FIELD NOTES · Nov 6, 2026

Mario Kart online on DS, Wii, 3DS and Wii U today

Nintendo closed the online services of four Mario Kart games. Community servers have brought races back for each one: which service covers which game.

Four games, two shutdowns

Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii used Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which Nintendo discontinued on 20 May 2014.
Mario Kart 7 on 3DS and Mario Kart 8 on Wii U used Nintendo Network, which ended on 8 April 2024.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch is a different game and is not affected.

Mario Kart Wii: Wiimmfi

Wiimmfi is the main replacement for Mario Kart Wii. It is maintained by Wiimm and Leseratte and is closed-source. Your game has to be patched to connect, for example with a Wiimmfi patcher app or a recent USB loader. Follow a current guide such as wii.hacks.guide, because old patches stop working.

CTGP Revolution, an unofficial mod that adds more than 200 custom tracks to Mario Kart Wii, uses Wiimmfi for online play, according to its website. It works on the Wii and in the Wii mode of the Wii U.

Mario Kart Wii: WiiLink WFC

WiiLink WFC is an open-source alternative that is still officially in testing. Its Mario Kart Wii page describes a DNS method that works only with a real disc on a Wii or Wii U, not with an emulator; for the Dolphin emulator it has a separate setup guide. Wiimmfi and WiiLink WFC are separate networks: players on one do not meet players on the other, and the WiiLink wiki notes that Wiimmfi has the larger player base.

Mario Kart DS

Wiimmfi also provides replacement matchmaking servers for Mario Kart DS, the first Mario Kart with online play.

Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8: Pretendo Network

Pretendo Network is an open-source replacement for Nintendo Network and supports both games. It needs a modified 3DS or Wii U. On 2 November 2026 its progress tracker listed Mario Kart 8 at 91%, the project's own estimate of how much of the online features is implemented. See Wii U and 3DS online after April 2024 for more.

Before you start

Use your own copy of the game and each project's own setup guide. This directory does not distribute games, patches or ROMs.

Explore the directory