Update (Tue 17th Mar, 2020 18:50 GMT): Nintendo has yet to announce anything officially, but it appears that services are once again running as normal. We've had success accessing the eShop, and multiple users have reported similar success stories.
If you're still struggling to access the eShop or other online services yourself, don't worry. You should be able get online again soon.
Original Article (Tue 17th Mar, 2020 11:00 GMT): Nintendo's online services are currently down across all of the company's current systems, leaving players unable to browse the eShop, download new titles, play games online, and more.
The reason for the downtime is currently unknown; no maintenance has been planned or is taking place, and Nintendo hadn't issued any warnings ahead of time. Nintendo's official website confirms the service's temporary closure with the following error report:
Unable to connect to the network service.
Please try again later.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The error appears to be a worldwide issue, with access being unavailable across the UK, US and Japan. Nintendo is aware of the problem, so hopefully a fix is on the way.
We'll make sure to update this article when the network services are back up and running.
Comments 78
No, I just reset the console. Perhaps the problem will be solved quickly.
Thanks for the news update, I was wondering why Asphalt 9 and Dawn of the Breakers weren't connecting when I went to collect the daily rewards. I play both on Switch, and Asphalt keeps mentioning a Connection Error.
Those are dark times. I hope the situation gets a fix soon.
Ahhh. So that's why my Switch kept displaying a "could not thingummy do-dah DNS server" error.
*can't remember EXACTLY what it said.
Apparently O2, Vodaphone and a couple of other networks have gone down too. Can't be coincidental.
Corona Virus has mutated to a computer virus!!!!
I have no problems connecting. All good here. I just got into the eShop after reading this article. Will check again later, but for now, all is fine. Everything seems to be running normal.
My mind always gets carried away and I think “They’re fully revamping the Switch with a surprise new version update which will include themes, folders, and an even more functional eshop!!”
this is probably the first time ever with that many users playing and downloading at the same time…
Thought something was wrong
A reason to stick with physical games?
Ohh, I was wondering what happened with Tetris 99, match started with 99, then in a jiffy, it went 44/44. I lost the match obviously.
@sandman89 Once a game is already downloaded, it can be played offline as if you bought a physical copy. If the game has an online mode, it just won't work. This isn't really specific to physical games, their online modes would be affected too.
I always find it slow around this time, including Nintendo's websites. I suspect it's a multitude of things: 1) lots of extra people playing / downloading stuff 2) preparation work for new indie releases going on 3) Mario's missing
Sad Italian plumber noises
Me thinking to myself I should really put in that preordered download code for Animal Crossing so that it's installed and ready to play on Friday.
Probably preparing for all of the quarantined Animal Crossing players, even people I know that don't play AC are considering it at this point
But how am I now going to keep refreshing the Alien Isolation page wishing for a magical discount to appear?
the Packets from SONY.
@riChchestM FYI can redeem codes via https://ec.nintendo.com/redeem although seems down at moment
@gcunit ha ha, the Temple of Nintendoom
I can get on the Nintendo.co.uk. Looks like they added a Wish List button and Wish List management... https://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/2020/March/Keep-track-of-your-most-wanted-Nintendo-Switch-games-with-our-new-Wish-List-feature--1742476.html
@gloom that's what I thought as soon as I seen this news a massive update..10.0.0 with themes, browser, and Nintendo 64 games to choose from...it better be 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
@gloom I dream of this as well
@GigaNibba smb death sound continues
Seems to be back now but earlier I couldn't connect at all
There is only one place where we can be safe, the domed city of Corinth. The only hope we have left is.....
Welp now i know why I cant download my ssb5 dlc, or (or get on the eshop.)
TBH, if every whitecollar worker is being forced to work from home, the last thing broadband networks need is every kid home from school playing Fortnite. Play your offline games!
were sorry to say your island getaway is canceled due to covid19, form you friends at nook inc.
@Krull NO MORE FORTNITE.
Looks like time to pull out the homebrew
I hope it will be back for animal crossing
It’s because all of the newly available GAMECUBE games have crashed the service.
Glad, I wasn't planning on buying something this week from the Wii U or N3DS eShop. When it comes to my game systems, recently my internet connections for most of them have been really stupid for some bizarre reason and I don't know why.
Mad props to @ryancraddock for choosing Brawl as the title to represent a downtime in online activity.
For reference:
Has had zero impact on my switch. Probably because that 19.99 was a waste of my money.
Bummer. I just got back into Splatoon yesterday and I was going to play a bit of that again this morning. I’ll have to play something else, it seems.
Everyone's at home, no one to man the servers.
@gcunit Dude, it has been a DECADE since I've seen that gif, good job!!
@Ramaketu I did that. didn't work.
@Lawnachaun where do you live exactly, because when I restarted it, it still kept giving me an error message and stopped my downloads.
@chocolate_supra We had the film on at home last week. I knew I'd be able to use it pretty soon, but I could pretty much paste it into anything right now 🤣
Spent a good hour trying to get my Switch to work, gave up and played AvP 2 on my laptop instead.
Nintendo servers probably didn't have enough toilet paper. 🤔🤔🤔 You know, cause Coronavirus : P
@thesilverbrick are there any hero weapons you might want? You could do a run through single player to unlock a hero weapon.
@mandlecreed I'm getting the same error.
Still down... Europe>Poland/
2:30pm in UK and Online still down!
...I can't even get on the phone App.
Still weird this site refuses to mention the EU even with Nintendo UK being a sub of EU... I understand you mention the UK, just also mention the EU
@ferryb001 it is a UK based website. What else do you expect?
More than likely just strain on the servers. But in the back of my mind, I'm worried if it's a ddos attack by "hackers" (using the term very loosely here)
There's been several attacks on big name companies in the last couple days, it it wouldn't be the first time Nintendo was a target
Thank god I got online, I had basically turned my Switch and WiFi router upside down already
@Bunkerneath its become the borg coming to assimilate us into the collective.
@Sinister well they do mention japan and the US don’t they... why not europe it just seems lazy
i am membre of a Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Group in WhatsApp, and someone said in the Group said the Nintendo online services are off, and i immediately tried go to eShop in my Switch and a suport/error code:2811-1006 apeared and the message could not display page and the option to retry.
I CAN 'T play a game on my switch lite. This has to be the most consumer unfriendly way possible to connect two devices. Impossible to play the system and the games I payed a lot of cash for.
Nintendo's servers can barely handle a new Smash fighter being released so the increased server load from people social distancing and self isolating is probably too much for the servers to cope.
@Woomy_NNYes Haha, I unlocked those months ago. Completely finished the Octo Expansion, too. Ah, well.
@jobvd I'm in the same boat, although my docked switch is my secondary console (figured that would make sense because I never take that one anywhere.) Most of my games are downloaded and I can't play ANYTHING. Even physical games, because most of them have DLC. Seems like there could be a better way to handle this...ugh
Looks like it is back up in some places. Was just able to redeem my Animal Crossing code.
I was wondering why the heck Switch didn't connect. Should have tested my wi-fi with other devices.
My nephew is playing Fortnite on Switch so it’s back up, in some places at least.
So the whole five people still playing Wii U are upset somewhere.
Please understand
@Thegaymerotter it's a big **** U from Nintendo to their loyal fanbase.
Plenty of great single player experiences to be had on Switch and PS4. If online goes down then, meh, try something not tied into it. Just with the Covid scare it's not the end of the world, no matter how much people howl and protest that it is.
It happens. Not the end of the world.
Wow, I didn't even notice since I've downloaded all my Wii U & Steam games! 😂😂😂 If there's an issue with those, then I guess my Dreamcast is back in business.
I could access Switch eshop and have downloaded Moving Out demo just now.

Yay...! 😃
Good! Move time to go play outside!
Europe>Poland = working.
Enjoyed a little bit of Warface
Sorry everyone. I tripped over the cord and pulled it out. Plugging in now......
@Zephyr_Sonic Uhh, no. No one is supposed to go outside their homes unless they have to.
Sorry guys. I was the one guy too many who pre-downloaded Animal Crossing yesterday. I pushed the server over the edge.
@gloom
That's the dream!
Good job, Coronavirus. You're officially ruining everything
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