The Nintendo Wii U and 3DS have both been issued with new firmware updates. Switching on the devices and going online will prompt you to run the updates, ostensibly to improve the user experience.

However, with the imminent shutdown of the Nintendo eShop for these devices, it seems likely that Nintendo’s cited reasoning is linked to detaching the devices from their digital storefronts.

https://twitter.com/Wario64/status/1564406298015252480?s=20&t=b-0UXNSxMqUoyN9wGmgRpQ

Nintendo Wii U Update Ver. 5.5.6 U (August 29th, 2022)

Details for the Version 5.5.6 U update (for Nintendo Wii U Deluxe and Basic models) lists simply:

Improvements to system stability and usability

– Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.

As Twitter users @OatmealDome established, this update affects the Wii U menu and user settings menu.

https://twitter.com/OatmealDome/status/1564404092000141313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1564405873480552449%7Ctwgr%5E8fe0c1f0027714be076c10ed4bae25ce3ddd400e%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nintendolife.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F08%2Fwii-u-receives-its-first-system-update-of-2022-heres-whats-included

Nintendo 3DS Ver. 11.16.0-48U (August 29th, 2022)

Meanwhile, the Nintendo 3DS firmware update patch notes are listed on Nintendo’s support page as:

Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.

Again, OatmealDome has investigated, observing updtes to the eShop, web browser, and more:

https://twitter.com/OatmealDome/status/1564404831145672704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1564406276087488513%7Ctwgr%5E1352f327bcc57c0765ed79172539d435db1413f3%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nintendolife.com%2Fnews%2F2022%2F08%2F3ds-system-update-11-16-0-48-is-now-live-here-are-the-full-patch-notes

Should you update your Nintendo Wii U or 3DS?

If you own either system, it may seem like a good idea to avoid processing these updates. After all, you don’t want the lose functionality of your classic Nintendo system, do you?

However, as the changes related to remote servers that are slowly being decommissioned, it makes sense to run the updates. Without doing so, the devices will one day start polling servers that are not there. This can have some unfortunate side effects, avoided by running the updates.

These are sad times — don’t make them worse by running updates that will improve error-free longevity for your Nintendo console.

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Christian Cawley
Editor in Chief at Gaming Retro UK • atomickarma75@gmail.com • Web •  More Posts

Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.

Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.

When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.