Delta 1.7, released March 31, 2025, added online play for Nintendo DS games with Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection-compatible modes. It does not restore Nintendo’s original servers, support every kind of DS multiplayer, or make every DS game online. Instead, Delta connects compatible games to community-run replacements such as Wiimmfi, WiiLink WFC, and AltWFC.
Delta has since moved beyond the 1.7 release: the official release notes list version 1.7.3, while the U.S. App Store shows a 1.7.3s build. Version 1.7 is therefore best understood as the major historical update that introduced DS online play.
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What Delta 1.7 added
Delta 1.7’s headline feature was Nintendo DS online multiplayer through replacement Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection servers. The update also included:
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- Game screenshots, controller mappings for screenshots, and an experimental Delta Screenshots album.
- Controller-specific skins and more per-game settings.
- Support for controller-case layouts through
menuInsets. - Experimental RetroAchievements support for NES, SNES, and N64 games.
- Experimental “Ask Lu” game assistance.
- Connection and disconnection notifications for online sessions.
- Up to 30 seconds of continued connection after Delta enters the background.
Delta’s complete release history is documented in its official release notes.
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How DS online play works
Nintendo discontinued the original Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service on May 20, 2014. Delta cannot connect to those Nintendo-operated servers. Its online feature redirects compatible games to independent replacement services.
The default server choices listed by Delta are:
| Service | DNS address |
|---|---|
| Wiimmfi | 167.235.229.36 |
| WiiLink WFC | 5.161.56.11 |
| AltWFC | 172.104.88.237 |
Delta also allows a custom DNS. These services are community-operated, not Nintendo infrastructure, so availability, game support, matchmaking, trading, rankings, downloadable content, and server rules can vary.
Which games can work?
The relevant requirement is a Nintendo DS game with an online mode built for the original Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. Examples include:
- Mario Kart DS.
- Pokémon DS games with WFC-based battling or trading features.
- Animal Crossing: Wild World.
- Other titles that use Nintendo WFC for online functionality.
These are examples, not guarantees. Compatibility can depend on the exact game and mode, region, server, game-image patching, save data, and current community-server support. “Delta supports DS online multiplayer” should not be read as “every DS title has multiplayer.”
Online play is not the same as local wireless
Delta 1.7 specifically adds WFC-based online play. That is different from:
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- Get up to 19 hours continuous gameplay on one charge
- Ready to take on the world? With Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, you can connect wirelessly, chat with friends while you play and compete with Nintendo DS owners across the globe. All you need to play is a Nintendo DS and a Wi-Fi-ready game
- Twin ultra bright LCD screens that combine crisp, punchy colors, along with touch-screen technology on the lower screen
- Powerful dual processors bring 3D graphics to life with lightning-fast rendering
- Local wireless multiplayer: nearby DS systems communicating directly.
- Download Play: one DS sending a session or demo to another system.
- GBA connectivity: link-cable or wireless-adapter features involving Game Boy Advance software.
The update does not promise universal local wireless, Download Play, GBA link functionality, or every Pokémon trading and transfer workflow.
Do both players need Delta?
Not necessarily. Because the feature uses replacement servers, participants may potentially connect using another Delta installation, a compatible DS emulator, or a physical Nintendo DS-family system configured for the same service.
That is a compatibility possibility rather than a universal guarantee. Both players still need compatible software and networking configurations, and the particular game, server, region, patch, and save data may affect whether a session works. It is more accurate to describe this as server-based compatibility than as “Delta-to-Delta multiplayer.”
How to enable Nintendo DS online play in Delta
- Open a Nintendo WFC-compatible DS game in Delta.
- Enter the game’s online feature.
- When Delta displays the server prompt, tap Choose Server.
- Select Wiimmfi, WiiLink WFC, AltWFC, or enter a custom DNS.
- Tap Done.
- Restart the game when Delta asks you to.
- Open the game’s Nintendo WFC settings and erase the stored WFC configuration if Delta instructs you to. Depending on the game, this may appear under Options as Erase Nintendo WFC Configuration.
- Reconnect using the selected replacement server.
You can change the server later at Delta Settings → Core Settings (Nintendo DS) → WFC Server. Switching services may require registering new friend codes.
What to do when the connection fails
- Check the selected server: Go to Delta Settings → Core Settings (Nintendo DS) → WFC Server and confirm that a server or custom DNS is configured.
- Turn off VPNs and proxies: Delta warns that they can cause connection problems or temporary bans from services such as Wiimmfi.
- Try cellular data or a hotspot: This can help when devices on the same Wi-Fi network cannot connect to one another.
- Erase the game’s WFC configuration: Re-enter the game’s Wi-Fi settings and configure the replacement service again.
- Consider BIOS files only as a last resort: If BIOS files are installed, Delta’s troubleshooting guidance suggests considering removal of
bios7.bin,bios9.bin, andfirmware.bin.
Removing those BIOS files has a significant trade-off: the DS home screen and dual-slot GBA functionality will no longer be available. It should not be the first fix.
Replacement servers can also experience downtime, rate limits, bans, game-specific incompatibilities, or requirements for patched game images and particular settings. Neither Nintendo nor Delta operates these services.
Other notable Delta 1.7 changes
Updated N64 graphics
Delta 1.7 changed the N64 renderer to OpenGL ES 3.0 by default, addressing common graphical problems such as black textures. OpenGL ES 2.0 remained available on a per-game basis. The update also added custom resolutions through the Mupen64Plus configuration file and custom texture packs in the hires_texture directory.
Screenshots
The pause menu gained a screenshot option, and screenshots could be assigned to controller buttons or exposed as a screenshot input for controller skins. Delta also added upscaled screenshots intended to look sharper in Photos, along with an experimental dedicated “Delta Screenshots” album.
Controller skins and per-game settings
Users can choose a controller skin when a physical controller is connected, either globally or for an individual game. The game context menu also gained settings for the preferred game skin, N64 OpenGL ES 3.0 behavior, and the inserted GBA game used with DS titles.
Controller-case support
Controller skins gained menuInsets support, allowing the pause menu to be repositioned for hardware cases such as GAMEBABY and PlayCase.
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RetroAchievements and Ask Lu
RetroAchievements support arrived experimentally for NES, SNES, and N64 games, including account login and optional Hardcore mode. The release notes did not present it as support for every Delta system. “Ask Lu” was also an experimental, optional AI assistant intended to provide information about the current game; it was not a core requirement for emulation or online play.
Do you need Patreon or AltStore?
No—not simply to use the public Delta 1.7 DS online feature. Delta 1.6.5 had introduced DS online multiplayer as a Patreon feature, but the 1.7 release made it part of the general release.
The Delta app is listed as free on the U.S. App Store. Patreon-related purchases and benefits are separate and may include items such as alternate app icons, experimental features, or beta access. Delta’s Patreon access guide explains how access can be linked to the App Store version; beta builds are distributed through AltStore PAL or AltStore Classic.
AltStore may be relevant if Delta is unavailable through the reader’s normal App Store route or if beta access is required. AltStore’s official site lists AltStore PAL availability in the European Union, Japan, and Brazil, while AltStore Classic serves broader sideloading use cases. Availability and Apple account requirements vary by region.
Delta 1.7 versus the current release
Delta 1.7 launched on March 31, 2025. Follow-up versions were listed as version 1.7.1 on April 8, 1.7.2 on May 7, and 1.7.3 on October 23, 2025. The U.S. App Store listing shows a 1.7.3s build dated November 11, 2025.
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- Dual Screens open up new possibilities - use the touch screen as an inventory reference for role-playing games, to view maps for your favorite strategy game, or see racing action from two perspectives at once
- Navigate menus or access inventory items simply by touching the screen with stylus or fingertip; tough film over touchscreen protects it
- Advanced 3D graphics engine and 16-channel audio, for graphics and Sound that are superior to other portable game systems
- All-new PictoChat feature allows DS users to write messages with an on-screen Keyboard or the stylus and send them wirelessly
- Built-in Microphone port for voice control of games, or for voice chat with other DS players
If you are installing Delta now, use the newest official build available for your device rather than searching specifically for 1.7. The important historical distinction is that 1.7 introduced the WFC-based DS online feature; later builds represent the current distribution line documented by Delta and Apple.
Who should use Delta?
Delta is a strong fit for iPhone and iPad users who want a native interface, save states, controller support, and emulation across Nintendo DS, NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, and Game Boy Advance systems. It is also one of the simpler ways to try WFC-compatible DS online modes on Apple devices.
Choose a physical DS if original-hardware behavior is the priority. Consider another DS emulator if a particular game or networking configuration is incompatible with Delta. Neither option restores Nintendo’s original WFC service, and community-server support can change over time.
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Quick Recap
Sources
- Delta release notes
- Delta online multiplayer guide
- Nintendo’s WFC discontinuation notice
- Delta on the U.S. App Store
- AltStore
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