What Was the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Service?

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (WFC) was Nintendo’s **free online multiplayer and matchmaking service** for the **Nintendo DS** (2005–2014) and **Wii** (2006–2014). It was **not** a hardware device (like a router).

What It Provided

• Online Play: Matchmaking, lobbies, friend codes (12-digit per game), voice chat (Wii Speak / DS headset). Games: Mario Kart DS/Wii, Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum/HGSS/BW/B2W2, Animal Crossing: Wild World/City Folk, Smash Bros. Brawl, Monster Hunter Tri.
• Downloadable Content: Maps, missions, items, demos (Nintendo Channel on Wii).
• Leaderboards / Ghost Data: Time trials, scores.
• WiiConnect24: Standby downloads (weather, news, messages, game updates).
• DS Download Play: Single-cart multiplayer (host sends temp data to guests).

Shutdown

**May 20, 2014:** Nintendo terminated WFC for **all DS and Wii games**. Official online for these games is **permanently dead**.

Revival (Fan-Made)

• Wiimmfi: Custom server replacement for **Mario Kart Wii**, **Mario Kart DS**, **Pokémon Gen 4/5**, **Animal Crossing**, **Brawl**, **GoldenEye 007**, **Call of Duty** (Wii), and more. Requires homebrew (Letterbomb, Bluebomb, R4/flashcart) or DNS patch (MKWii). wiimmfi.de
• AltWFC / NitroWFC: For other DS games.
• Pretendo Network: Revival for **Wii U / 3DS** (successor to Nintendo Network).

If you want to play DS/Wii games online today, **Wiimmfi** is the answer.