendo Switch as the last console to have internet connection as of right now.

A person suspected of sending death threats to Nintendo has reportedly been arrested by Japanese police.

If you're a Nintendo fan, you may be aware of a certain incident that occurred last year that caused both Nintendo Live 2024 and the Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals to be canceled, with the company claiming that it couldn't ensure the safety of guests or staff if they were to go ahead. That was down to anonymous "threatening behavior" that targeted Nintendo staff, which eventually extended to Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals audience members.

A person suspected of being responsible for threats that led to the cancellation of Nintendo Live 2024 has reportedly been arrested by Japanese police.

Unity has announced it will no longer be selling or supporting Ziva Dynamics products, and has entered an agreement with VFX and animation studio DNEG to license the software.

Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 in a few months at its developer's conference in June, alongside a handful of other updates for its entire product line. As we come closer to the unveiling of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, we are hearing details on which iPhone or iPad devices will feature support for the updates, as the company is known to drop compatibility for some older devices. According to the latest rumor, all iPhone models that support iOS 17 will also get iOS 18, but iPadOS 18 will not be compatible with some older iPads.

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Sony first-party developer Bend Studios is staffing up for another «AAA live service» game, and it seems that PlayStation will continue to chase the live service dragon. When we last heard from the Oregan-based developer of Days Gone, Bend said it was still «cooking» and, if nothing else, seemed confident whatever they were working on would take the studio to the next level.

Season 1 of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is live, bringing The Joker as the first new playable character. It also offers new Notorious and Infamy sets, cosmetics and weapons. Check out the motion comic-style trailer below, which outlines The Joker’s origins and how he ended up with a prosthetic leg.

Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft’s game-streaming platform, finally lets you actually use a keyboard and mouse to play on PC. There’s a bit of a catch for now, though, in that it’s only a beta test for now with a small selection of games supported. Still, it’s something!