Much to the dismay of pirates everywhere, It appears that Nintendo is finally rolling out the infrastructure changes to their Content Delivery Network to put an end to apps like freeShop, Villain3DS, TikDevil, and FunKeyCIA, among others.

For those of you that missed out, in the recent 11.8.0-41 update for the Nintendo 3DS, several changes to how the NIM service handles downloading Nintendo 3DS software from the eShop were made. The main change involves sending an encrypted copy of the user's game ticket to their server for authentication. If the server finds the ticket is invalid, or no ticket is provided, the server could deny you access to the content files you are trying to retrieve.

Looks like 11.8.0 backports the Switch's aauth ideas to 3ds -- network comms now send an encrypted(?) copy of app ticket to the server.

They may not act on it immediately, but like on Switch this lets N perfectly detect pirate accesses vs normal ones, and ban however they like.

— Michael (@SciresM) July 31, 2018

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This level of granular per-title validation will effectively put an end to any software that relies on the open availability of content files on the Nintendo CDN to function, including freeShop, CIAngel, TikDevil, and even PC based clients such as Villain3DS, PlaiCDN, and FunKeyCIA to name a few.

However, up until earlier today, the server wasn't denying anyone downloads at all. However, multiple reputable sources have stated that the changes have begun to roll out and that it is unlikely that any workarounds will be found.

Because this followup round of changes is server side, this effects all firmware and all devices trying to download from the Nintendo CDN. Staying on 11.7 or below will not make freeShop continue to work, and before you ask, yes, software you already pirated is safe. (for now, anyway.)

Nintendo has finally put in place the server-side change to finish what 11.8.0 started. FreeShop and other 3DS piracy apps are now dead (probably forever).

— Devon Maloney (@plailect) August 9, 2018

At this time, it seems only various first-party Nintendo titles are affected, but it's probable that these changes will begin rolling out to all 3DS titles on the Nintendo CDN over time.

As of approximately 1 AM EST, August 22, 2018, the Nintendo CDN has applied this ticket validation method to over 2800 titles on their network.

Source and Ongoing Discussion
Related 3DBrew Page

Spoiler: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Will Staying on 11.7 help in any substantial way?
A: Not really. The bulk of the changes made are server side, meaning that they apply to all firmware, all platforms, everything trying to download 3DS content from the Nintendo CDN. I don't recommend updating on principle but that choice is yours to make.

Q: Do I have to delete the games I downloaded from freeShop to avoid being banned?
A: No. This ticket check is done only when downloading titles through the NIM Service on the 3DS. Not when launching games. Not when going online in games. Not when downloading or installing games through other means.

Q: What uses the NIM service to download from the Nintendo CDN?
A: The Official 3DS eShop, Official 3DS eShop Sleep Mode Downloads, and freeShop Sleep Mode Downloads. That last one is the only wild card here. We don't know what Nintendo might do if you upload an invalid game ticket to them through NIM. They could possibly use this ban you, but as of now, it doesn't seem like they are.

Q: Will there be a workaround for this in the future?
A: Almost certainly not. Don't count on it.

Q: Can you still download non-first-party 3DS games?
A: No, as of August 22, 2018, nearly all titles are requiring valid tickets to download. A complete list of titles that are blocked is available courtesy of @DMSalesman, here.

Q: Does any of this apply to Wii U content on the Nintendo CDN?
A: No. Nintendo hasn't updated the Wii U with any of this security, which they would have to do to implement this.

 

[WildDog]

The horror!!! Now pirates have to search the internet for .cia, DAMM YOU NINTENDO!!! how do you dare to deny them to their right to be pirates and lazy!!!

 

[TekkamanChronos]

I'm curious about something....
Who is in charge of the this project.
Because I was wondering.. Is it possible to change the way it function lets say some crazy person ..downloaded the entire 3ds library
and is willing to host it all somewhere. Is it possible to rewrite the freeshop/ or to make something like it that downloads the cias from that archive and install it instead of going through Nins server?

 

[SaberLilly]

I'm curious about something....
Who is in charge of the this project.
Because I was wondering.. Is it possible to change the way it function lets say some crazy person ..downloaded the entire 3ds library
and is willing to host it all somewhere. Is it possible to rewrite the freeshop/ or to make something like it that downloads the cias from that archive and install it instead of going through Nins server?

Only thing is that would be no different than a ROM site that Nintendo can easily DMCA and have taken down, even if the address wasn't publicly shared they can always get it just by downloading and dissecting the program's code.

 

[TekkamanChronos]

I'm not worried about the DMCA, in fact it's not even a problem.

 

[ThatOneCookie]

decided to check freeshop no games just a grave i will miss freeshop

 

[Bellebite2000]

decided to check freeshop no games just a grave i will miss freeshop

AMEN

 

[MaxiBash]

Aww, PISS.

 

[Song of storms]

@GhostLatte did you really watermark a meme???

 

[MaxiBash]

Because of mentioning this, I got permabanned from the Nintendo Homebrew Discord.
No warnings, these moderators are just too strand for their userbase.

 

[codezer0]

Only thing is that would be no different than a ROM site that Nintendo can easily DMCA and have taken down, even if the address wasn't publicly shared they can always get it just by downloading and dissecting the program's code.

That would require effort. Something that, if you've been following game freak the past twenty years, you know they won't bother to do.

 

[MikaDubbz]

Because of mentioning this, I got permabanned from the Nintendo Homebrew Discord.
No warnings, these moderators are just too strand for their userbase.

I kinda get it, beyond the nature of the feeshop, the creator of the app is now in prison for being a pedophile (this is true). Freeshop as a whole is understandably taboo, and the less people associate with it, the better.

 

[Skittyusedcovet]

decided to check freeshop no games just a grave i will miss freeshop

I guess its finally time for me to delete freeshop now. Rip

 

[Deleted User]

I kinda get it, beyond the nature of the feeshop, the creator of the app is now in prison for being a pedophile (this is true). Freeshop as a whole is understandably taboo, and the less people associate with it, the better.

Whoah, I didn't know that.

 

[AdenTheThird]

decided to check freeshop no games just a grave i will miss freeshop

Wow. It literally is a grave. I didn't realize that.

 

[ShinyThanatos]

Rip saver of money.

 

[WildDog]

Because of mentioning this, I got permabanned from the Nintendo Homebrew Discord.
No warnings, these moderators are just too strand for their userbase.

Maybe, because people who like to make homebrew and support homebrew want to separate them from Pirates????

Homebrewers been fighting to get it clear, that they are not pirates (most of them). Something like the freeshop is just a stain to homebrew scene and a good excuse for nintendo and other mfg to reinforce the hardware against tamper.

 

[AdenTheThird]

Maybe, because people who like to make homebrew and support homebrew want to separate them from Pirates????

Homebrewers been fighting to get it clear, that they are not pirates (most of them). Something like the freeshop is just a stain to homebrew scene and a good excuse for nintendo and other mfg to reinforce the hardware against tamper.

"You are a Pirate!"

 

[blackwing407]

I seem to still have access to the servers I was once using, freeshop may be "discontinued" but its still usable for whatever (pirating) needs

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

I seem to still have access to the servers I was once using, freeshop may be "discontinued" but its still usable for whatever (pirating) needs

Yea try downloading Pokemon games and what not. Unless you plan to install shovelware it's useless.

 

[CheatFreak47]

I seem to still have access to the servers I was once using, freeshop may be "discontinued" but its still usable for whatever (pirating) needs

You don't have access to any "server". freeShop relies on a downloaded cache of title metadata and titlekeys. No games are able to be downloaded with freeShop anymore because Nintendo plugged the hole that allowed it.

Even if it looks like it works, it doesn't.