# Pretendo Network

> online video game service for 3DS and WiiU

**Wikidata**: [Q125396532](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125396532)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pretendo-network

## Summary
Pretendo Network is an online video game service and software designed for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U platforms. It functions as an Internet-based service, providing online gaming capabilities for these specific consoles.

## Key Facts
- **Platforms:** Compatible with Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.
- **Type of Entity:** Classified as a service on the Internet, software, and an online gaming service.
- **Website:** https://pretendo.network/
- **Social Media Launch:** Established a Twitter presence on February 15, 2018.
- **Mastodon:** Utilizes the handle `pretendo@mastodon.pretendo.network` (active since November 20, 2022).
- **GitHub:** Maintains a repository under the username `PretendoNetwork`.
- **Patreon:** Operates a funding page with the ID `PretendoNetwork`.
- **Audience Reach:** Recorded a Mastodon follower count of 3,008 as of June 17, 2024.
- **Aliases:** Also known simply as "Pretendo."

## FAQs
### Q: What gaming consoles does Pretendo Network support?
A: Pretendo Network is specifically designed to support the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U platforms.

### Q: What type of service is Pretendo Network?
A: It is an online video game service and software component that operates over the Internet.

### Q: Where can Pretendo Network be found online?
A: The service hosts a website at `pretendo.network`, maintains a GitHub profile under `PretendoNetwork`, and operates a Mastodon account that has been active since late 2022.

## Why It Matters
Pretendo Network serves as a significant software solution for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U gaming communities. As official manufacturers often transition away from legacy hardware support, services like Pretendo Network play a critical role in preserving the functionality of these devices. By offering an alternative online gaming service, the project ensures that the software ecosystems of the 3DS and Wii U remain viable for users. Its classification as both software and an Internet service highlights its technical complexity and its role as a non-tangible executable component that bridges user hardware with online connectivity. The existence of a Japanese Wikipedia entry further indicates its relevance and recognition within the global gaming community.

## Notable For
- **Legacy Support:** Provides a dedicated online service for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.
- **Broad Classification:** Recognized broadly as both software and an Internet service.
- **Open Development:** Maintains a public presence on GitHub, indicating a community or open-source approach to development.
- **Global Reach:** Has established documentation and following in international spheres, including a Japanese Wikipedia entry.

## Body
### Platform and Functionality
Pretendo Network operates as an online video game service tailored for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U consoles. Structurally, it is defined as a "service on Internet" and "software," serving as a non-tangible executable component that facilitates online gaming.

### Online Presence and History
The project established its digital footprint with a Twitter account (`@pretendonetwork`) on February 15, 2018. It expanded its social media reach to the Mastodon network on November 20, 2022, using the address `pretendo@mastodon.pretendo.network`. As of mid-2024, the service reported a social media following of over 3,000 users on the Mastodon platform.

### Project Organization
The service is managed under the name `PretendoNetwork` across multiple development and funding platforms, including GitHub and Patreon. The official website serves as the primary portal for the service.

## References

1. [Source](https://videogames.si.com/guides/3ds-pretendo-2024)
2. [Source](https://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-and-3ds-online-services-shutting-down-today-but-pretendo-is-here-to-save-the-day.653340/)