In April 2024, Nintendo officially pulled the plug on online services for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. That means no more online matchmaking in Mario Kart 7, no more town visits in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and no more leaderboard bragging rights in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS. For longtime fans, it was the end of an era — but not the end of the road.
Enter Pretendo, a fan-made, open-source replacement for Nintendo’s now-defunct online infrastructure. Pretendo Network brings multiplayer back to life by rerouting your modded 3DS’s online activity through custom servers that mimic Nintendo’s original services. It’s a brilliant solution powered entirely by the community — and it works.
Before we dive in, a quick heads-up: you’ll need a modded Nintendo 3DS, the latest version of Luma3DS, and a basic understanding of how to manage files on your SD card. If you’re new to 3DS modding, consider reading up on that process first — this guide assumes you’re already set up and ready to go.
Step 1: Download the Necessary Files
To get started, you’ll need to grab the core files that will connect your 3DS to Pretendo. These are hosted on the official Pretendo Network GitHub page.
Here’s what to do:
- Visit the Pretendo Network GitHub Releases page
- Go to the Releases tab.
- Scroll down to the “Assets” section, then download the ZIP file with the CIA version.
⚠️ Important: Do not download the 3DSX version — that’s intended for Homebrew Launcher use, not the full system-level integration we need.
Step 2: Prepare Your 3DS SD Card
Now that you’ve got the correct ZIP file downloaded, it’s time to set up the files on your Nintendo 3DS SD card.
- Remove the SD card from your 3DS and insert it into your computer. If your PC doesn’t have a built-in card reader, use a USB SD card adapter.
- Using an archive tool such as WinZip, unzip the ZIP file you downloaded from the Pretendo GitHub page.
After extracting, you should see a folder containing multiple subfolders. These are the ones you’ll be working with:
- 3ds – Contains certificate files needed for Pretendo
- cias – Contains installable CIA files (like Nimbus)
- luma – Includes system modules for Luma3DS
- titles – Game patch data required for proper server connection
Keep this extracted folder open — you’ll be copying its contents into your SD card in the next step.
Step 3: Transfer Files to the SD Card
With your SD card connected and the Pretendo files unzipped, it’s time to start moving things into place. These steps are crucial for making sure your 3DS can talk to the Pretendo servers.
- From the extracted 3ds folder, locate the file named: juxt-prod.pem
- Copy juxt-prod.pem into the 3ds folder on your SD card.
- Open the extracted cias folder and find: nimbus.cia
- Copy nimbus.cia into the cias folder on your SD card.
- Go back to the extracted luma folder. Inside, you’ll find a folder called: sysmodules
- Copy the sysmodules folder into the existing luma folder on your SD card. If a sysmodules folder already exists, allow it to merge and overwrite if prompted.
- Finally, from the extracted titles folder, copy everything inside (not the folder itself) into the titles folder on your SD card.
Once all files are copied over, your SD card is now Pretendo-ready. The next step is to install the Nimbus CIA file directly on your 3DS. Let’s go!
Step 4: Configure Luma3DS Settings
With the necessary files now on your SD card, it’s time to tweak your Luma3DS configuration. These settings are what allow Pretendo’s custom modules and patches to work properly.
- Power off your 3DS.
- Hold the SELECT button on your 3DS.
- While still holding SELECT, press the POWER button to turn it on.
- Keep holding SELECT until the Luma3DS configuration menu appears.
In the Luma3DS menu, use the D-Pad to scroll and check the following options:
- [✔] Enable loading external FIRMs and modules
This allows Luma to load Pretendo’s custom system modules. - [✔] Enable game patching
This lets Luma apply patches required for Pretendo to function in games like Mario Kart 7.
Press START to save your changes and reboot the 3DS. Once you’re back at the Home Menu, you’re just one step away from Pretendo-powered online play!
Step 5: Connect to Pretendo Servers
Now that everything is installed and configured, it’s time to connect your 3DS to the Pretendo Network — the custom servers that bring online functionality back to life.
- From your 3DS Home Menu, scroll until you find the newly installed Pretendo app (installed earlier via the FBI app).
- Tap the Pretendo app to launch.
Inside the Pretendo app, you’ll be prompted with server options. Choose Pretendo Server. This tells your system to route all Nintendo Network connections through Pretendo’s custom infrastructure instead of the now-defunct official servers.
After selecting the Pretendo server, your 3DS will automatically reboot. Congrats! You’ve just revived your 3DS’s online capabilities.
Step 6: Test Your Connection
With your 3DS now configured to use the Pretendo Network, it’s time to make sure everything works as expected. We recommend starting with a game that’s known to work well with Pretendo, such as:
- Mario Kart 7
- Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Enter the game’s online multiplayer mode and try connecting to a match or lobby. If everything was set up correctly, you should now be able to:
- Search for online races (Mario Kart 7)
- Play co-op online with friends (Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate)
- Join or host an online battle (Smash Bros.)
If you’re able to connect without errors, congratulations — your 3DS is officially back online, powered by the Pretendo Network. You’re now free to race, brawl, visit towns, and trade just like old times.
Final Tips & Troubleshooting
Even with everything set up, you might run into a hiccup or two. Don’t worry — here are some quick fixes and resources to help get you back on track.
- Double-check that you installed the nimbus.cia file correctly using the FBI app.
- Make sure the sysmodules folder is correctly placed in the luma directory.
- Confirm you held SELECT at boot and enabled both: Enable loading external FIRMs and modules and Enable game patching.
- If all else fails, try re-copying the files to your SD card in case something got corrupted.
- Make sure you actually selected Pretendo servers in the Pretendo app before rebooting.
- Check that your 3DS is connected to Wi-Fi and can access the internet.
- Some games may not yet be fully supported by Pretendo — check compatibility lists on their GitHub or Discord.
With all that in mind, you’re now ready to enjoy 3DS online gaming once again — all thanks to the Pretendo community. Happy gaming! 🕹️✨
