Topic: Will Nintendo ever fix freezing and bricking?

As most of us are aware, the Wii U ( varying from console to console) has some freezing and bricking issues. The freezing is more of an annoyance ( similar to the slow loading times), but the bricking, while less common, is still an issue. I've patiently been waiting for Nintendo to release updates to solve these issues, but no dice. Nintendo themselves have only referenced the " interrupt the system update" kind of bricking. But I've heard about others who have had their console freeze, only to unplug the console, play again, and have a bricked console despite not downloading anything at the time. It's getting annoying that Nintendo hasn't recognized these issues. I can only hope that we'll get a fix for these issues soon.

updates have been confirmed for april and june, both are said to address alot of the issues and update the eshop for the wiiu vc.
you can find the info in amongst the news on the NL home page.

I know about the new updates. But only Virtual Console and improved loading speed were mentioned, but it's always possible those updates could be the fix.

tbh, it's not just nintendo that needs to update the firmware, some of the dev's could patch up some of their games too.

I'm sure Nintendo are sending fixes as soon as they have them ready, stability is usually an ongoing process as unforeseen problems will always exist. The last update fixed all freezing for me and plenty of others. As with any update, it is likely both announced updates will also address firmware stability, and smaller updates are always possible with little to no warning. It's in Nintendo's best interest to fix any problems as early as possible, as all systems are still under warranty and repairing or replacing consoles does cost them time and money.

if they wanted to fix this stuff, they would have stopped making new consoles.

(please note since people will actually take that seriously, that is a joke based on how absurdly common problems for modern games seems to be, especially with the infamous RRODs still in people's minds. While there is some truth to how companies could put more effort to stop these problems than they do, it is almost certainly not such a simple answer. And since I knew I would have to explain this joke one way or another, I hate everyone.)

The only thing we know about the updates is that are aiming at addressing loading speeds...complete failure in recognizing legitimate issues and saying so IMO.
1) Wii U systems still freeze
2) Wii U systems cannot be hard reset by holding the power button
3) Nintendo is ignoring its own precautions to consumers
4) The discs should not stay spinning when I use Netflix, the Browser, Miiverse, or anything else non-game related on the Wii U. If the original Wii didn't spin the discs 24/7, there is no reason the Wii U should have launched with that issue. We're talking a billion dollar corporation, not a startup.

I really enjoy the Wii U, but an update in April that may not even address the power button issue when the system freezes or the 24/7 spinning discs is crazy, and the fact they didn't address those issues in the Nintendo Direct seems to me that they aren't working on those issues...and don't want to call attention to them now. The "faster loading times" claim, I'll believe it when I see it...

Am I the only one around here who thinks the Wii U loading times are fine? I get the impression it may just be my system but loading the eShop only took two seconds, adding funds was practically instant, and so forth... I don't even have issues with Miiverse. Everything loads really fast for me apart from opening software which still takes sub 15 seconds.
I am a bit scared of the freezing, but I've been playing my Wii U a lot since launch (admittedly mainly offline because my router- and I know it's my router because my 3DS and iPod fluctuate too- has identity issues) and I've only had three cases of freezing and none were fatal.
I guess people who are having errors will be eternally more vocal though, because if you choose to buy something and don't say anything you probably default into "enjoying it".
Not that there's a problem with that. I think it's perfectly reasonable to be a bit disappointed, but if people are really disliking the loading and crashing issues so much, they should just wait to buy a Wii U, or if they have theirs, return them. I mean... There are probably only a few great games on the system right now and only a couple of those are exclusives. There's no doubt that future batches of systems will be at least a bit more stable(see: 3DS and closing lid marks). And if you're "waiting for a patch" then you may as well not get the system yet and just hang out for a future version.
I have a Wii U because I play it. Not because I want to wait to play it.

I don't mind the loading, but if they want to address it that's (or try too address it) fine with me. My problem is the is that the freezes and other issue should be solved easily, and they didn't mention those actual issues (well, the one specifically).

@Nibelit
Thinking the loading times "are fine" is a subjective opinion and one which nobody should try to persuade you from. That said, it does sound like your system is loading things about five times faster than mine. As for freezing issues, I've had Darksiders 2 freeze on me three times but nothing else.

@CoffeeWithGames
The've had updates that adressed some of the freezing, and my guess is the Spring and Summer updates will do the same, but they didn't outright announce it since it isn't a systemwide problem. (I assume the update for booting up games should help immensely to those freezing on startup.)

I have to say that the freezing isn't as problematic as it was after launch, and at least the problem doesn't kill your system like the RROD.
It's definitely a problem to be sure, but it seems to being getting fixed.

I didn't realize you were an expert on this stuff. Might I mention that every console and handheld I owned froze every now and then even years after their releases

Acknowledging the freezing issue on the Nintendo Direct would likely do more harm than good. As previously mentioned, freezing and bricking is likely not as widespread as it seems because people with no problems would not be speaking up, they'd be enjoying their system. If Nintendo said something on the Nintendo Direct, they'd make the issue seem even bigger and probably start more rumors spreading over the internet. I am certain Nintendo is aware of the problems and working on them, they're just going to be quiet about it and sneak it into smaller updates such as the previous update.

You notice when Nintendo releases an update, their official list of what it adds or changes always includes vague lines about "overall system stability", or "user experience"? thats how Nintendo will address the apparent freezing issue (I say apparent only because I've never had it happen to mine, and I don't believe everything I read on the interwebs..). Nintendo isn't going to directly acknowledge anything like that because it only serves to fuel the internet rumor mill. Even the system load time issue, he didn't say it was slow, or that it would be "fixed", because fix is what you do with problems. He said they would "improve" load times... because you can always improve something, even when its not a problem.

Acknowledging the slow loading times was more harm than good. People get used to loading times, they get annoyed with freezing issues. I'm more likely to tell a friend to wait on buying a Wii U because Nintendo didn't address a legitimate problem the console, than I would about loading times. The loading "issue" isn't something I'm even bothered by, and doesn't cause me to have to move furniture around.

I think the bigger issue is the bricking alone. Through YouTube videos and Nintendo Tech Support, I've seen multiple people have their console freeze. Only to turn it back on and have their console bricked. It's certainly not a widespread problem, but one still worth trying to fix.

They probably will sooner or later, like on the 3DS

The most recent update helped my freezing issues a lot. My console froze three times before that update, and since then has only frozen once more. I play at least a few hours a day, so this is no big deal to me. I've owned 360s (yes, multiple lol) and PS2s (again, multiple lol) that froze at least a few times a month. It's just kind of a risk you run with consoles, computers, and any sort of device. I'm sure most of us have also had our smart phones freeze on us at some point. It just happens.

Nintendo has already issued a big update to seemed to help many of us, and I'm sure continued support in the spring update is not far-fetched to believe in.

The problem isn't just the freezing though, when was the last time your smart phone, PS2, or 360 froze and you had to UNPLUG the system (or let the battery die in your phone), to get it to work again? The Wii U is the first console I have had that I have to unplug when it freezes.

I've had a couple of 'phones I've had to frequently remove the battery in. No longer an option in most current 'phones.