WiiLink adds Message Board support, DoujinSoft to switch over

The WiiConnect24 project has launched its Wii Mail service, WarioWare DIY Showcase archive DoujinSoft replaces RiiConnect24

Oct 12, 2023

The WiiLink project has just announced on its Discord server the launch of its new resurrected functionality, this being not a channel, rather a Wii Menu functionality. The emerging WiiConnect24 revival service now allows Wii users to send messages through the Wii Message Board again.

According to the developers, the new Wii Mail service includes support for all software that utilises it. A list of tested games and applications has been provided:

Internet Channel (Sending Internet Addresses to Friends & Email)
MaBoShi: The Three Shape Arcade (Sending Replays to Friends)
Mario Kart Wii (Ghost Data & Sending Friend Requests)
Mii Channel (Sending Miis to Friends)
Photo Channel (Picture Exchange)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Sending Replays & Photos to Friends)
WarioWare: Do It Yourself Showcase (Using DoujinSoft for sending game items)
Wii Room (Wii no Ma)
Wii Music
Wii Speak Channel

In response to comments on the recent rushed launch of the revival of the Everybody Votes Channel, WiiLink's lead developer, Sketch, commented: “We have been hard at work making sure this launch releases smoothly.”

All users can patch the Wii Mail functionality to use the WiiLink service via a special homebrew application. Wii U and Wii mini users can now also access Wii Mail through the new version of Priiloader.

However, WiiLink's new Wii Mail launch entails a major problem: the lack of an agreement with the RiiConnect24 team. Although Wii numbers remain unchanged, users using the WiiLink service will be isolated from those using the RiiConnect24 version, as messages cannot be sent from one service to the other. According to the WiiLink team, an attempt was made to build a bridge between both versions, but was unsuccessful.

DoujinSoft project switches over to WiiLink

The DoujinSoft Store, an archive for content from the WarioWare: Do It Yourself Showcase WiiWare title, has been the first to make a statement, announcing that it would immediately switch to the WiiLink version of Wii Mail, requiring users of the project to install it.

RiiConnect24 owner Larsenv quickly reached out to DoujinSoft manager Difegue to request an explanation. The latter stated the switch was due to a lack of development on RiiConnect24 “considering the differences in dev teams”. Larsen mentioned he was “quite upset”, to which Difegue added, “if there's enough demand for it, I might support both backends in parallel in a later version”.

The WiiLink project, which started in 2020, aims to revive the entire WiiConnect24 service, including regionally exclusive channels, as an alternative service to RiiConnect24.