How to fix the multiplayer lag in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and other Wii U games

While Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is vastly improved over Super Smash Bros. Brawl in terms of lag free online multiplayer, the sequel is still not quiet perfect. If you are experiencing some laggy matches while playing in the For Fun and/or For Glory modes, you can check out our guide below to find the best possible fixes.

First Possible Fix: Make sure the problem is on your end

The first thing you want to determine is that whether or not the multiplayer lag in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is actually because of how your connection to the Nintendo Network is set up. Thus, you should play a couple of rounds of online multiplayer.

If you ran into a laggy fight, it is best to exit the character select screen, go back in and then try again. This is because the videogame uses only peer-to-peer connections as there is no support for dedicated servers, so the smoothness of your experience is based on the internet connections of your game as well as others. To minimize lag, you can try to play with friends who are located closer to your location or by limiting your online play to one versus one battles in the For Glory mode (since there is going to be less data being passed around).

Second Possible Fix: Block out any interference

If you are constantly getting multiplayer lag no matter how many times you exit and re-enter, the problem may be related to your Internet. To prevent any potential latency in gameplay, it is best that you don’t use your bandwidth on other activities such as downloading and streaming. Furthermore, the development team also suggested that you should stay away from shared public Wi-Fi hotspots if you don’t want any problems.

You may also have a issue with how your Wi-Fi router is set up if you are using one from home. Things like a microwave, Bluetooth devices and even other Wi-Fi routers could hinder the performance of your wireless network. So make sure that you don’t any interfering products nearby your router if you are running into problems playing online.

Third Possible Fix: Get a LAN and Ethernet adapter

Of course, you can just avoid using Wi-Fi altogether. In fact, the development team actually suggested that the best way to play Super Smash Bros. for Wii U lag free online is via a direct connection to the internet. The bad news is that Nintendo did not include an Ethernet port in either of the regular and deluxe versions of the Wii U hardware.

Fortunately, there are several relatively inexpensive LAN and ethernet adapters that will enable support for wired internet connection. We previously suggested getting any of the following three Wii U compatible adapters from Amazon:

You can find more details on these products, including steps for installation, with our guide here.

With these tips, your experience with the online multiplayer in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and other Wii U games in general, should hopefully be smoother.