nintendo wii u white gamepad w lcd touch screen free sample

Its core hooks are the integrated second screen in the Wii U GamePad and their online social hub called Miiverse. The former introduces a focus on asymmetric gameplay in local multiplayer games which means the different players doing very different things in a game depending on which controller they use as well as more involved experiences and interactions in single player games with added functionality not previously possible. The latter is supposed to function as a seamless online community that makes it easier to discover what games people are actually playing and offers simpler ways to share stuff from within games and to communicate with other players around the globe.

With rumors hitting the week prior, Nintendo announced its next console on April 25, 2011. The news was issued via a terse update on Nintendo of Japan"s investor site, stating that the Nintendo Wii"s successor would be launched in 2012.

On June 7, 2011 at their E3 press conference, Nintendo unveiled what they promised to be a new way to enjoy home entertainment with Nintendo"s next home console, the Wii U. With a new touch screen controller that also includes all standard buttons, precision motion controls, and full 1080p HD graphics, Nintendo promises a whole new world of play styles and gaming possibilities for Wii U players. As Nintendo of America president and CEO Reggie Fils-Aime explained on stage that the Wii U is about tailoring the Nintendo game experience not just to a casual perspective, but for so-called hardcore players as well.

Iwata announced during Nintendo"s Financial Briefing in April, 2012 that all Wii U games would be available for purchase as traditional packaged software in retail stores and via digital distribution on from day one. Nintendo is partnering with retailers to allow the sale of digital codes through retailers to achieve a "win-win" situation. Additionally, he let it be known that, while the details and software line-up for Wii U would be announced at E3 2012, the actual launch date and price would be revealed at a later date.

Nintendo revealed the final launch details for all territories on September 13, 2012. The Wii U launched in Japan on December 8, 2012 with 2 SKUs (Basic and Premium) but without pack-in software with the exception of Monster Hunter 3 HD Ver. bundle. In western territories, the Wii U also launched in both the Basic and Premium/Deluxe versions but the latter came bundled with Nintendo Land.

Nintendo Network Premium: provides points for purchases by Premium Set customers, 10% points back on digital purchases depending on the title/publisher, to be redeemed once 500 points ($5) have been reached for future purchases. Valid until December 2014

The Wii U supports retail and downloadable software. Nintendo stated that from day-one, all first party retail software will also be available day-and-date in the Wii U"s eShop. The exception being games that come bundled with hardware such as SiNG Party which comes with a microphone. Those would not be available as a download. In addition to retail software, the Wii U eShop will also offer download-only software like Virtual Console titles and original games.

The regular price of retail Wii U titles is raised to $59.99, bringing Nintendo"s software prices up to the same level of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 titles.

In moving away from the simple and clean white box designs, Nintendo went with cyan-colored boxes accompanied by a half-oval shape at the top of the box surrounding the plain white Wii U logo. As a transitional color, a yellow line is placed between the shape and the actual game artwork.

This basic design mirrors that of the Nintendo GameCube cases which also featured a half-oval shape with a transitional line (in white) below it to separate it from the game artwork.

As has been common practice in Japan since 2010 with games released on Nintendo platforms, the game cases for titles rated CERO: C and higher come in black cases. While on Wii and 3DS the platform banner is on black background, the Wii U logo banner features a gradient background that goes from black to the normal cyan color.

According to specifications released during E3 2012 by Nintendo, the Wii U is approximately 1.8 inches tall, 6.8 inches wide and 10.5 inches long while weighing about 3.41 pounds (1.5 kg).Media: A single self-loading media bay plays 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs that can hold 25GB of data for the new console with a transfer speed of 22.5 MB/s. It also reads 12-centimeter Wii optical discs.

Video Output: Supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i. Compatible cables include HDMI, Wii D-Terminal, Wii Component Video, Wii RGB, Wii S-Video Stereo AV and Wii AV.

Storage: The console has internal flash memory, as well as the option to expand its memory using either an SD/SDHC memory card (up to 32GB) or an external USB hard disk drive (up to 2TB).

Ports: Four USB 2.0 connector slots are included (two in the front, two in the back). The new console is backward compatible with Wii games and Wii accessories, including the Wii LAN adapter.

During the Pre-E3 2012 Nintendo Direct feature, Satoru Iwata revealed the official name for the Wii U controller. The name was inspired by the original NES controller which was the first controller to be referred to as a "game pad" by players due its flat design. Nintendo decided the name was also appropriate for the Wii U controller and thus they named it the Wii U GamePad as a call-back to the good ol" days.

The Wii U GamePad features a touch screen along with button and stick inputs in line with with other controllers. This combination allows games to be augmented with real-time data displayed on the controller while the primary action occurs on the big-screen. The GamePad will function similar to the bottom screen on Nintendo"s DS system, displaying information such as inventory systems or maps but also allowing for touch or stylus based gameplay input. The Wii U will allow using the GamePad screen as a primary display, so that other content can be viewed on the TV. There was some indication that this manner of screen swapping could even be taken a step further, giving split-screen players their own dedicated view, for example. The possibilities for so-called asymmetric multiplayer/co-op are a major part of the system"s design.

The original prototype of the controller shown during E3 2011 incorporated two analog Circle Pads. These circle pads were not clickable and they were aligned vertically symmetrical directly above the D-Pad and face buttons on each side of the controller. The backside was flat except for a horizontal ridge that allowed the controller to be placed on flat surfaces at an angle and also housed the digital ZL/ZR triggers. The prototype neither featured the TV-button nor any NFC capabilities.

This leak cleared up speculation based on previously discovered patents showing these changes (and more) months earlier but was falsely believed to be an older design than the one shown at E3 2011. The patent also showed added grips to the bottom and a wider form factor.

The controller includes a Power button, Home button, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, digital L/R buttons and digital ZL/ZR buttons, two clickable analog sticks, a TV-Control Button and an NFC reader/writer. It also includes a built-in accelerometer, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor, rumble support, a front-facing camera, microphone, stereo speakers, a sensor strip and a stylus. It also includes a 6.2-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio resistive LCD touch screen (does not support multi touch).

The GamePad is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and weighs approximately 1.1 pounds (500 g). The battery life is given as lasting between 3-5h. By purchasing a separately available official High-Capacity Battery (2550mAh) (Product Code WUP-A-DLAA), battery life can be upgrade to an estimated 5-8h.

During Nintendo"s January 27th, 2012 Financial Briefing, they revealed that the controller would also support NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, ultimately allowing functionality similar to the figurine-scanning in Skylanders and enabling the scanning of Wii U eShop cards or credit cards for micropayments by placing an object or a card on the NFC Reader/Writer below the D-Pad. This would later be heavily utilized for Nintendo"s figurine initiative called Amiibo.

Next to the Wii U GamePad"s power button is the TV-Control Button. This button can be used even if the Wii U and TV are turned off. With the TV button, the Wii U GamePad turns into a "fully independent infrared TV-remote". Users can use the touch screen to switch channels, change the TV volume, view the TV Guide and turn on the Wii U system simply by using the touch screen on the GamePad.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata was quick to point out that the controller device was “not designed to be a portable video game machine, even though it shares some of the characteristics.” Killing the idea that the controller could be used as a legitimate portable gaming tablet (like Apple"s iPad) which everybody was quick to compare it to. This becomes especially clear when one considers that none of the gameplay is rendered on the controller hardware itself.

The Wii U Pro Controller is a secondary peripheral for use with the Wii U that functions as a standard console controller without the extra elements such as the touch screen display. It is primarily meant for use with multi-platform console games ported to the Wii U without GamePad-specific gameplay elements and for local multiplayer.

The controller"s shape resembles that of the standard Xbox 360 controller with button and stick placements mirroring that of the Wii U GamePad. It also includes rumble support and has a battery life of up to 80 hours. The Pro Controller is available in black or white everywhere except for Europe and Australia where the only Pro Controllers sold are black.

Technically the Wii U supports usage two Wii U GamePads at the same time. It has been confirmed that using two GamePads simultaneously limits games to run at a framerate of no higher than 30fps due to the game outputting images to three screens at the same time. Initially it was said that launch-window titles would not make use of that functionality, however, since the system"s market performance was behind Nintendo"s expectations, implementation of support for two GamePads has been put on hold indefinitely.

Up to four Wii U Pro Controllers can be used at the same time. The system will also support up to four Wii Remote (or Wii Remote Plus) controllers connected at once along with the Wii U GamePad (allowing for five players simultaneous multiplayer). The new console supports all first party Wii controllers and input devices, including the Nunchuk controller, Classic Controller, Classic Controller Pro and Wii Balance Board.

At E3 2014, Nintendo revealed a special GameCubecontroller adapter that would allow original GameCube controllers (including Wavebirds) to be connected to the system via two USB connections. This adapter was specifically intended for use with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and launched alongside that title.

The Wii U is fully backwards compatible with most Wii titles. However, it will not feature the GameCube backwards compatibility of the Wii. Wii title compatibility excludes software that required usage of the GameCube controller ports built into the original Wii models since these are also not available on the Wii U hardware.

During E3 2012, Nintendo announced that it is possible for Wii users to transfer all their WiiWare and Virtual Console purchases to the Wii U, along with all the save data. This makes it the only 8th Generation console with full backwards compatibility covering both retail and digital libraries.

To access all Wii-specific software, players have to access the Wii Mode from the Wii U main menu. This is a separate environment that disables all Wii U-specific features for optimal compatibility with the software.

All transferred Wii data like save games, Wii Shop Channel purchases (Virtual Console, WiiWare) including leftover Wii Shop funds will be accessible via this mode. The Wii Shop Channel is not tied to the Wii U eShop and is thus completely walled off. Nintendo also announced a special upgrade program for Virtual Console software purchased on the original Wii and then transfered to Wii Mode (or bought directly in Wii Mode) which allows users to upgrade titles available on both Wii Virtual Console and Wii U Virtual Console for a fraction of the price to the Wii U VC version.

During Nintendo"s Financial Briefing on January 27th, 2012 Satoru Iwata announced the Nintendo Network platform. An overarching online platform that covers Nintendo 3DS as well as Wii U and future platforms, Nintendo Network supports various online services. Nintendo Network is an evolution from the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection that was used in Wii and DS titles.

Each Wii U console will allow for the creation of 12 unique user accounts. The console itself can go online by signing up for a Nintendo Network ID which manages eShop purchases, friend lists, Miiverse, online play and other functions.

On November 14 2012, Satoru Iwata announced in a Nintendo Direct presentation that they are working on Wii U Virtual Console service that would have support for Off-TV Play with further details to be talked about later.

On January 23 2013, Iwata confirmed that Virtual Console will be available starting in Spring of 2013. Confirmed consoles supported will be NES, Super NES, and Game Boy Advance. Any games that were previously purchased for Wii Virtual Console and transferred over will be deeply discounted for buyers of the Wii U version - down to $1.00 US for NES and $1.50 for SNES. Wii U Virtual Console games will feature additional features and are undergoing additional development beyond simple emulation. Starting that same day, a preview of the Virtual Console service to celebrate 30 years of Famicomwas launched, showcasing a different game for 30 days at the price of 30 US cents.

On June 3, 2012, Nintendo started its E3 presentations early by releasing a Nintendo Direct video detailing non-game aspects of Wii U before their official E3 Media Briefing on June 5. Aside from highlighting the changes made to the Wii U GamePad, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata presented a first look at Miiverse, Wii U"s central hub for community/social features. Miiverse is essentially an evolution of the Mii Plaza and StreetPass Mii Plaza that first appeared on Wii and Nintendo 3DS respectively.

Players enter the Miiverse upon booting up the system and are greeted by all the Miis tied to accounts on the system itself, Miis of their friends as well as Miis created by people either in the same region or speaking the same language in the Wara Wara Plaza (wara wara being a Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound a bustling crowd makes).

Miis are the main anchor for Wii U"s social features. Messaging works like a Twitter feed that can be sorted by certain criteria. Users can filter messages pertaining to specific games, messages from people in their Mii Plaza, view their own activity log and other categories. Users can choose to either type the message using an on-screen keyboard on the touch screen or by going old-school with actual handwriting or doodling with their finger or stylus. The interface also allows the selection of emoticon-like expressions that will be represented on their Mii"s face alongside the message.

Since Miiverse is web-based, it was also made accessible via Nintendo 3DS, PC or any web-enabled mobile device later in 2013. To illustrate real-life use, the Nintendo Direct presentation showed a young man playing a Wii U game at home, suspending his game to post a Miiverse message asking for help with the game while his friend checked his own friend activity feed on his phone and called the former up to offer advice (and mockery).

Users are able to post screenshots and transmit user generated game content via Miiverse communities. Miis in the Wara Wara Plaza and the Nintendo Land Plaza, for example, can also display speech bubbles representing posts their creators made to the related Miiverse community.

Miiverse is a feature native to the system that can be accessed at all times and by all games. This allows developers to integrate Miiverse directly into their games. Nintendo showed an example of this with New Super Mario Bros. U gameplay. Player-created messages pop up on the world map and at a certain point where Mario ended his life prematurely by, for example, running into a Koopa Troopa. This is reminiscent of a similar feature found in FROM Software"s Souls series in which players who were connected to the internet with their console could leave messages at places of their choice, providing useful or misleading hints for other players to randomly stumble across.

Iwata mentioned that while they are working to prevent people from spoiling moments in games with this feature, it was envisioned to increase empathy among gamers around the world. Because the Miiverse is integrated into the Wii U firmware, even strictly single player games with no dedicated online functionality can make use of this feature, potentially turning every game into a social experience with friends.

Alongside Super Mario 3D World in November 2013, Nintendo introduced Miiverse Stamps. A Nintendo-take on achievements that ties in-game progress to unlocks of pre-made Miiverse drawings that players can use to create posts using official character art of a game. A user posting a stamp unlocked by a particularly hard unlock could thus be fairly easily recognized.

The built-in microphone and video camera in the Wii U GamePad allow for easy video chat among gamers. The basic idea was born in the N64 days when Genyo Takeda first expressed the desire to include a TV phone capability with Nintendo"s home consoles.

Wii U Chat displays the incoming video either on the GamePad or on the TV screen, depending on whether the user might be using it alone or wants to make a family call with more people around. If the Wii U is online and a call is coming in, the Home button on the GamePad will start to flash, informing players that there is a call waiting for them. If the system is not turned on, the caller can leave a message notification via Miiverse. In addition the video feed, users can actually draw on the touch screen over the image of video with a glowing line.

The Wii U also launches with an Internet Browser that can be manipulated with the touch screen even while in-game. Videos can be displayed at full size on the TV while the GamePad is used for browsing while the video plays. It is also possible to prepare a video and conceal it behind curtains for audiences.

Using the browser is possible without having to close a game that is being played to possibly search the internet for help or post 720p screenshots of the current gameplay scene to any image hosting services or social networks.

At E3 2012, Nintendo announced that Wii U would also feature various video streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and YouTube. In their Wii U preview event on September 13, 2012, Nintendo revealed more details about the service they are calling Nintendo TVii.

This service, only available in North America, will give Wii U users access to all their video streaming services as well as their local network and cable TV programs in a central place.

Various system updates introduced new functionality to the system. Among them an evolution of the WiiConnect24 concept of potentially receiving content at any hour of the day, even when the system was turned off. Wii U automatically checks for content while in standby mode (according to user preference) and can download and install software updates as well system updates in standby to make updating the system or games completely seamless.

This also enables automatic content distribution, meaning users can opt-in to automatically receive available free software or demos in standby mode. Additionally, with the introduction of the Quick Start Menu that offers shortcuts of the most recent applications or games used upon turning on the GamePad, an optional messaging feature was made available. If enabled, users may receive notifications that display on the Wii U GamePad for a user-determined amount of time with information about all sorts of things like eShop promotions or upcoming events - all while the system itself remains in standby.

The Wii U is the first Nintendo console to support HD graphics. The system"s primary controller is the Wii U GamePad, which features an embedded touchscreen, directional buttons, analog sticks, and action buttons. The screen can be used either as a supplement to the main display or in supported games to play the game directly on the GamePad. The Wii U Pro Controller can be used in its place as a more traditional alternative. The Wii U is backward compatible with all Wii software and accessories. Games can support any combination of the GamePad, Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Balance Board, or Nintendo"s Classic Controller or Wii U Pro Controller. Online functionality centers around the Nintendo Network platform and Miiverse, an integrated social networking service which allowed users to share content in game-specific communities.

Response to the Wii U was mixed. It was praised for its innovative GamePad controller, improvements to online functionality over the Wii, backwards compatibility with Wii software and peripherals, and price; however, it was criticized for its user interface and functionality, and the GamePad"s short battery life.low sales, primarily credited to a weak lineup of launch games,tablet device for the Wii.Nintendo Switch, which retained and refined concepts introduced with the Wii U.

The system was first conceived in 2008Wii, such as the general public"s perception that the system catered primarily to a casual audience.core gamers.Shigeru Miyamoto admitted that the lack of HD and limited network infrastructure for Wii also contributed to the system being regarded in a separate class to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the Wii"s competitors.VMU for Sega"s Dreamcast). Much later in development, this was expanded to a full screen that could display the game being played in its entirety, a concept that was suggested but not financially viable earlier in the project.

Public rumors surrounding the console began to appear in 2010, with speculation of an upcoming revision of the Wii scheduled for 2011 known as the "Wii HD", that would support high definition video and have a Blu-ray drive.Satoru Iwata later stated that he saw "no significant reason" to include HD into the Wii and that such an addition would be better suited for a successor.adoption rates of 3D televisions should increase to at least 30% first.Reggie Fils-Aimé commented that he felt "confident the Wii home entertainment console has a very long life in front of it" and declared that a successor would not be launched in the near future.

After its E3 2010 presentation, Iwata revealed to the BBC that Nintendo would begin announcing a new console once it ran "out of ideas with the current hardware and cannot give users any more meaningful surprises with the technology".stereoscopic 3D, based on the 3D technology Nintendo had experimented with.

In April 2011, an uncredited source indicated that Nintendo was planning to unveil a successor to the Wii known as "Project Café" at its E3 2011 presentation.tablet-like device with an embedded touchscreen and the ability to stream games from the console directly to the screen, while others reported that the controller would be similar to the GameCube controller and feature dual analog sticks, shoulder buttons, and triggers.

On April 25, 2011, Nintendo released an official statement announcing a system to succeed the Wii to be released during 2012, and that playable console units would be present at E3 2011.Nikkei issued a report confirming earlier rumors that the new console would feature a controller with a 6-inch touchscreen that would give tablet-like controls to games, as well as a rechargeable battery and camera.Reggie Fils-Aimé; he explained that the Wii U would be "a system we will all enjoy together, but also one that"s tailor-made for you".Electronic Arts" then-CEO John Riccitiello appeared on-stage to discuss the company"s prospective plans for products on the Wii U. Prototype hardware and a series of tech demos were available to attendees, showcasing gameplay concepts and the technological capabilities of the console—including a

In the two days following the unveiling of the Wii U, Nintendo"s stock fell nearly 10% to levels not seen since 2006. Some analysts expressed skepticism in regards to the addition of a touch-screen, expressing concern that the controller would be less affordable and less innovative than the original Wii Remote.3D televisions, Iwata stated that it was "not the area we are focusing on."Nintendo Network, which would feature user account support as opposed to the use of friend codes. Nintendo Network would also provide the framework for online multiplayer interactions, add-on content, as well as online distribution of applications and video games.NFC, which would allow the system to wirelessly interact with figurines and cards. It would also allow for microtransactions to take place wirelessly using credit cards with NFC support.

On September 13, 2012, Nintendo announced that the Wii U would launch in Japan on December 8, 2012.Nintendo Australia also announced that the Wii U would be released in both regions on November 30, 2012. In an interview with Bill Trinen admitted that Nintendo"s pre-launch marketing and presentations of the Wii U had focused too much on the GamePad, to the extent that some consumers mistook the device as an accessory for the existing Wii rather than a component of an entirely new platform. Trinen ensured that future promotional material for the console, including its packaging, would emphasize both the Wii U console and GamePad.

The Wii U was originally released in two bundles: the Basic bundle and the Deluxe (U.S.) / Premium (WW) bundle. The Basic bundle contains a white Wii U with 8 GB of storage, a white Wii U GamePad, stylus and an HDMI cable, while the Deluxe (U.S.) / Premium (WW) contains a black Wii U with 32 GB of storage, a black GamePad and stylus, an HDMI cable, and adds a Nintendo Network Premium subscription, the Sensor Bar (except Japan).US$299.99 for the Basic Set and US$349.99 for the Deluxe Set. The system launched in Europe, Australia and South Africa, with European pricing set by retailers.¥26,250 for the Basic Set and ¥31,500 for the Premium Set.

On July 13, 2013, Nintendo released a white version of the Premium Pack in Japan, as well as an official battery pack and charger dock for the Wii Remote. The battery pack is capable of about 3 hours of gameplay before needing to be recharged. On July 25, the company released an improved battery pack for the Wii U GamePad. In contrast to the standard 1500mAh battery bundled with the console, the new 2550mAh battery pack increases longevity to between five and eight hours before needing to be recharged.(U.S.) / Premium (WW) 32 GB model would drop in price from US$349.99 to US$299.99 in North America. The price drop took effect on September 20, 2013.Triforce and other thematic symbols, a download code for the game and, in North America, a digital copy of

On October 31, 2013, Nintendo introduced two new Wii U Premium Pack bundles in Japan, called the Family Set. The first included either a black or white Wii U console with 32 GB of storage, a black or white Wii U GamePad, Wii Remote, a Wii Sensor Bar, and a 30-day trial of the pedometer (with the Wii Balance Board available separately).Ubisoft"s Just Dance 2014 and Nintendo Land.Wii Party U and Nintendo Land.Activision"s Skylanders Swap Force game, a Portal of Power, three Skylanders figures, a collector poster, trading cards and sticker sheets, and a Nintendo Land game disc.

On November 26, 2013, the Wii U was released in Brazil. However, the system is only available in the black Deluxe Set in the region.high cost of doing business in the country.(U.S.) / Premium (WW) Set bundle in Europe and North America. It features a black Wii U console with 32 GB of storage, a black Wii U GamePad, a copy of Mario Kart 8, a Sensor Bar, and special edition red Wii Wheel (North America only). Additionally, registering the game on Club Nintendo before July 31, 2014 presents the buyer a free Wii U game from a selection of four in North America and ten in Europe.

Nintendo had planned to diminish production of the Wii U ahead of the release of the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo formally announced the end of its production on January 31, 2017.

The Wii U uses a custom multi-chip module (MCM) developed by AMD, IBM and Renesas in co-operation with Nintendo IRD and Nintendo Technology Development. The MCM combines an "Espresso" central processing unit (CPU) and a "Latte" graphics chip (GPU), as well as a SEEPROM memory chip.PowerPC 750-based tri-core processor with 3 MB of shared L2 cache memory and clocked at approximately 1.24 GHz.POWER7 architecture, such as the use of eDRAM cache and being manufactured at a 45 nm node.Wii games. The GX2, designed by AMD, is based on the Radeon R600/R700 architecture and is clocked at approximately 550 MHz.L3 cache for the CPU.ArtX, contains a 1 MB and a 2 MB bank of eSRAM cache memory.ARM9 processor with 96 KB of SRAM memory that handles system tasks in the background during gameplay or while the system is in sleep mode, and dedicated hardware audio DSP module.GB of DDR3 system memory consisting of four 512 MB DRAM chips with a maximum bandwidth of 12.8 GB/s. This is 20 times the amount found in the Wii.(NA) / Premium (WW)) internal eMMC flash memory, expandable via SD memory cards up to 32 GB and USB external hard disk drives up to 2 TB.

The Wii U features 802.11 b/g /n wireless network connectivity and support for Fast Ethernet with an accessory, Bluetooth 4.0, a total of four USB 2.0 ports, and an SD/SDHC memory card slot.Wii Sensor Bar, an auxiliary infrared emitter used by Wii Remote peripherals for motion tracking. Video output options include 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576i, 480p and 480i, through HDMI 1.4 and component video anamorphic widescreen through composite video (S-Video, SCART and D-Terminal). Audio output options include six-channel 5.1 linear PCM surround sound and analog stereo. The console also supports stereoscopic (3D) images and video.

The Wii U GamePad is the console"s primary controller: its main feature is a built-in 6.2 inch (15.7 cm) resistive touchscreen, which can be used as a companion to games being played on a television, or as a means of playing games on the GamePad itself without a television. The GamePad is designed to enable a concept referred to by Nintendo as "asymmetric gaming": in multiplayer games, a player using the GamePad may have a different gameplay objective and experience than other players.

The GamePad"s display contents are rendered on the Wii U itself, and streamed wirelessly as video to the GamePad.near field communications;Amiibo line, can be used with the GamePad to interact with games. In Japan, it can also be used for contactless payments from eShop with Suica cards.

A new Wii U Pro Controller was released alongside the Wii U. The Wii U Pro Controller is an updated version of the Wii"s Classic Controller that is designed to appeal to "hardcore" players, with a more traditional gamepad design that resembles those used by the PlayStation and Xbox lines (and in particular, the Xbox 360"s controller), and a claimed 80-hour battery life.

The Wii U is compatible with existing Wii Remote and Wii Remote Plus controllers, along with their Nunchuk and Classic Controller attachments. A combination of up to four Wii Remotes or Pro Controllers can be used simultaneously, and the console can theoretically support up to two GamePads. Most software requires a Wii Sensor Bar in order to use Wii Remotes with the system, though some aspects, such as Off-TV Play and the Wii Mode, allow the Wii U GamePad to detect Wii Remotes.GameCube controllers – while a USB adapter accessory allows GameCube controllers to be used on the console in

The Wii U"s main menu has two main components: by default, the GamePad displays a home screen consisting of a grid with shortcuts to games and apps, while the television screen displays a lobby (WaraWara Plaza) populated by other users" Miis. The two displays can be switched between the television screen and GamePad.

Pressing the controller"s "Home" button suspends the current game or app and opens the Home Menu: it shows basic information (such as the current time, controller battery levels, and notifications), and allows access to several "multitasking" functions, including the Nintendo eShop, Miiverse, download manager, a web browser,Wii games, the user must enter "Wii Mode", a legacy mode that emulates the Wii"s system software and Wii Menu interface. Initially, Wii Mode could only be used on the television screen, but the October 2013 firmware update enables Wii Mode to be used off-TV. Either way, Wii controllers must be used.

The Wii U uses the Nintendo Network platform for online services (replacing the friend code system of the Wii), enabling online multiplayer, downloading and purchasing games or apps via Nintendo eShop, video chat using the GamePad"s camera and the Wii U Chat service, and other services.

A social networking service known as Miiverse is integrated into the Wii U"s system software; it allows players to interact and share content in game-specific communities using their Mii as an avatar. Miiverse allows users to share accomplishments, screenshots, drawings and hand-written notes. Select games are integrated with Miiverse, where social interactions can also occur within the game, or appear within their content (such as in graffiti on walls in its settings).human resource team in order to ensure that the content shared by users is appropriate and that no spoilers are shared. In order to facilitate this, it was initially stated that comments posted could take up to 30 minutes to appear on Miiverse.

The Wii U supports online video services through apps, such as Amazon Video, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube.DVDs or Blu-rays; Iwata explained that the decision to exclude these formats was motivated primarily by patent licensing fees, and the fact that such functionality would be redundant to DVD and Blu-ray players that users may already own.

The Nintendo TVii service allowed program listings from a user"s television provider to be aggregated with online video on demand services into an electronic program guide with recommendations and search functionality, and the ability to use the GamePad"s infrared functionality to tune a set-top box to a particular program. The app also provided integration with IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Wikipedia to provide additional information, and social connectivity through Facebook, Twitter, or Miiverse.

Wii U games can be downloaded digitally through Nintendo eShop, or at retail on physical media. Retail copies of Wii U games are distributed on Wii U Optical Disc, a proprietary high-density optical disc format co-developed with Panasonic. The format is similar in design and specifications to a Blu-ray, with a capacity of 25 GB per layer, but the discs themselves have a soft, rounded rim.region locked; software purchased in a region can be only played on that region"s hardware. New games in Nintendo"s flagship franchises (including Super Mario, Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda), as well as several Ubisoft, Sega, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Activision Blizzard and Capcom, and various independent developers such as Two Tribes. As of late July 2016, there have been 39 first-party and 118 third-party Wii U games physically released in the United States; both figures are the lowest for any Nintendo console.

The Wii U was launched with 23 games in North America,Nintendo eShop. An additional 30 games were announced for release during the system"s launch window, which included the three months after the system"s launch date.

In January 2013, Nintendo announced that NES and Super NES games would be made available for the Virtual Console service on the Wii U in April 2013 and would include the option to use Off-TV Play on the GamePad.Game Boy Advance games were confirmed and started to appear on the eShop the following month.Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS games were added in April 2015.

The Wii U is compatible with all Wii games and Wii accessories such as the Wii Remote (Plus), Wii Nunchuk, and the Wii Balance Board. It is possible to migrate most downloaded software and save files from a Wii to a Wii U.

The Wii U is not compatible with GameCube discs or accessories, although a homebrew application for Wii Mode exists that enables GameCube hardware and GameCube controller support.GameCube controller adapter with four ports was released exclusively for use with

The Nintendo Web Framework, unveiled in 2013, is a toolset that uses modern web technology (WebKit, HTML5, and JavaScript) to simplify the process of porting games to the Wii U"s GamePad and TV. It was designed to make web-based games easier to port to the system than it would to code specifically for the Wii U.Unity package to allow game developers to quickly make games on Unity for the Wii U.

John Teti of "s Gameological Society considers the Wii U a compelling video game system which lacks focus, citing Nintendo Land as "ideas act[ing] in service of the technology".Engadget states that Nintendo delivers on its promise of releasing "a modern HD gaming console" but notes that "there are also some major missteps and half-baked ideas: a befuddling Friends List/Miiverse connection, a complete lack of many system-wide console standards (group chat, achievements, the ability to play non-game disc-based media) and a game controller that lasts only 3.5 hours", and stated that he could not give a complete assessment of the console with online components such as Nintendo TVii missing at launch.eighth-generation console,Wii first launched.PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, in November 2013, some critics suggested that the Wii U would continue to struggle as it lacked the third-party support of its rivals.Mario game in years". Despite the praise, he noted that "one great game won"t save a console", and although other games exist on the Wii U, he admitted that its original lineup "was still pretty thin".Time writer Matt Peckham said that the Wii U was the system of choice to pick up during that Christmas season, praising the console"s game lineup, affordable price, Off-TV Play, the absence of subscription fees for its online services, backward compatibility and media features. However, he noted that the system still needs a price cut and an improved first and third-party software lineup.CNET also noted that the Wii U had a better lineup of games and lower price in comparison to its competitors, mainly due to its one-year head start.

By December 2019, Nintendo reported life-time sales of 13.56 million Wii U console units and by September 2022 103.53 million software units worldwide.

During its first week of release in the United States, Nintendo sold its entire allotment of over 400,000 unitsNPD Group.Wii sold 435,000 in January 2007, also two months after launch.fiscal year 2013 by 17%, from 5.5 million to 4 million;

In May 2013, Electronic Arts announced that it was reducing support for the Wii U and had no games in development for it,E3 2013, Ubisoft revealed that it was not going to make any more exclusives for the Wii U until sales of the console improved,Bethesda Softworks announced that it had no games in development for the Wii U, with Bethesda VP of PR and marketing Pete Hines explaining: "It depends on the games that we are making and how we think it aligns with that console, and how the hardware aligns with the other stuff we are making".Activision has stated that it will "do everything they can" to support the system.Asda, the second-largest supermarket chain in the UK, confirmed that it had no plans to stock the Wii U, but would still stock games "on a title by title merit basis".Game CEO Martyn Gibbs saying "We fully support all Nintendo products, including Wii U."

Following the system"s $50 price cut and the release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.Play.com announced that its Wii U sales saw a 75% sales increase. The company also predicted that the Wii U would be more popular than its competition, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, among children during the holiday season.NPD Group, Wii U sales in November increased by 340% over sales in October in North America, selling approximately 220,700 units sold in that month.

In January 2014, citing lower-than-expected sales during the 2013 holiday season, Nintendo announced that Wii U sales forecasts for fiscal year 2014 had been cut from 9 million units to 2.8 million.Xbox 360 in Japan.GameCube and 90% less than the Wii during equivalent time periods.PlayStation 4 surpassed those of the Wii U.(March 2015).Mario Kart 8 being Nintendo"s biggest game launch,Mario Kart 8 console bundle representing 82% of the region"s Wii U console sales for the week.

In July 2015, Nintendo announced that as of the end of fiscal third quarter 2015, and nearly three years following its launch, it had shipped over ten million Wii U units worldwide. However, sales of Wii U units during this quarter were down in comparison to the same quarter in 2014, with 470,000 units sold (in comparison to 510,000 in 2014). In comparison, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One had each yielded sales of ten million units after approximately one year from their respective launches.

The future of the Wii U was left unclear with Nintendo"s announcement of a new console platform codenamed NX, which was scheduled to be launched worldwide in March 2017. Nintendo stated that NX would have a "brand-new concept", and not be a direct successor to the Wii U or 3DS product lines; in an interview with the Tatsumi Kimishima reiterated this position and stated that while he thinks that the Wii U business would "slow" after the release of NX, he felt that the console would "have a larger impact than the Wii U".

The new platform, now known as the Nintendo Switch, was officially announced on October 20, 2016; it is a tablet-like hybrid video game console with detachable controllers, and the ability to be placed in a docking station with an output to allow games to be played on a television. Although it is a hybrid device capable of being used as both a portable and home console, Nintendo officially positioned the platform as "a home gaming system first and foremost". Following the unveiling, a Nintendo spokesperson confirmed that the company would slow production of Wii U hardware, stating that "as we prepare for the launch of Nintendo Switch in March of 2017, Nintendo will ship 800,000 Wii U hardware units to the global market for this fiscal year."

In an interview with Reggie Fils-Aimé commented that the system was "a necessary step, in order to get to Nintendo Switch." Fils-Aimé also compared the system to the GameCube, claiming that the Wii U will be remembered fondly despite its relatively poor sales.

In mid-January 2017, Fils-Aimé told Polygon that Breath of the Wild, which would ship at launch with the Switch in March 2017, would be Nintendo"s final first-party game for the Wii U.

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