Nintendo has announced that they’re shutting down online support for the original Super Mario Maker, which launched on the Wii U in 2015.
As of March 31, 2021, you’ll no longer be able to upload courses to the in-game browser. Likewise the Super Mario Maker Bookmark website will be shutting down. Super Mario Maker will also formally be removed from the Nintendo eShop on January 12, 2021.
It will still be possible to play previously downloaded courses, and of course the game itself will remain playable.
The discontinued online service shouldn’t come as a huge shock for two reasons. The Wii U was a notoriously low-selling console, specially compared to the vastly more popular Switch, and Nintendo will be looking to offload any online services left running there.
Secondly, we have Super Mario Maker 2 on the Nintendo Switch, which released last year. The sequel was well-regarded and has received several major updates since launch.
None of the aforementioned shutdowns are affecting the sequel. Though many fans maintain that the original game worked better thanks to the Wii U’s easier stylus and gamepad controls compared to the Switch.
The FAQ includes details for the Wii U shut-downs. Super Mario Maker is also available for the 3DS, but thus far that service is not being shut down, for now.
