Wii U: Difference between revisions

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{{System-Infobox
{{system infobox
|Image=[[File:Wii u white.jpg|300px]]<br>'''Wii U''' system (right) and its GamePad controller.
|image=[[File:Wii U Console.png|300px]]<br>Wii U system (right) and its GamePad controller (left)
|Rel={{releasedate|USA|November 18, 2012|Europe|November 30, 2012|Australia|November 30, 2012<ref>[http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=news]</ref>|Japan|December 8, 2012<ref name="WiiU">[http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=185310]</ref>}}
|generation=Eighth
|Dis=N/A
|release={{flag list|USA|November 18, 2012|Canada|November 18, 2012<ref>{{cite|url=www.straight.com/life/nintendo-wii-u-console-set-november-18-release-canada|author=Kyllo, Blaine|title=Nintendo Wii U console set for November 18 release in Canada|date=September 13, 2012|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>|Mexico|November 29, 2012|South Africa|November 29, 2012|Europe|November 30, 2012|Australia|November 30, 2012<ref>[http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=news]</ref>{{dead link}}{{better source}}|Japan|December 8, 2012<ref name="WiiU">{{cite|author=rawmeatcowboy|date=September 13, 2012|url=gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=185310|title=JAPAN - WII U NINTENDO DIRECT #1 LIVE STREAM/BLOG|publisher=GoNintendo|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>|Chile|December 10, 2012<ref>{{cite|url=www.emol.com/noticias/tecnologia/2012/11/29/572013/nintendo-presenta-su-nueva-consola-wii-u-en-chile.html|author=Calomino, Cesar|title=Nintendo presenta su nueva consola Wii U en Chile|language=es-419|publisher=Emol|accessdate=May 29, 2024|date=November 29, 2012}}</ref>|Brazil|November 26, 2013<ref>{{cite|language=pt-br|url=www.uol.com.br/start/ultimas-noticias/2013/11/07/mais-caro-do-mundo-wii-u-sai-no-brasil-por-r-1899-em-2611.htm|title=Mais caro do mundo, Wii U sai no Brasil por R$ 1.899 em 26/11|date=November 7, 2013|author=Azevedo, Théo|publisher=UOL Start|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>}}
|Pre=[[Wii]]
|discontinued={{flag list|Europe|October 1, 2016<ref>{{cite|author=SSF1991|date=September 23, 2016|url=mynintendonews.com/2016/09/23/europe-retailers-will-no-longer-be-able-to-order-wii-u-consoles-after-october-1st|title=Europe: Retailers Will No Longer Be Able To Order Wii U Consoles After October 1st|publisher=My Nintendo News|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>|USA|November 10, 2016<ref>{{cite|author=Ashcraft, Brian|date=November 10, 2016|url=kotaku.com/nintendo-announces-wii-u-production-is-ending-1788802568|title=In Japan, Nintendo Announces Wii U Production Is Ending|publisher=Kotaku|language=en|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>|Australia|November 14, 2016<ref>{{cite|author=Kinsley, John|date=November 14, 2016|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20161115055132/http://nintendotoday.com/new-wii-u-bundle-released-in-australia|title=New Wii U bundle released in Australia|publisher=NintendoToday|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>|Japan|January 31, 2017<ref>{{cite|author=Ashcraft, Brian|date=January 31, 2017|url=kotaku.com/wii-u-production-has-officially-ended-for-japan-1791813878|title=Wii U Production Has Officially Ended For Japan|publisher=Kotaku|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>}}
|Suc=N/A
|predecessor=[[Wii]]
|successor=[[Nintendo Switch]]
|ratings=
|ratings=
}}
}}
{{LLQuote|How U Will Play Next|Advertisement slogan for the Wii U}}
{{quote|How U Will Play Next|Advertisement slogan for the Wii U}}
[[File:Wii U Logo.svg|left|150px]]
The '''Wii U''' is [[Nintendo]]'s latest home console and the successor to the [[Wii]]. It was announced during Nintendo's conference at [[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011|E3 2011]]. The main feature of the Wii U is its controller, the GamePad, which has a touch screen, camera, buttons and other new features. According to [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]], the Wii U was never shown to Nintendo's software development team prior to its unveiling at E3 2011. The Wii U was the third Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan, the other two being the [[Wii]] and [[Nintendo DS]].


The game console is similar in appearance to the Wii, except with rounder sides, a slot to insert 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs as well as the Wii's DVD optical discs, and is also much longer. The console can play high-definition games at 720p and 1080p, the first of Nintendo's consoles to do so. The console itself is approximately 1.8 inches tall, 6.8 inches wide, and 10.5 inches long. Since it is placed on its side, it slightly resembles the [[Wii#Wii Family Edition|Wii Family Edition]].
[[File:Wii U Logo.svg|left|100px]]
The '''{{wp|Wii U}}''' is an eighth-generation home video game console produced by [[Nintendo]] as the successor to the [[Wii]]. It is Nintendo's first home console since the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] to share a portion of its name with its predecessor. During development, the console was codenamed "Project Café." It was announced during Nintendo's conference at {{wp|E3 2011}}. The main feature of the Wii U is its controller, the [[#Wii U GamePad|Wii U GamePad]], which has a touch screen, a camera, a microphone, and other features. According to [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]], the Wii U was never shown to Nintendo's software development team prior to its unveiling at E3 2011. With the name "Wii" originating from the word "we," the "U" ("you") was added to reflect the console's intended appeal to single-player play as well as multiplayer. It is the home console counterpart of the [[Nintendo 3DS]].


The Wii U supports all of the controllers (and respective peripherals) used with the Wii: the [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]], the [[Wii#Nunchuk|Nunchuk]] controller, the [[Wii#Wii Remote Plus|Wii Remote Plus]], the [[Wii#Wii Classic Controller|Classic Controller]], the Classic Controller Pro, and the [[Wii#Wii Balance Board|Wii Balance Board]]. However, it is not compatible with the [[Nintendo GameCube]] hardware or software, unlike the Wii.<ref>http://kotaku.com/5810081/farewell-gamecube-the-wii-u-doesnt-play-you</ref> Instead, players may have the option of downloading [[Nintendo GameCube]] games on the Wii U for the future date, but it is not known if other consoles will be represented.<ref>http://mynintendonews.com/2011/07/20/nintendo-wii-u-gamecube-games-coming-to-wii-u-via-wiiware/</ref>
The Wii U was released in the United States on November 18, 2012; in Europe and Australia on November 30, 2012; and in Japan on December 8, 2012. The Wii U was the third Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan, the other two being the Wii and the original [[Nintendo DS]]. It is also the first Nintendo home console since the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] to be released before its competitors' consoles of the same generation were announced.


Currently, the Wii U has support for two GamePads, thus leading to the possibility of six-player games if four players using the Wii Remote control are included. Like Nintendo's previous home consoles, it won't play DVDs or Blu-ray discs.<ref>http://mashable.com/2011/06/15/nintendo-says-wii-u-wont-play-dvds-or-blu-ray-discs/</ref> The console will have internal flash memory, as well as the option to expand its memory using either an SD memory card or an external USB hard disk drive. Games will also be digitally downloaded from the console<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/120427/05.html]</ref>. This is the first Nintendo home console since the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] to share a portion of its name with its predecessor.
In contrast to the Wii, the Wii U was not very successful when compared to its contemporaries, {{wp|Sony}}'s {{wp|PlayStation 4}} and {{wp|Microsoft}}'s {{wp|Xbox One}}. It was initially expected to sell 100 million units;<ref>{{cite|url=www.gamesindustry.biz/wii-u-was-expected-to-sell-100-million-units|title=Wii U was expected to sell 100 million units|author=Brightman, James|date=July 7, 2016|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref> however, it managed to sell only 13.56 million units worldwide,<ref>{{cite|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html|title=IR Information : Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units|publisher=Nintendo|language=en|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref> making it Nintendo's least successful home console, a record previously held by the [[Nintendo GameCube]]. Because of this, it was discontinued in Europe on October 1, 2016; in North America on November 10, 2016; in Australia on November 14, 2016; and in Japan on January 31, 2017, only about four years after the console's initial release. The Wii U's lifetime sales were outsold in only nine months by its successor, the [[Nintendo Switch]].<ref>{{cite|url=www.bbc.com/news/technology-42885803|title=Nintendo Switch overtakes the Wii U|date=January 31, 2018|publisher=BBC|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite|url=hypebeast.com/2019/10/nintendo-switch-passes-wii-u-lifetime-sales|title=Nintendo Switch Passes Lifetime Worldwide Sales of Wii U (UPDATE)|date=October 19, 2019|author=Rouse, Isaac|publisher=Hypebeast|accessdate=May 29, 2024|language=en}}</ref> Commonly cited reasons for the Wii U's weak sales include its confusing marketing, complicated GamePad, few third-party titles (many being canceled and/or unreleased), high initial pricing, and lack of Blu-ray, DVD, and CD playback.<ref>{{cite|url=www.lifewire.com/reasons-the-wii-u-is-a-failure-2498588|title=10 Reasons the Wii U Failed|author=Herold, Charles|date=January 24, 2020|publisher=Lifewire|accessdate=May 29, 2024|language=en}}</ref> However, many first-party Wii U titles were [[Reissue|ported]] to the Nintendo Switch.
 
==Features==
The Wii U console resembles the Wii, except it is much longer with rounder sides. It has a slot to insert 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs based on the Blu-ray format, as well as the Wii's optical discs based on the DVD format. The console can play high-definition games at 720p and 1080p. The console itself is approximately 4.6 cm tall, 17.3 cm wide, and 26.7 cm long. When placed horizontally, it slightly resembles the [[Wii#Wii Family Edition|Wii Family Edition]]. It features {{wp|IBM}} microprocessor technology inside.
 
The Wii U supports all the controllers (and respective peripherals) used with the Wii: the [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]], the [[Wii#Nunchuk|Nunchuk]] controller, the [[Wii#Wii Remote Plus|Wii Remote Plus]], the [[Wii#Wii Classic Controller|Classic Controller]], the Classic Controller Pro, and the [[Wii#Wii Balance Board|Wii Balance Board]]. It is compatible with the Wii hardware and software; similar to the Wii Family Edition and [[Wii#Wii mini|Wii Mini]], however, it is incompatible with the [[Nintendo GameCube]] hardware or software.<ref>{{cite|title=Farewell, GameCube, the Wii U Doesn't Play You|url=kotaku.com/nintendo-3ds-online-wii-u-new-switch-games-1850899272|author=Fahey, Mike|date=June 8, 2011|publisher=Kotaku|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref> While the disc drive contains grips to load 8 cm GameCube discs, it will eject them almost immediately after insertion. The Wii U is the first home Nintendo console whose controllers' control sticks can be pressed down to act as extra buttons; although, the only ''Super Mario'' games that use these features are ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'', in which pressing the right stick resets the camera angle, and ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' in which it is used to change the hand on the TV Screen in edit mode. It is also the first home Nintendo console whose controllers include perfectly circular analog stick movement.
 
The Wii U supports up to eight-player local play, as seen in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''. It was intended to be able to support two GamePads, but this was scrapped during development. The console has an internal flash memory, holding 8 GB for the standard set, and 32 GB for the deluxe set. Additionally, the Wii U has the option to expand its memory by using an external USB hard disk drive or USB stick. If the Wii U detects two USB storage devices connected to it, it will launch Data Management so that players can transfer data between the devices, and the Wii U will refuse to leave Data Management until the system has restarted with one storage device connected. The Wii U is the first Nintendo console to use industry-standardized byte units for measuring storage as earlier Nintendo consoles had used non-standardized units like "blocks" and "pages".
 
However, even though the Wii U has an {{wp|SD Card}} slot that supports cards up to 32 GB (SDHC), SD cards cannot be used for Wii U data storage, meaning that Wii U game data cannot be transferred onto other Wii U systems on SD cards. Only ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' screenshots, [[Mii]] storage (including photos from the Wii U version of Mii Maker), and Wii Menu data storage support SD cards.
 
Until its termination on April 8, 2024, the Wii U allowed players to connect to the internet using [[Nintendo Network]], the successor to [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]], via a wireless connection or using the Wii LAN Adapter.


==Peripherals==
==Peripherals==
===Wii U GamePad===
===Wii U GamePad===
[[File:Blackcontroller big.png|250px|thumb|Detail of the Wii U GamePad.]]
[[File:Wii U GamePad Black.png|250px|thumb|Detail of the Wii U GamePad]]
The '''Wii U GamePad''' is the main controller of the Wii U console. The controller has a 6.2 inch touch screen in the center with the traditional {{button|Pad}} to the left of the screen and the {{button|A}}, {{button|B}}, {{button|Y}}, and {{button|X}} buttons to the right. The GamePad has two traditional {{button|Stick}}, one on each side of the screen and over the traditional buttons. The sticks are slightly displaced nearer to the edges of the controller and are clickable. The {{button|L}} and {{button|R}} buttons are located behind the GamePad, as are the {{button|wii|CCZL}} and {{button|wii|CCZR}} buttons. Below the screen is the {{button|wiiu|Home}} button, situated between the microphone aperture and the battery light, and next to the light there is the TV button. The {{button|wii|-}} select button and {{button|wii|+}} start button are found below the ABYX buttons. The {{button|wii|Power}} button is directly below the screen right to the TV button. The controller also has a {{button|wiiu|NFC}} [[wikipedia:Near Field Communication|NFC]] sensor, able to read objects or codes near to the controller. It can be used with a stylus and features a frontal camera, a microphone, a stereo speaker, sensor strip, rumble system, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, rechargeable battery and built-in flash memory to store data. <ref>[http://wiiublog.com/wii-u-controller-has-built-in-flash-memory-and-a-bunch-of-other-things-we-already-knew-about/ Wii U's North American patent sheet]</ref> Using the controller, one can browse the internet, send videos, flip channels, take screenshots, and connect to Miiverse while playing any game. It can also be used as universal TV control. Video chat is also included but cannot be executed while playing. Games for this console can be played on the TV screen, the controller screen, or a combination of both,<ref>http://e3.nintendo.com/hw/#/introduction</ref> known as [[wikipedia:Asymmetry#Other uses|asymmetric gameplay]]. The controller cannot be used to play Wii games.
The '''Wii U GamePad''', or simply the '''GamePad''', is the main controller of the Wii U console. The GamePad has a 6.2-inch (15.7-cm) 854x480px resistive touchscreen in the center, and it is the first ever controller for a home video game console to have this feature. Its button layout is somewhat similar to that of the [[Nintendo 3DS]], having the traditional {{button|Stick}} to the left of the screen and the {{button|wiiu|A}}, {{button|wiiu|B}}, {{button|wiiu|Y}}, and {{button|wiiu|X}} buttons to the right. The GamePad has two traditional {{button|Stick}}, one on each side of the screen and over the traditional buttons. The sticks are slightly displaced nearer to the edges of the controller and are clickable. The {{button|wiiu|L}} and {{button|wiiu|R}} buttons are located behind the GamePad, as are the {{button|wiiu|ZL}} and {{button|wiiu|ZR}} buttons. Below the screen is the {{button|wiiu|Home}} button, situated between the microphone aperture and the battery light, and next to the light is the {{button|wiiu|TV}} button. The {{button|wiiu|minus}} select button and {{button|wiiu|plus}} start button are found below the {{button|wiiu|A}}{{button|wiiu|B}}{{button|wiiu|Y}}{{button|wiiu|X}} buttons. The {{button|wiiu|Power}} button is directly below the screen right to the TV button. The controller also has a {{button|wiiu|NFC}} {{wp|Near-field communication|NFC}} sensor, able to read objects or codes near to the controller. The GamePad can be used with a stylus and features a frontal camera, a microphone, a stereo speaker, a sensor strip, a rumble system, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a rechargeable battery, and a built-in flash memory to store data. Using the controller, one can browse the internet, send videos, flip channels, take screenshots, and connect to Miiverse while playing any game. It can also be used as universal TV control. Video chat is also included but cannot be executed while playing. Games for this console can be played on the TV screen, the controller screen, or a combination of both, known as {{wp|multiplayer video game#Asymmetrical gameplay|asymmetrical gameplay}}. The controller cannot be used to play Wii games, although its sensor can be used for playing Wii games and its screen can be used to display them.
 
A publicly revealed prototype of the GamePad was shown as having several differences from the one that was later released: The {{button|wiiu|+}} and {{button|wiiu|-}} were to the sides of the {{button|wiiu|home}} button (They were later moved to the lower right), the analog sticks used thicker versions of the Nintendo 3DS stick rather than regular sticks, the microphone was to the right of the GamePad instead of to the left, and the NFC logo and the {{button|wiiu|TV}} button had not yet been added.


===Wii U Pro Controller===
===Wii U Pro Controller===
[[File:Wii-U-Pro-Controller.jpg|thumb|left|220px|A Black Wii U Pro Controller]]
[[File:Wii U Pro Controller White.png|thumb|right|200px]]
The '''Wii U Pro Controller''' is an alternate peripheral for the Wii U console. It was introduced by [[Satoru Iwata]] in a ''Nintendo Direct'' video on June 3, 2012. The Wii U Pro Controller is somewhat similar to the Wii's Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro by the frontal button layout and that it has grips. However, the {{button|A}}, {{button|B}}, {{button|Y}}, {{button|X}}, and the {{button|Pad}} are found below the {{button|Stick}}, also clickable. The player's number's lights from the Wii Remote, and the {{button|wii|Power}}, have been added in the center of the controller, as it's wireless and it is battery-powered. The Wii U Pro Controller is also bulkier in appearance than the Wii's wired controllers, and the {{button|wii|ZL}} and {{button|wii|ZR}} are arranged differently as actual trigger buttons, like how they were arranged on the Classic Controller Pro, though they are now pressure sensitive. The control shares the same battery as 3DS's and can last working for 80 hours approximately.<ref>[http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=190115 Wii U Pro Controller and 3DS share the same battery]</ref> Its appearance overall resembles the [[Wii#Classic Controller Pro|Classic Controller Pro]] and in turn, the [[wikipedia:Xbox 360 Controller|Xbox 360's controllers]]. As with the Wii U GamePad, the pro controller cannot be used to play Wii Games.
The '''Wii U Pro Controller''' is an alternate peripheral for the Wii U console. Introduced by [[Satoru Iwata]] in a ''Nintendo Direct'' video on June 3, 2012, the Wii U Pro Controller is similar to the Wii's Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro and the GameCube Controller in its frontal button layout and the presence of grips, with all inputs functioning identically to their GamePad equivalents. Unlike previous alternate controllers, however, the {{button|wiiu|A}}, {{button|wiiu|B}}, {{button|wiiu|Y}}, {{button|wiiu|X}}, and the {{button|wiiu|Pad}} are all found below the {{button|Stick}}; this is the only thing besides the button names that sets its layout apart from that of the Microsoft {{wp|Xbox 360 controller}}. The player number lights from the Wii Remote and the {{button|wiiu|Power}}, have been added in the center of the controller, as it is wireless and battery-powered. The Wii U Pro Controller is also slightly bulkier than the Wii's wired controllers, and the {{button|wiiu|ZL}} and {{button|wiiu|ZR}} are arranged differently as actual trigger buttons as on the GamePad, closest to how they were arranged on the Classic Controller Pro. When using it in menus, the left {{button|Stick}} controls the pointer. Like the Wii U GamePad, the Pro Controller is incompatible with Wii games, even those that use the Wii Classic Controller (e.g. ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'').
{{br}}
 
===GameCube Controller Adapter===
[[File:Wii U GameCube Adapter 1.jpg|thumb|200px]]
The '''GameCube Controller Adapter''' is a peripheral allowing use of [[Nintendo GameCube]] controllers for compatible Wii U games. It was announced on May 29, 2014 during a video published by Nintendo<ref>{{cite|deadlink=y|archive=web.archive.org/web/20140529180545/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMQySEjyCUw&gl=US&hl=en|title=Play Nintendo - Super Smash Bros. Invitational @ E3 2014|publisher=YouTube|author=Nintendo|accessdate=May 29, 2024|language=en}}</ref> overviewing the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Invitational at E3 2014, and has been confirmed to be released during the 2014 holiday season.<ref>{{cite|url=www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/10/e3-2014-gamecube-adapter-controller-and-smash-bundle-pricing-revealed|title=E3 2014: GameCube Adapter, Controller, and Smash Bundle Pricing Revealed|author=Otero, Jose|date=June 10, 2014|publusher=IGN|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref> It has four ports for GameCube controllers, and plugs into the Wii U through two USB ports; one is for power, while the other is for receiving and sending input. It launched alongside ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', in addition to a bundle that features the game, the adapter, and a ''Super Smash Bros.''-themed GameCube controller. ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' became the only Wii U game to support the GameCube Controller Adapter. As of system version 4.0.0, the GameCube adapter is compatible with the [[Nintendo Switch]] as well.
{{br|left}}
{{br|left}}


== Wii Peripherals ==
===amiibo===
''See also: [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]], [[Wii#Wii Balance Board|Wii Balance Board]], [[Wii#Wii Wheel|Wii Wheel]] and [[Wii#Wii Zapper|Wii Zapper]].''
[[File:Amiibo - Wii U GamePad black.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An amiibo scanning on the Wii U GamePad]]
[[File:Amiiboset.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Several ''Super Smash Bros.'' amiibo figurines]]
{{main|amiibo}}
'''amiibo''' is a line of figurines usable in compatible Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles. By placing a figure on the Wii U GamePad's {{button|wiiu|NFC}}, the amiibo is able to interact with the game. The product line launched on November 21, 2014, with ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' as the first title to be compatible with the line. amiibo functionality is also featured in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' as of version 3.0, and in ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'', ''[[Mario Party 10]]'', ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', and ''[[Super Mario Maker]]''. Certain amiibo figures are also compatible with multiple games (e.g. the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Mario is compatible with ''Mario Kart 8'' and ''Mario Party 10'', having the amiibo functionality programmed for those games<ref>{{cite|url=www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/12/e3-2014-nintendo-on-amiibo-smash-bros-and-custom-figurines|title=E3 2014: Nintendo on Amiibo, Smash Bros., and Custom Figurines|publisher=IGN|language=en|date=June 12, 2014|author=Otero, Jose|accessdate=May 29, 2024}}</ref>).
{{br}}


=== Wii Remote, Wii Remote Plus & Nunchuck ===
===Wii peripherals===
Both types of controllers will make a full return in almost every Wii U game, acting as the common second controller for multiplayer action. In certain titles, it can also be used instead of the GamePad. ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'', for example, demonstrates how the Wii Remotes act as the second controllers moving Mario and co. while the player with the GamePad places [[Boost Mode|platforms to help or hinder the players]]. Other titles such as ''[[pikipedia:Pikmin 3|Pikmin 3]]'' can be completed only using the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, without the need for the GamePad.
{{main|Wii#Peripherals}}
In addition to being compatible with Wii software, the Wii U is also compatible with most Wii controllers and accessories.


=== Wii Balance Board ===
===Nintendo 3DS===
The Wii Balance Board will be reusable for upcoming Wii U titles, ''[[wikipedia:Wii Fit U|Wii Fit U]]'' in particular, with no added features.
{{main|Nintendo 3DS}}
Systems in the Nintendo 3DS family can be used as controllers in certain Wii U games. ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' is an example of a game that can use this feature.


=== Wii Wheel ===
==''Super Mario''-related software==
It has been confirmed that the Wii Wheel will somehow be used in upcoming unreleased Wii U games. The Wheel, originally bundled with ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', has no added features making it usable by current owners of the device.
===WaraWara Plaza===
[[File:Wii U WaraWara Plaza.jpg|200px|thumb|WaraWara Plaza]]
WaraWara Plaza (from the Japanese term 「わらわら」 ''warawara'', meaning "bustling" in English) is the main menu for Wii U. This feature allows players to see Miis on-screen gathering around accessible tiles. The Miis represent all the player's friends, familiars, and miscellaneous individuals who are using the service, and the tiles they are surrounding represent where they are communicating in real time. Because the tiles were integrated with Miiverse, the user could explore the topics on every tile and look up what games their friends were playing. WaraWara Plaza also offers chat, video conference, and information sharing, and it can be quickly accessed even when playing a game by pressing the {{button|wiiu|Home}} button. The WaraWara Plaza had a different design shown in Nintendo Direct's pre-E3 video, as it featured some game icons in the middle of the plaza. For users without a Nintendo Network ID or with Miiverse banned by Parental Controls, and following Miiverse's termination, WaraWara Plaza instead shows the pre-installed apps on the Wii U such as the Nintendo eShop and the System Settings.


=== Wii Zapper ===
===Miiverse===
Like all the other Wii-originated peripherals, the Wii Zapper will also be utilized in certain games. While no release titles or announcements have appeared to use this accessory extensively, a tech demo called [[nwiki:Shoot Mii|Shoot Mii]] uses the Zapper, however in conjunction with the GamePad. The latter is placed on to the gun, acting as a periscope, although for this to work a holder is needed to attach the Pad to the peripheral. How this holder will be distributed is currently unknown.
{{main|Miiverse}}
{{br|left}}
[[File:Miiverse.svg|150px|left]]
Miiverse was a social networking service designed for players to share ideas and comments on the games they are playing. Players could make posts in game communities where others could respond to them, as well as follow other users and add friends. First released on the Wii U and the Internet, Miiverse was subsequently released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]], smartphones, computers, etc.


==Software==
On November 7th, 2017, at 10:00 PM PST, the Miiverse service was discontinued.
===WaraWara Plaza===
[[File:Miiverse.jpg|200px|thumb|right|WaraWara Plaza]]
WaraWara Plaza (''bustling plaza'', in English) is the main menu for Wii U. This feature allows players to see amount of Miis on screen gathering around accessible tiles. The Miis represent all the player's friends, familiars and miscellaneous individuals that are using the service, and the tiles they are surrounding represent where they are communicating in real time. Integrated with Miiverse, the user can explore the topics on every tile and look up what games their friends are playing. WaraWara Plaza also offers chat, video conference and information sharing, and it can be quickly accessed even when playing a game by pressing the {{button|wiiu|Home}} button. The name comes from the Japanese word 'warawara', onomatopoeia meaning 'bustling'.


====Miiverse====
===Nintendo eShop===
{{main|Miiverse}}  
{{main|Nintendo eShop}}
Miiverse is the inbuilt Wii U social network which is integrated with WaraWara Plaza to bring people together to share the ideas and comments on the games their playing. It allows the user to also help others in the same way he or she can receive help from them. Miiverse is also set to become an application for the [[Nintendo 3DS]], smartphones, PCs and tablets later on in the year, allowing the player to answer questions and receive tips even when on the go. The WaraWara Plaza had a different design shown in Nintendo Direct's Pre E3 Announcment as it featured some game icons in the middle of the Plaza.
[[File:Nintendo eShop newlogo.png|left|175px]]
Nintendo's current online shop service, first released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]], is also present on Wii U. The Nintendo eShop was first made available on the system through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection. With the eShop, users can download exclusive Wii U software, demos, and videos, as well as view information on upcoming games, and some Wii titles are available as digital downloads. [[Virtual Console]] games for [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]], [[Nintendo 64]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and [[Nintendo DS]] were also available. These games can be played on the Wii U GamePad via Off-TV Play; games transferred over from a Wii console do not support Off-TV Play nor do they support other Wii U Virtual Console features, but they can be upgraded to Wii U Virtual Console games for a discounted price.


===Wii U Chat===
With the discontinuation of digital purchases for Wii U in March 2023, it is no longer possible to digitally buy games and downloadable content, though they can still be downloaded by those who purchased them when they were available.
[[File:Wii u chat.png|left|150px]]
{{br}}
Wii U Chat is an inbuilt application allowing users to communicate in real-time with other Wii U owners using the inner camera of the Wii U GamePad. Apart from this, it also allows the user to draw designs on the touchscreen so they appear on the face of the person you're conversing with. The video chat can be displayed on both the television screen and the GamePad, meaning programs can still be watched while talking to the person. Wii U Chat in itself confirms that applications such as [[wikipedia:Skype|Skype]] will not be seen on Wii U.


Wii U Chat can only be received through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection.
===Wii Menu===
[[File:Wii Wiiutransfertool.png|150px|right|thumb|The Wii app for the Wii to Wii U system transfer.]]
The Wii Menu is a built in section on the Wii U Menu. It takes players to a variation of the original Wii Menu from the Wii so they can play Wii, Virtual Console, and [[WiiWare]] games. It features support for all games in the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]]. Prior to its closure, the Wii Shop Channel was even available for consumers to purchase downloadable games. The Wii to Wii U System Transfer allowed for users to transfer the data from a Wii to the Wii U.


===Nintendo Network===
On January 14, 2015, Nintendo began digitally re-releasing Wii games on the Nintendo eShop that can be started directly from the Wii U Menu, bypassing the Wii Menu. Unlike the disc-based games, the Wii U Pro Controller and Wii U GamePad can be used in any games that support the classic controller. However, a Wii Remote is still required to start up the game. Digital Wii titles also include a digital version of the original manual like Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 64 VC games.
{{main|Nintendo Network}}
Nintendo's newly refined online service is put to use on certain Wii U games. Software with the service will feature the logo on the top right corner of the game box.
{{br}}
{{br}}


===Nintendo eShop===
==Appearances in the ''Super Mario'' franchise==
Nintendo's latest online shop, first released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]], is also present on Wii U. While the download of exclusive Wii U software is possible, [[Virtual Console]] games for NES and SNES are also expected to be sold as well. Rumors also state that [[GameCube]] games will also be put on sale.
===''Game & Wario''===
 
A controller bearing a striking resemblance to the Wii U GamePad appears in several cutscenes of this game.
Nintendo eShop can only be received through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection.


===Nintendo TVii===
===''Mario Party 10''===
[[File:TVii logo.png|left|200px]]
The icon for Bowser Party pictures [[Bowser]] holding a black Wii U GamePad in international versions and a white Wii U GamePad in the Japanese version, with [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Peach]], and [[Yoshi]] standing on it. A similar image is used in promotional artwork, including the boxart.
A new television based service by Nintendo will debut on the Wii U. Together with [[wikipedia:Hulu Plus|Hulu Plus]], [[wikipedia:Netflix|Netflix]], [[wikipedia:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Instant Video]] and [[wikipedia:YouTube|YouTube]], Nintendo TVii ''(pronounced Nintendo TVee)'', collects and collaborates these services so they can be enjoyed on one software. This service is free although the subscriptions for Netflix, Hulu and Amazon are not. Videos on TVii can be playable on both the television screen and the GamePad. It also provides instant information from [[wikipedia:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]] and [[wikipedia:IMDb|IMDb]] about the film or program the users are currently watching. Control over the user's DVR is also possible via the service.


Nintendo TVii can only be received through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection.
===''Yoshi's Woolly World''===
{{br}}
Although the Wii U itself does not appear in this game, [[List of Yoshi designs in Yoshi's Woolly World#Wii U Deluxe Yoshi|Wii U Deluxe Yoshi]] is an unlockable Yoshi design based on the Wii U's Deluxe edition.
===Wii Menu===
The [[Wii]] Menu is a built in section on the Wii U Menu. It takes players to the Wii Menu from the Wii so they can play Virtual Console Games, original Wii and [[WiiWare]] games. There is a Wii Shop Channel where people can buy downloadable games or download the Wii to Wii U System Transfer to transfer the data from the Wii to the Wii U. The Wii Menu does everything the Wii can do with the exception of loading [[Nintendo Gamecube|Gamecube]] games.


==Games==
===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
===Released Games===
Although the Wii U itself does not appear in ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', a design on the vehicle-building machine references the Wii U GamePad's functionality as a horn in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]''.
==== Dedicated ''Mario'' Series Installments ====
*''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''


==== Other Installments with ''Mario'' References ====
==''Super Mario''-related games==
===Physical and digital games===
*''[[Nintendo Land]]''
*''[[Nintendo Land]]''
*''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
*''[[Game & Wario]]''
*''[[New Super Luigi U]]''
*''[[New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U]]''
*''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]''
*''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''
*''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''
*''[[NES Remix Pack]]''
*''[[Mario Kart 8]]''
*''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''
*''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]''
*''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]'' (digital only outside Japan; game cases with download codes sold in Europe)
*''[[Mario Party 10]]''
*''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]''
*''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers]]''
*''[[Super Mario Maker]]''
*''[[Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash]]''
*''[[Minecraft|Minecraft: Wii U Edition]]''
*''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''
*''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''


===Upcoming ''Mario''-related Games=== <!-- Do not add New Super Mario Bros. Mii, it's just a demo -->
===Exclusive Nintendo eShop games===
==== Dedicated ''Mario'' Series Installments ====
*''[[NES Remix]]''
*''[[Game & Wario]]''<ref>[http://e3.nintendo.com/games/#/wiiu/game-wario]</ref>
*''[[Dr. Luigi]]''
*''[[Yarn Yoshi]]''<ref>[http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=194713]</ref>
*''[[NES Remix 2]]''
*''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' (tentative title)<ref name="January 2013 Direct">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F34tWWMjdfY]</ref>
*''[[Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge]]''
*''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' (tentative title)<ref name="January 2013 Direct"/>
*''[[amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits]]''


==== Other Installments with ''Mario'' References ====
===[[Tech demo]]s===
*''[[smashwiki:Super Smash Bros. 4|Super Smash Bros. (tentative title)]]''
*''[[New Super Mario Bros. Mii]]'' ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'')
*''[[Chase Mii]]'' ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''[[Nintendo Land]]'' as [[Mario Chase]])
*''[[List of Game & Wario pre-release and unused content#Shield Pose|Shield Pose]]'' ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''[[Game & Wario]]'' as [[Pirates]])
*''[[List of Game & Wario pre-release and unused content#Measure Up|Measure Up]]'' ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''Game & Wario'' as [[Design]])
*[[Shutter|Zapper demo]] ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''Game & Wario'' as [[Shutter]])
*[[Tech demo#List of Mario-related tech demos|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' Wii U demo]] ({{wp|Game Developers Conference|GDC 2014}}) (later incorporated into ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]'')


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{morepic}}
{{main-gallery}}
<gallery>
Nintendoland boxcover.png|''[[Nintendo Land]]''
NSMBU boxcover.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
Box NA - Game & Wario.png|''[[Game & Wario]]''
NSLU NA Box Art.png|''[[New Super Luigi U]]''
NSMBU Plus NSLU NA Box Art.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U|New Super Mario Bros. U<br>+ New Super Luigi U]]''
M&S2014 Wii U Boxart.jpg|''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]''
Box NA - Super Mario 3D World.png|''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''
Logo EN - NES Remix.png|''[[NES Remix]]''
Logo EN - Dr. Luigi.png|''[[Dr. Luigi]]''
DKC-TF box.jpeg|''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''
Logo EN - NES Remix 2.png|''[[NES Remix 2]]''
MK8 NA Box Art.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 8]]''
SSBWiiU NA Boxart.png|''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker US box final.jpg|''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]''
NES Remix Pack cover art.png|''[[NES Remix Pack]]''
Mario vs DK Tipping Stars EU box Wii U.png|''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Wii U)|Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]''
Mario Party 10 box.png|''[[Mario Party 10]]''
YWW NA Boxart.png|''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]''
Super Mario Maker Wii U NA Boxart.jpg|''[[Super Mario Maker]]''
Mario Tennis Ultra Smash box art.jpg|''[[Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash]]''
MSRio2016 OlympicGames boxart.png|''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''
SkylandersWiiU.jpg|''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers]]''
MM&FACAmericanLogo.png|''[[Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge]]''
AmiibotapUSlogo.jpg|''[[amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits]]''
PMCS Boxart.png|''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''
</gallery>


===Related ''Mario'' Series Installments for the Wii U===
==Media==
<i><center><gallery>
{{media table
File:NSMBU boxcover.png|[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]
|file1=EShop Wii U.oga
File:GameWario.jpg|[[Game & Wario]]
|title1=[[Nintendo eShop]]
</gallery></center></i>
|description1=The first background music for the Nintendo eShop
|length1=0:30
|file2=Wii U Settings.oga
|title2=Settings
|length2=0:30
|file3=Wii U Home Menu.oga
|title3=[[#WaraWara Plaza|WaraWara Plaza]]
|length3=0:30
|file4=Mii Maker - Wii U - Menu.oga
|title4=Mii Maker
|length4=0:30
}}


===Other Installments With ''Mario'' Series References===
==Trivia==
<i><center><gallery>
*This is the first Nintendo home console since the [[Nintendo 64]] to have [[New Super Mario Bros. U|a ''Super Mario'' game]] as a launch title.
File:Nintendoland boxcover.png|[[Nintendo Land]]
**The Wii U is also the only Nintendo home console to have [[Mario Party 10|one original ''Mario Party'' game]] since the launch of the series.
</gallery></center></i>
*This is the first Nintendo console since the NES to use standard audio/video cables as it supports HDMI and comes with its own HDMI cable; by extent, it is also the first Nintendo home console since the [[Nintendo GameCube]] to support digital audio/video output. The system can also use the Wii's composite AV or component AV cables to hook up to older TV sets that do not support HDMI.


==References==
==References==
{{NIWA|NWiki=1|SmashWiki=1}}
<references/>
<references/>
==External Links==
 
*[http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu Official page of Wii U]
==External links==
{{NIWA|Bulbapedia=1|FZeroWiki=1|FireEmblem=1|Inkipedia=1|LylatWiki=1|NWiki=1|Nookipedia=1|Pikipedia=1|SmashWiki=1|StarfyWiki=1|StrategyWiki=Category:Wii U|WiKirby=1|ZeldaWiki=1}}
*[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/console/0/0 ''Iwata Asks'' about Wii U console]
*[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/console/0/0 ''Iwata Asks'' about Wii U console]
*[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/gamepad/0/0 ''Iwata Asks'' about Wii U GamePad]
*[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/gamepad/0/0 ''Iwata Asks'' about Wii U GamePad]
{{BoxTop}}
 
{{Consoles}}
{{Wii U}}
{{Systems}}
[[de:Wii U]]
[[it:Wii U]]
[[Category:Systems]]
[[Category:Amiibo]]

Latest revision as of 09:49, October 20, 2024

Wii U
Wii U Console
Wii U system (right) and its GamePad controller (left)
Generation Eighth generation
Release date USA November 18, 2012[?]
Canada November 18, 2012[1]
Mexico November 29, 2012[?]
South Africa November 29, 2012[?]
Europe November 30, 2012[?]
Australia November 30, 2012[2][dead link][better source needed]
Japan December 8, 2012[3]
Chile December 10, 2012[4]
Brazil November 26, 2013[5]
Discontinued Europe October 1, 2016[6]
USA November 10, 2016[7]
Australia November 14, 2016[8]
Japan January 31, 2017[9]
Predecessor Wii
Successor Nintendo Switch
“How U Will Play Next”
—Advertisement slogan for the Wii U
Wii U Logo.svg

The Wii U is an eighth-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. It is Nintendo's first home console since the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to share a portion of its name with its predecessor. During development, the console was codenamed "Project Café." It was announced during Nintendo's conference at E3 2011. The main feature of the Wii U is its controller, the Wii U GamePad, which has a touch screen, a camera, a microphone, and other features. According to Yoshiaki Koizumi, the Wii U was never shown to Nintendo's software development team prior to its unveiling at E3 2011. With the name "Wii" originating from the word "we," the "U" ("you") was added to reflect the console's intended appeal to single-player play as well as multiplayer. It is the home console counterpart of the Nintendo 3DS.

The Wii U was released in the United States on November 18, 2012; in Europe and Australia on November 30, 2012; and in Japan on December 8, 2012. The Wii U was the third Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan, the other two being the Wii and the original Nintendo DS. It is also the first Nintendo home console since the NES to be released before its competitors' consoles of the same generation were announced.

In contrast to the Wii, the Wii U was not very successful when compared to its contemporaries, Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One. It was initially expected to sell 100 million units;[10] however, it managed to sell only 13.56 million units worldwide,[11] making it Nintendo's least successful home console, a record previously held by the Nintendo GameCube. Because of this, it was discontinued in Europe on October 1, 2016; in North America on November 10, 2016; in Australia on November 14, 2016; and in Japan on January 31, 2017, only about four years after the console's initial release. The Wii U's lifetime sales were outsold in only nine months by its successor, the Nintendo Switch.[12][13] Commonly cited reasons for the Wii U's weak sales include its confusing marketing, complicated GamePad, few third-party titles (many being canceled and/or unreleased), high initial pricing, and lack of Blu-ray, DVD, and CD playback.[14] However, many first-party Wii U titles were ported to the Nintendo Switch.

Features[edit]

The Wii U console resembles the Wii, except it is much longer with rounder sides. It has a slot to insert 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs based on the Blu-ray format, as well as the Wii's optical discs based on the DVD format. The console can play high-definition games at 720p and 1080p. The console itself is approximately 4.6 cm tall, 17.3 cm wide, and 26.7 cm long. When placed horizontally, it slightly resembles the Wii Family Edition. It features IBM microprocessor technology inside.

The Wii U supports all the controllers (and respective peripherals) used with the Wii: the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk controller, the Wii Remote Plus, the Classic Controller, the Classic Controller Pro, and the Wii Balance Board. It is compatible with the Wii hardware and software; similar to the Wii Family Edition and Wii Mini, however, it is incompatible with the Nintendo GameCube hardware or software.[15] While the disc drive contains grips to load 8 cm GameCube discs, it will eject them almost immediately after insertion. The Wii U is the first home Nintendo console whose controllers' control sticks can be pressed down to act as extra buttons; although, the only Super Mario games that use these features are Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, in which pressing the right stick resets the camera angle, and Super Mario Maker in which it is used to change the hand on the TV Screen in edit mode. It is also the first home Nintendo console whose controllers include perfectly circular analog stick movement.

The Wii U supports up to eight-player local play, as seen in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. It was intended to be able to support two GamePads, but this was scrapped during development. The console has an internal flash memory, holding 8 GB for the standard set, and 32 GB for the deluxe set. Additionally, the Wii U has the option to expand its memory by using an external USB hard disk drive or USB stick. If the Wii U detects two USB storage devices connected to it, it will launch Data Management so that players can transfer data between the devices, and the Wii U will refuse to leave Data Management until the system has restarted with one storage device connected. The Wii U is the first Nintendo console to use industry-standardized byte units for measuring storage as earlier Nintendo consoles had used non-standardized units like "blocks" and "pages".

However, even though the Wii U has an SD Card slot that supports cards up to 32 GB (SDHC), SD cards cannot be used for Wii U data storage, meaning that Wii U game data cannot be transferred onto other Wii U systems on SD cards. Only Super Smash Bros. for Wii U screenshots, Mii storage (including photos from the Wii U version of Mii Maker), and Wii Menu data storage support SD cards.

Until its termination on April 8, 2024, the Wii U allowed players to connect to the internet using Nintendo Network, the successor to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, via a wireless connection or using the Wii LAN Adapter.

Peripherals[edit]

Wii U GamePad[edit]

A black Wii U GamePad
Detail of the Wii U GamePad

The Wii U GamePad, or simply the GamePad, is the main controller of the Wii U console. The GamePad has a 6.2-inch (15.7-cm) 854x480px resistive touchscreen in the center, and it is the first ever controller for a home video game console to have this feature. Its button layout is somewhat similar to that of the Nintendo 3DS, having the traditional Control Stick to the left of the screen and the A Button, B Button, Y Button, and X Button buttons to the right. The GamePad has two traditional Control Stick, one on each side of the screen and over the traditional buttons. The sticks are slightly displaced nearer to the edges of the controller and are clickable. The L Button and R Button buttons are located behind the GamePad, as are the ZL Button and ZR Button buttons. Below the screen is the HOME Button button, situated between the microphone aperture and the battery light, and next to the light is the TV Button button. The Minus Button select button and Plus Button start button are found below the A ButtonB ButtonY ButtonX Button buttons. The Power Button button is directly below the screen right to the TV button. The controller also has a NFC sensor NFC sensor, able to read objects or codes near to the controller. The GamePad can be used with a stylus and features a frontal camera, a microphone, a stereo speaker, a sensor strip, a rumble system, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a rechargeable battery, and a built-in flash memory to store data. Using the controller, one can browse the internet, send videos, flip channels, take screenshots, and connect to Miiverse while playing any game. It can also be used as universal TV control. Video chat is also included but cannot be executed while playing. Games for this console can be played on the TV screen, the controller screen, or a combination of both, known as asymmetrical gameplay. The controller cannot be used to play Wii games, although its sensor can be used for playing Wii games and its screen can be used to display them.

A publicly revealed prototype of the GamePad was shown as having several differences from the one that was later released: The Plus Button and Minus Button were to the sides of the HOME Button button (They were later moved to the lower right), the analog sticks used thicker versions of the Nintendo 3DS stick rather than regular sticks, the microphone was to the right of the GamePad instead of to the left, and the NFC logo and the TV Button button had not yet been added.

Wii U Pro Controller[edit]

Wii U Pro Controller White.png

The Wii U Pro Controller is an alternate peripheral for the Wii U console. Introduced by Satoru Iwata in a Nintendo Direct video on June 3, 2012, the Wii U Pro Controller is similar to the Wii's Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro and the GameCube Controller in its frontal button layout and the presence of grips, with all inputs functioning identically to their GamePad equivalents. Unlike previous alternate controllers, however, the A Button, B Button, Y Button, X Button, and the +Control Pad are all found below the Control Stick; this is the only thing besides the button names that sets its layout apart from that of the Microsoft Xbox 360 controller. The player number lights from the Wii Remote and the Power Button, have been added in the center of the controller, as it is wireless and battery-powered. The Wii U Pro Controller is also slightly bulkier than the Wii's wired controllers, and the ZL Button and ZR Button are arranged differently as actual trigger buttons as on the GamePad, closest to how they were arranged on the Classic Controller Pro. When using it in menus, the left Control Stick controls the pointer. Like the Wii U GamePad, the Pro Controller is incompatible with Wii games, even those that use the Wii Classic Controller (e.g. Mario Kart Wii).

GameCube Controller Adapter[edit]

Wii U GameCube Adapter 1.jpg

The GameCube Controller Adapter is a peripheral allowing use of Nintendo GameCube controllers for compatible Wii U games. It was announced on May 29, 2014 during a video published by Nintendo[16] overviewing the Super Smash Bros. Invitational at E3 2014, and has been confirmed to be released during the 2014 holiday season.[17] It has four ports for GameCube controllers, and plugs into the Wii U through two USB ports; one is for power, while the other is for receiving and sending input. It launched alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, in addition to a bundle that features the game, the adapter, and a Super Smash Bros.-themed GameCube controller. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U became the only Wii U game to support the GameCube Controller Adapter. As of system version 4.0.0, the GameCube adapter is compatible with the Nintendo Switch as well.

amiibo[edit]

Official artwork of an amiibo scanning on the Wii U GamePad (black)
An amiibo scanning on the Wii U GamePad
Amiibo set
Several Super Smash Bros. amiibo figurines
Main article: amiibo

amiibo is a line of figurines usable in compatible Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles. By placing a figure on the Wii U GamePad's NFC sensor, the amiibo is able to interact with the game. The product line launched on November 21, 2014, with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U as the first title to be compatible with the line. amiibo functionality is also featured in Mario Kart 8 as of version 3.0, and in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10, Yoshi's Woolly World, and Super Mario Maker. Certain amiibo figures are also compatible with multiple games (e.g. the Super Smash Bros. Mario is compatible with Mario Kart 8 and Mario Party 10, having the amiibo functionality programmed for those games[18]).

Wii peripherals[edit]

Main article: Wii § Peripherals

In addition to being compatible with Wii software, the Wii U is also compatible with most Wii controllers and accessories.

Nintendo 3DS[edit]

Main article: Nintendo 3DS

Systems in the Nintendo 3DS family can be used as controllers in certain Wii U games. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is an example of a game that can use this feature.

Super Mario-related software[edit]

WaraWara Plaza[edit]

Wii U WaraWara Plaza
WaraWara Plaza

WaraWara Plaza (from the Japanese term 「わらわら」 warawara, meaning "bustling" in English) is the main menu for Wii U. This feature allows players to see Miis on-screen gathering around accessible tiles. The Miis represent all the player's friends, familiars, and miscellaneous individuals who are using the service, and the tiles they are surrounding represent where they are communicating in real time. Because the tiles were integrated with Miiverse, the user could explore the topics on every tile and look up what games their friends were playing. WaraWara Plaza also offers chat, video conference, and information sharing, and it can be quickly accessed even when playing a game by pressing the HOME Button button. The WaraWara Plaza had a different design shown in Nintendo Direct's pre-E3 video, as it featured some game icons in the middle of the plaza. For users without a Nintendo Network ID or with Miiverse banned by Parental Controls, and following Miiverse's termination, WaraWara Plaza instead shows the pre-installed apps on the Wii U such as the Nintendo eShop and the System Settings.

Miiverse[edit]

Main article: Miiverse
Miiverse logo

Miiverse was a social networking service designed for players to share ideas and comments on the games they are playing. Players could make posts in game communities where others could respond to them, as well as follow other users and add friends. First released on the Wii U and the Internet, Miiverse was subsequently released on the Nintendo 3DS, smartphones, computers, etc.

On November 7th, 2017, at 10:00 PM PST, the Miiverse service was discontinued.

Nintendo eShop[edit]

Main article: Nintendo eShop
Nintendo eShop logo since 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

Nintendo's current online shop service, first released on the Nintendo 3DS, is also present on Wii U. The Nintendo eShop was first made available on the system through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection. With the eShop, users can download exclusive Wii U software, demos, and videos, as well as view information on upcoming games, and some Wii titles are available as digital downloads. Virtual Console games for NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS were also available. These games can be played on the Wii U GamePad via Off-TV Play; games transferred over from a Wii console do not support Off-TV Play nor do they support other Wii U Virtual Console features, but they can be upgraded to Wii U Virtual Console games for a discounted price.

With the discontinuation of digital purchases for Wii U in March 2023, it is no longer possible to digitally buy games and downloadable content, though they can still be downloaded by those who purchased them when they were available.

Wii Menu[edit]

The Wii app for the Wii to Wii U system transfer.

The Wii Menu is a built in section on the Wii U Menu. It takes players to a variation of the original Wii Menu from the Wii so they can play Wii, Virtual Console, and WiiWare games. It features support for all games in the Super Mario franchise. Prior to its closure, the Wii Shop Channel was even available for consumers to purchase downloadable games. The Wii to Wii U System Transfer allowed for users to transfer the data from a Wii to the Wii U.

On January 14, 2015, Nintendo began digitally re-releasing Wii games on the Nintendo eShop that can be started directly from the Wii U Menu, bypassing the Wii Menu. Unlike the disc-based games, the Wii U Pro Controller and Wii U GamePad can be used in any games that support the classic controller. However, a Wii Remote is still required to start up the game. Digital Wii titles also include a digital version of the original manual like Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 64 VC games.

Appearances in the Super Mario franchise[edit]

Game & Wario[edit]

A controller bearing a striking resemblance to the Wii U GamePad appears in several cutscenes of this game.

Mario Party 10[edit]

The icon for Bowser Party pictures Bowser holding a black Wii U GamePad in international versions and a white Wii U GamePad in the Japanese version, with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi standing on it. A similar image is used in promotional artwork, including the boxart.

Yoshi's Woolly World[edit]

Although the Wii U itself does not appear in this game, Wii U Deluxe Yoshi is an unlockable Yoshi design based on the Wii U's Deluxe edition.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

Although the Wii U itself does not appear in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a design on the vehicle-building machine references the Wii U GamePad's functionality as a horn in Mario Kart 8.

Super Mario-related games[edit]

Physical and digital games[edit]

Exclusive Nintendo eShop games[edit]

Tech demos[edit]

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Wii U.

Media[edit]

Help:Media • Having trouble playing?

Trivia[edit]

  • This is the first Nintendo home console since the Nintendo 64 to have a Super Mario game as a launch title.
  • This is the first Nintendo console since the NES to use standard audio/video cables as it supports HDMI and comes with its own HDMI cable; by extent, it is also the first Nintendo home console since the Nintendo GameCube to support digital audio/video output. The system can also use the Wii's composite AV or component AV cables to hook up to older TV sets that do not support HDMI.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kyllo, Blaine (September 13, 2012). Nintendo Wii U console set for November 18 release in Canada. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ rawmeatcowboy (September 13, 2012). JAPAN - WII U NINTENDO DIRECT #1 LIVE STREAM/BLOG. GoNintendo. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Calomino, Cesar (November 29, 2012). Nintendo presenta su nueva consola Wii U en Chile. Emol (Latin American Spanish). Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Azevedo, Théo (November 7, 2013). Mais caro do mundo, Wii U sai no Brasil por R$ 1.899 em 26/11. UOL Start (Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  6. ^ SSF1991 (September 23, 2016). Europe: Retailers Will No Longer Be Able To Order Wii U Consoles After October 1st. My Nintendo News. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  7. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (November 10, 2016). In Japan, Nintendo Announces Wii U Production Is Ending. Kotaku (English). Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Kinsley, John (November 14, 2016). New Wii U bundle released in Australia. NintendoToday. Archived November 15, 2016, 05:51:32 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (January 31, 2017). Wii U Production Has Officially Ended For Japan. Kotaku. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Brightman, James (July 7, 2016). Wii U was expected to sell 100 million units. GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  11. ^ IR Information : Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units. Nintendo (English). Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  12. ^ January 31, 2018. Nintendo Switch overtakes the Wii U. BBC. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Rouse, Isaac (October 19, 2019). Nintendo Switch Passes Lifetime Worldwide Sales of Wii U (UPDATE). Hypebeast (English). Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Herold, Charles (January 24, 2020). 10 Reasons the Wii U Failed. Lifewire (English). Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  15. ^ Fahey, Mike (June 8, 2011). Farewell, GameCube, the Wii U Doesn't Play You. Kotaku. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  16. ^ Nintendo. Play Nintendo - Super Smash Bros. Invitational @ E3 2014. YouTube (English). Archived May 29, 2014, 18:05:45 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Otero, Jose (June 10, 2014). E3 2014: GameCube Adapter, Controller, and Smash Bundle Pricing Revealed. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  18. ^ Otero, Jose (June 12, 2014). E3 2014: Nintendo on Amiibo, Smash Bros., and Custom Figurines. IGN (English). Retrieved May 29, 2024.

External links[edit]

Wii U coverage on other NIWA wikis:
[Edit]
Wii U games
Super Mario franchise New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) • New Super Luigi U (2013) • Super Mario 3D World (2013) • Mario Kart 8 (2014) • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2014) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (2015) • Mario Party 10 (2015) • Super Mario Maker (2015) • Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (2015) • Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016)
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014)
Yoshi franchise Yoshi's Woolly World (2015)
Wario franchise Game & Wario (2013)
Crossovers Nintendo Land (2012) • Sonic Lost World (2013) • Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (2013) • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014) • Skylanders: SuperChargers (2015) • Minecraft: Wii U Edition (2015) • Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016)
Compilations New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U (2013) • NES Remix Pack (2014)
Nintendo eShop NES Remix (2013) • Dr. Luigi (2013) • NES Remix 2 (2014) • amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits (2015) • Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (2016) • Virtual Console games (2013-2016)
[Edit]
Video game systems and add-ons
Nintendo home consoles Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System (Family BASIC, Family Computer Disk System) • Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Satellaview, Super Game Boy) • Nintendo 64 (Nintendo 64DD) • Nintendo GameCube (Game Boy Player) • Wii (Virtual Console, WiiWare) • Wii U (Virtual Console) • Nintendo Switch
Nintendo handhelds Game & Watch • Game Boy • Virtual Boy • Game Boy Color • Game Boy Advance • Nintendo DS (Nintendo DSi, DSiWare) • Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console) • Nintendo Switch
Other MS-DOS • VS. System • Nintendo PlayChoice-10 • Nintendo Super System • Nelsonic Game Watch • Super Mario Bros. Watch • Gamewatch Boy • Philips CD-i • Mini Classics • Triforce • Visteon Dockable Entertainment System • Classics • LodgeNet • Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo
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