Pretendo Network

Pretendo Network

Original author(s)	Jonathan Barrow
Repository	github.com/PretendoNetwork
Operating system	Café OS, Nintendo 3DS system software
Type	Video games
License	Open-source software
Website	pretendo.network

Pretendo Network is a Nintendo Network replacement utilizing homebrew for the Wii U and 3DS after the original servers shutdown.

Users can pay to get work in progress game servers early.

SSSL

SSSL is a non-homebrew method used to connect to the Pretendo Network servers by spoofing the domain by a oversight. This does not work for some features like Juxt.

Juxt

Juxt is a replacement for Miiverse.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is Pretendo Network's mascot, coloured purple and is a raccoon.

Nintendo Acknowledgement

On January 15, 2025, Nintendo Customer Service tweeted out a warning. This can be translated as follows: [Request] We have confirmed the existence of unauthorized services that replace functions such as online play for the Wii U, which ended service on April 9, 2024. Please refrain from using such services as they may pose unexpected security risks.

Pretendo Network published a public statement clarifying that the project would continue its operations. Pretendo Network noted Nintendo’s post appeared to be a general liability disclaimer rather than a legal warning.

Pretendo Juxt Hack

In January 2025, Pretendo Network issued a public transparency update in response to a minor security incident affecting its services. According to the team, an individual claimed to have compromised part of the Pretendo infrastructure. In response, some services like Juxt were temporarily taken offline as a precaution, due to the hack occurring late in the night.

The Pretendo team clarified that no databases were accessed, no user data was compromised, and no sensitive information was exposed. The intruder was only able to perform limited actions, such as modifying user roles (e.g., toggling access levels like standard, banned, or tester) and creating Juxr communities. These changes were described as minor and have since been reverted, except for a small number of users who were granted tester status were allowed to temporarily retain it.

The incident was due to an incorrect permissions check in a basic administrative panel that did not expose any sensitive user data. The issue was patched after testing, and all services were restored shortly after.