Pretendo Network

This article may incorporate text from a large language model. It may include hallucinated information, copyright violations, claims not verified in cited sources, original research, or fictitious references. Any such material should be removed, and content with an unencyclopedic tone should be rewritten. (May 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Pretendo Network
Logo since 2020, featuring their mascot, a raccoon named Bandwidth.
Developer	Pretendo Network Team
Initial release	November 26, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-11-26) (public beta)
Written in	TypeScript, Go, JavaScript
Platform	Wii U, Nintendo 3DS
Type	Middleware
License	AGPLv3
Website	pretendo.network

Pretendo Network is a free and open-source community-run project aimed at replicating the discontinued Nintendo Network services for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U console families. Its goal is to restore online functionality, such as online multiplayer, friend lists, and social features like Miiverse, allowing players to continue using their games' network capabilities after the official shutdown on April 9, 2024. ^[1]

Pretendo began development in early 2018 as a server for Super Mario Maker specifically. Development relies on clean-room reverse engineering of the original Nintendo Network protocols. Leading up to the shutdown, the Pretendo team actively solicited network traffic captures ("dumps") from users playing online to aid in the reverse engineering process.

Pretendo held temporary public betas in 2021-2022 to test server stability and game compatibility. A full public beta phase launched in late November 2023, coinciding with the release of Juxtaposition, Pretendo's replacement and planned successor to Miiverse. Pretendo has ongoing development to improve compatibility and add support for more games and features.

In January 2025, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was released to the public after beta testing, and Super Smash Bros. for both Wii U and 3DS moved out of beta testing and became publicly available, while Animal Crossing: New Leaf entered beta testing. Dr. Luigi and Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure also left beta testing, and The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes returned online after several months of downtime.

Pretendo Network aims to replicate the core functionalities of the original Nintendo Network, including online multiplayer, a Miiverse successor, friends list, and StreetPass support.

Users can connect to the service using a Pretendo Network ID (PNID), which is created separately and cannot be linked to an original Nintendo Network ID (NNID) due to data privacy and security concerns. It is optional on 3DS but required on Wii U.

Juxtaposition (or Juxt for short) is a reimplementation and successor to Miiverse, designed to integrate with games and systems similarly to the original service, while also aiming to add new features.

Pretendo maintains a public progress page detailing the compatibility status for various games and services. As of February 2026, approximately 80.5% of progress has been made across games and services combined. While the service was in beta, users were advised that errors and incomplete functionality may occur. ^[2]

Online play is supported for a range of Wii U and 3DS games. Pretendo maintains compatibility with popular titles including Splatoon, Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8, and multiple other first-party and third-party games.

In April 2024, the developers of Colors! 3D collaborated with Pretendo to officially add support for the application, meaning Colors! 3D will continue to operate as normal when using Pretendo Network. ^[3]

StreetPass Relay was a feature on the 3DS that allowed users to gain a StreetPass from other users without direct communication. It worked via StreetPass Relay Points, which were wireless access points at Nintendo Zone-enabled locations that stored and exchanged StreetPass data. Pretendo has reimplemented this feature, though with modifications: users must add each other to their console's Friends List in order to exchange StreetPass data,^[4] as unvalidated relay data could pose security risks.

Pretendo's implementation, however, requires you to add a user to your console's Friends List in order to StreetPass them, as StreetPass data is not properly validated when relayed to other users as could lead to vulnerabilities getting exploited.

Users can connect to Pretendo through two primary methods on Wii U:

• Aroma (full support): Using the Inkay module through custom firmware, which provides full compatibility with all features and games.
• SSSL (hackless): A method that doesn't require custom firmware but offers limited functionality, such as not being able to use Juxtaposition. ^[5][6]

On 3DS, users must install custom firmware (Luma3DS) to connect to Pretendo services.

Users must create a Pretendo Network ID (PNID) to use the service after connected, which is separate from a Nintendo Network ID (NNID). PNIDs cannot be linked to original NNIDs due to data privacy and security concerns. While PNID creation is optional on 3DS, it is required on Wii U. ^[7]

Pretendo Network has official support in Cemu 2.1 and later versions, allowing Wii U games to be played online through emulation. This enables players without access to physical Wii U hardware to experience online gameplay, though users must dump certain system files from a Wii U console to enable full online functionality in Cemu.

Pretendo Network has been highlighted as an important project for digital preservation, allowing continued access to online features of Wii U and 3DS games after the official server shutdown. ^[1]

Following the Nintendo Network shutdown, Nintendo issued a general warning in January 2025 advising users against connecting to "unauthorized services" due to potential security risks. ^[8] While Nintendo did not specifically name Pretendo in its statement, the timing (more than nine months after the official server shutdown) led to speculation. ^[9]

Pretendo responded, saying they acknowledged Nintendo's concerns but emphasized its commitment to user safety. Pretendo said they had previously released security patches for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon that addressed critical vulnerabilities several months before Nintendo's official updates. The Pretendo team also stated that they regularly contribute to Nintendo's bug bounty program to report modern exploits. Pretendo's open-source nature allows for community scrutiny of its code and security practices. Additionally, anyone can self-host the service. ^[10]