Cemu Online Play — Pretendo Network Setup for Wii U Multiplayer 2026

Pretendo Network is a fan-built free replacement for Nintendo Network Online (NASC + BOSS servers). It restores Wii U online features in Cemu including multiplayer, Miiverse (partially), and SpotPass data. Nintendo shut down official Wii U online in April 2024 — Pretendo is the only path to online Wii U play.

Step 1 — Create a Pretendo account:

1. Go to pretendo.network and register a free account with a username and email.
2. Verify your email (check spam). Your account is now ready.
3. Note: Pretendo accounts are separate from Nintendo Network IDs. You can't import an old NNID.

Step 2 — Configure Cemu for Pretendo:

1. Open Cemu → Options → General Settings → Account.
2. Under Network Service, change from Nintendo to Pretendo.
3. Click the dropdown next to Active Account and select Add Online Account.
4. Log in with your Pretendo username and password.
5. Cemu now connects to Pretendo servers instead of the (dead) Nintendo servers.

Step 3 — Test with a compatible game:

• Start Mario Kart 8 or Splatoon (the two best-supported Pretendo games) and navigate to online play. You should reach lobbies.
• Player count on Pretendo is much smaller than the original Nintendo servers, so some game lobbies fill slowly — wait a few minutes or coordinate sessions on the Pretendo Discord.

Best-supported Pretendo games for Cemu (2026):

• Mario Kart 8 — full matchmaking, lobbies, and friend races work. The most active game on Pretendo.
• Splatoon — Regular/Ranked Battles and Splatfests (Pretendo-run) work. Consistent player pool.
• Super Smash Bros. for Wii U — For Glory and For Fun modes work; some occasional desyncs.
• Mario Kart 8 DLC courses — require the DLC to be installed in Cemu, same as offline play.
• Pokémon Rumble World — SpotPass features partially restored.

Games with partial support:

• Games that relied on unique Nintendo server infrastructure (like paid features, eShop, or Miiverse posting) may not fully work. Pretendo restores matchmaking and game servers, not the full Nintendo ecosystem.
• Check the Pretendo games list for current compatibility status before expecting online for a specific title.

Local multiplayer in Cemu (no Pretendo needed): Cemu supports same-PC multiplayer (multiple controllers mapped to Player 1–4). For LAN multiplayer between two PCs, Cemu does not support LAN in most games — that's a Wii U hardware limitation, not a Cemu one. True LAN play would require the Wii U GamePad streaming protocol which Cemu only partially emulates.

"Unable to connect" or error code 105-####:

• Cemu error codes starting with 105 usually mean a DNS or network routing issue. In Cemu Settings → Network, ensure the network mode is not set to offline. Pretendo uses its own DNS for account resolution — check that your PC's DNS isn't blocking pretendo.network (some ISP or parental-control DNS do this). Try switching to 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) in your Windows adapter settings temporarily.
• Verify pretendo.network is reachable in your browser before debugging Cemu.

Error code 107-#### (account not found / wrong credentials):

• Re-check your Pretendo username and password in Cemu → Options → General Settings → Account → log out and log back in.
• Pretendo usernames are case-sensitive.
• If you recently changed your Pretendo password on the website, you must also update it in Cemu.

Lobby found but game disconnects after a few seconds:

• Enable UPnP on your router or manually forward the ports Cemu uses (UDP 16000–16030 and TCP 443/80 for Pretendo). UPnP usually handles this automatically.
• Check that your antivirus or firewall doesn't block Cemu's outbound connections.

No lobbies / waiting forever:

• Pretendo's player base is smaller than Nintendo's was — during off-peak hours (weekday mornings in your region), lobbies can take 5–15 minutes to fill. Mario Kart 8 is the most consistent.
• Join the Pretendo Discord and post in the matchmaking channel to coordinate play sessions with other users.

Pretendo changes how Cemu connects to servers, but it doesn't affect game performance, graphics packs, or any other Cemu feature. You can still use:

• Graphic Packs — Resolution scaling, FPS++, and visual enhancements work the same with or without Pretendo.
• Save files — Online saves (DLC unlocks, rankings) are stored locally in Cemu's user profile and are not synced to Pretendo servers (those didn't exist in the original game either beyond leaderboard data).
• Mods — Texture mods and custom tracks (e.g. Mario Kart 8 community track packs) work offline only. Do NOT use mods in Pretendo online matches — it violates Pretendo's terms of service and may get your account suspended.

Switching back to offline: In Cemu → Options → General Settings → Account, you can switch the active account to a local offline account (or set Network Service back to Nintendo for offline-only mode). This doesn't delete your Pretendo account — it just disconnects Cemu from the network.

Pretendo on real Wii U hardware: If you also have a real Wii U console, Pretendo works on hardware too (via a homebrew patcher called Inkay). The Pretendo account is the same — you can use the same username on both Cemu and a real Wii U.