At last! After months of being offline, the Wii Shop Channel is back up and running. No one knows why this has happened now.
With the Wii Shop Channel back up, and the DSi Shop also running, you might be thinking that you can start buying games again.
Not so.
Unfortunately, while the unexpected downtime has unexpectedly ended, the status of game provision has not. The situation remains – almost certainly permanently – that only previously purchased software may be downloaded.
It’s not ideal. But, the fact that both services were offline for so long and has probably discouraged a lot of potential upset.
In the meantime, if you have downloads to make from either service, it would be a good idea to make it happen sooner rather than later. Nintendo has previously stated that the Wii Channel would close “at some point” while Wii U and 3DS users only have access for “the foreseeable future.”
While we can hope for a third party server solution once those times have passsed, it isn’t very likely to happen. At this point, however, you’re probably running homebrew software on your Nintendo Wii anyway, so hopefully the Wii Shop Channel being back up is just a pleasant piece of news while your hardcore Wii gaming continues unaffected by anything…
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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.
