Nintendo is reportedly seeking to replace the multiplayer server system that they’ve been using for nearly 10 years, via Nintendo Everything.
Nintendo is reportedly seeking to replace the multiplayer server system that they’ve been using for nearly 10 years, according to OatmealDome and Thomas (via Nintendo Everything). Nearly all Nintendo games since the era of the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U have been using this technology for online interactions.
NEX, the 18-year-old technology in question, has been used by Nintendo for about 10 years since being licensed from Ubisoft. The technology was originally called Rendez-Vous and was developed by Quazal, a company that was focused on the development of cross-platform multiplayer, before being acquired by Ubisoft.
Nintendo is evidently shifting to a new server system called “NPLN.” The Monster Hunter Rise demo that was recently available was apparently used to secretly test NPLN.
Since NEX (Rendez-Vous, more specifically) is 18 years old, Splatoon 2 apparently has an unused function in the code that checks whether or not it is running on Window 98. Funnily enough, Splatoon 2 is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and does not actually appear on PC.
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At one point, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate received improvements to its netcode, though Masahiro Sakurai noted that they were unable to implement rollback netcode — or at least something similar to rollback — despite an attempt to do so.
These improvements very likely came in response to the #FixUltimateOnline movement that was happening on Twitter shortly before this time. Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, most offline tournaments were cancelled throughout 2020 and were effectively replaced by online events.
It’s entirely possible that Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate utilize the NPLN multiplayer server system for online interactions. Of course, there are plenty that have claimed that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s online experience is somehow worse than Super Smash Bros. 4’s.
While this might sound like good news for Super Smash Bros. and Nintendo fans, this might not translate to immediate improvements. According to OatmealDome, Nintendo is likely focusing their efforts on getting the transition to be as seamless as possible. For now, they likely aren’t worried about adding or improving the online experience, though that can possibly come later.
Of course, whether or not this will translate to anything noteworthy for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — a game released in 2018 — remains to be seen.
Originally published at Event Hubs