Reviving the Classics: Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon Reignite the Wii U Online Experience!

Highlights

After discovering a severe security vulnerability, Nintendo has completed server maintenance and Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon will resume online play on the Wii U on August 3.

The ENLBufferPwn vulnerability enabled attackers to gain remote control over the console, which could potentially result in the theft of payment information and unauthorized access to the device's microphone and camera. Although updates have been released for other vulnerable games, if additional problems arise, Nintendo might decide to disable online features for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon on the Wii U.

The multiplayer servers for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon on the Wii U will be going back online after a five-month offline period. In December 2022, a severe security vulnerability named "ENLBufferPwn" was discovered in certain first-party Nintendo games across the 3DS, Wii U, and Switch platforms. As a result, the company initiated updates for a range of titles, including older ones, leading to the first-ever update for Mario Kart 7 in a decade.

This vulnerability enabled attackers to exploit a game's online status and gain remote control over the targeted console. The consequences ranged from potential theft of payment information to unauthorized access to the device's microphone and camera. While several games were promptly patched, Nintendo made the decision in March 2023 to temporarily disable the Wii U multiplayer servers for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon during their efforts to resolve the vulnerability.

Five months later, Nintendo has finally completed the emergency server maintenance for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon. As a result, network services for these two games on Wii U will resume on August 3. However, Nintendo cautions that online play may be temporarily suspended again if any more issues are identified.

Other titles that were vulnerable to the ENLBufferPwn attack include Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, ARMS, Splatoon 2, Splatoon 3, Super Mario Maker 2, and Nintendo Switch Sports. Nintendo has addressed the security vulnerabilities in all of these games through updates. Nevertheless, it is possible that there may be other games susceptible to the ENLBufferPwn exploit that remain undiscovered.

Hopefully, no further issues will arise with Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon on the Wii U. Being from the previous console generation with a closed eShop, any newly discovered security vulnerabilities might lead Nintendo to simply remove online functionality for these two games without any further action.

Despite its lackluster sales performance, leading to a relatively quick end, the Wii U is still cherished by many gamers for its innovative and distinctive features. It served as a prototype for the immensely successful Switch, one of the highest-selling consoles ever. Additionally, the Wii U's backward compatibility allows players access to the entire library of Wii games, including numerous exclusives. The Wii U remains a significant part of many gamers' setups due to this feature alone.

Source: Nintendo World Report