14 DAY TRIAL // Nintendo announces that it will implement a major maintenance period for the online service of both the Wii U home console and the 3DS handheld on March 13, starting at 1 PM Pacific Time, set to last for a total of four hours.
Those who are using the two devices will be unable to access the eShop for either of them and the company promises to deliver more updates once the process is complete, via the official site.
Fans are speculating that the maintenance is designed to upgrade the network infrastructure for both devices in order to pave the way for big titles that will be launched later in the year.
It’s possible that Nintendo is trying to make sure that the release of Mario Kart 8, which will arrive on May 30, and Super Smash Bros., planned to launch later in 2014, goes as smoothly as possible, as both titles include online play.
The two games are especially important for the Wii U home console, which has been selling below expectations and will only move 2.8 million units to gamers before the end of March 2014.
An improved network infrastructure can also make the eShop more attractive to players, especially if the company adds a higher number of high-profile titles to it.