Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
Highguard
FPS Games Highguard boasted numbers "similar to what we saw at launch with Apex," says the doomed shooter's lead
Key art for Highguard showing Kai riding a bear, Atticus with the Shieldbreaker, and Scarlet, crouched, aiming down sights
FPS Games With 1 week to live, Highguard is going out kicking with a final update as devs thank "everyone who has played" the FPS
Four pictures of games from our selection of the best Switch 2 games list, showing Donkey Kong, Cloud from Final Fantasy, Mario and Luigi, and three starter Pokemon.
Games The 20 best Switch 2 games to play in 2026
Ghost of Yotei Legends
Open World Games "Mark my words. You cannot win without 4 players," Ghost of Yotei multiplayer lead warns of Legends' "hardcore content"
Helldivers 2 PS5 screenshot
Games The 25 best online games to play in 2026
Sky: Children of the Light screenshot of three figures playing different instruments
Games The best free Switch games available right now in 2026
Highguard character in purple and black armor
FPS Games Highguard is being "permanently shut down" next week, says Wildlight
Robert rides the elevator to work in Dispatch with his dog Beef, looking out of place surrounded by superheroes
Adventure Games Dispatch leads faced down publishers telling them single-player narrative games were "niche, or worse, dead"
An inkling with orange hair in Splatoon on Wii U using a splat gun to cover the stage with orange paint
Games The 25 best Wii U games of all time
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Puzzle Games Best local multiplayer Switch games to play in 2026
Animal Crossing: New Horizons screenshot of cat villager Punchy cooking with a pan
Games The best Switch exclusives to make sure you have in your library
FPS Games Overwatch is only in "the beginning of a comeback," lead says, as Blizzard plans to keep "making the best game" for fans
Mario Kart World screenshot Switch 2
Super Mario Mario Kart World content update seemingly leaked by Nintendo itself, players think a fan-favorite mode is returning
Highguard character in leather armor holding a rifle
FPS Games Highguard lead says "everyone has their thoughts on why the game failed to find an audience," but "many are way off"
Close up of the Salmon Run Splatoon 3 keychain sitting on a Switch copy of Splatoon 3.
Toys & Collectibles The new Splatoon 3 Salmon Run merch at Nintendo is so ink-citing, but it's UK only for now
  1. Games
  2. Action Games
  3. Splatoon

Defying Nintendo, just two players remain on the 3DS and Wii U's dead servers after the last Splatoon player's 68-day streak ends

News
By Kaan Serin published 16 June 2024

So long, squid kids

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

An Inkling looking shocked as she stares at the Smash Bros. logo in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate reveal trailer.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Splatoon The First was supposed to have fizzled out when Nintendo shut down online servers for both the 3DS and Wii U over two months ago. Things didn't shake out so simply, though, as one dedicated player defied the Big N and managed to keep paintballing. Until now, that is. 

Captain Lcd101 was and forever will be the "final Splatoon player" as they managed to keep both their console and the game connected online for a whopping 68 days after shutdown. That phase has sadly come to an end, however. 

"My connection to Splatoon has been terminated," the Splatooner tweeted. "In my move, I accidentally lost connection to my router. I'd like to thank everyone for this inkredible support... Words cannot express how amazing it's been to wake up every day and see you cheering me on. You've made me the luckiest squid (or octo) online and I'm just so thankful for all of your love."

You may like
  • Mario Kart Arcade GP key art, with Pac-Man and Mario racing against each other Nintendo's forgotten Mario Kart game is finally playable again as the best GameCube emulator gets even better
  • Kirby Air Riders Nintendo fans praise Smash Bros. creator for delivering a final Kirby Air Riders patch that could have easily been DLC
  • Virtual Boy headset with inside of goggles facing forward and red backdrop. Nintendo does what '90s Nintendo could only dream of – sell out of the Virtual Boy

Captain Lcd101 can still keep their head held high, though. Along with seven other dedicated players, Splatoon's last inkling managed to beat a record long held by Halo 2 superfans who clutched onto their dying game for 25 days after the original Xbox Live servers were sunsetted. Some things are worth the map purgatory, right?

According to community member GaffsNotLaffs, who has been tracking the end of the Nintendo Network, only two known players remain connected to 3DS and Wii U servers. One player is still cruising around in Mario Kart 7, while another gets to enjoy the delightfully absurd player-made creations of Super Mario Maker.

Check out everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2 for a look into the future.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Wii U Nintendo Platforms
Kaan Serin
Kaan Serin
Social Links Navigation
Freelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

Read more
Mario Kart Arcade GP key art, with Pac-Man and Mario racing against each other
Nintendo's forgotten Mario Kart game is finally playable again as the best GameCube emulator gets even better
 
 
Kirby Air Riders
Nintendo fans praise Smash Bros. creator for delivering a final Kirby Air Riders patch that could have easily been DLC
 
 
Virtual Boy headset with inside of goggles facing forward and red backdrop.
Nintendo does what '90s Nintendo could only dream of – sell out of the Virtual Boy
 
 
Celebrating the opening of the resort hotel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Nintendo says those Animal Crossing and Splatoon updates are there so players can migrate to Switch 2 at their own pace
 
 
Hollow Knight: Silksong bug suspended in silk strands
Hollow Knight: Silksong community crosses 4 weeks cheering a mad lad fighting Savage Beastfly with ungodly custom rules
 
 
Super Mario 64 speedrunner Suigi puts on dark sunglasses and laughs
$8,000 is on the line for the Super Mario 64 speedrunner who can bring the "dead" game back to life
 
 
Latest in Splatoon
Close up of the Salmon Run Splatoon 3 keychain sitting on a Switch copy of Splatoon 3.
The new Splatoon 3 Salmon Run merch at Nintendo is so ink-citing, but it's UK only for now
 
 
Splatoon Raiders screenshot showing the Mechanic exploring a mysterious island
As Nintendo Direct rumors swirl, an updated Splatoon Raiders trademark releases copium
 
 
Splatoon 3 Inkopolis
As Splatoon 3 gets a Switch 2 upgrade, Switch 1 players see a visual downgrade to "reduce differences in game operation speed as much as possible"
 
 
Splatoon 3
Nintendo announces Switch 2 exclusive Splatoon spinoff via its official app, proving it's very serious about getting you to download Nintendo Today
 
 
An Inkling looking shocked as she stares at the Smash Bros. logo in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate reveal trailer.
Splatoon 3 has a Switch 2-exclusive bug that's giving squid fans an advantage on the new console, even without an update: "Pay to win"
 
 
Splatoon 3 screenshot of Inklings and Octolings on two different teams on the street
Splatoon 3 took Nintendo's paint-'em-up series to new heights – and while doing it, proved shooters need more imagination
 
 
Latest in News
Tim Roth as Beckett reading with his feet on a desk in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man villain Tim Roth starred in The Incredible Hulk to "embarrass" his kids
 
 
Fenris in Dragon Age 2.
Dragon Age 2 lead says "if some people are ambivalent" about the RPG's characters, "I guess I didn't really do my job"
 
 
Jeff the Land Shark as he appears in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals devs are careful with balancing because "you have a vocal minority screaming the loudest"
 
 
Starfield
Bethesda will have "more to share next week" on Starfield as Todd Howard waves away claims he's a "visionary"
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 writer says picking an ending is like choosing a "favorite child" - "They are a pair"
 
 
Resident Evil Requiem Leon Kennedy
Resident Evil Requiem fans are imagining all the quips Leon would say in other games: "'Guess that's The Last of Him'"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Fenris in Dragon Age 2.
    1
    Dragon Age 2 lead wanted players to have strong opinions about every character in the RPG: "If some people are ambivalent […] I guess I didn't really do my job"
  2. 2
    A Fallout 4 QA tester nuked the RPG so hard that Zenimax executives got emails about it: "I was running around super-nuking the entire wasteland and found 4 crashes in a single morning"
  3. 3
    "You have a vocal minority screaming the loudest": Marvel Rivals devs are careful with balancing because players found Jeff the Land Shark OP until they discovered a quick fix
  4. 4
    Project Hail Mary works because "very few people can give you the range" that Ryan Gosling does, say Lord and Miller: "What a lucky thing for us"
  5. 5
    Bethesda will have "more to share next week" on Starfield as Todd Howard modestly says his "only visionary power is seeing running lanes in EA College Football 26"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...