Wii U News
June2014
News Bayonetta Anime Film Will be Distributed in United States and Canada
She's never one to shy from the spotlight
Last year we mentioned that everyone's favourite dark yet oh-so-flashy witch Bayonetta was receiving her own anime feature film in Japan, titled Bayonetta: Bloody Fate. Now, thanks to production company FUNimation, the film will be materializing in the United States and Canada as well. FUNi
News Shigeru Miyamoto Confirms That Dual GamePad Support is Still Possible, But Not Soon
"Two GamePad gameplay is not within our objectives in the short-term"
Prior to the Wii U's launch the company made positive noises about introducing support for two GamePad controllers in future titles, explaining that they'd eventually go on sale as optional extra controllers. It seemed like an exciting idea, despite the likelihood of a high price...
News Mario Kart 8 Claims Top Spot in Japanese Charts, Wii U Remains as Number One Home Console
3DS top overall, Yo-kai Watch keeps on going
Nintendo's enjoying a run of pleasing sales-related headlines right now, with the recent NPD results for May showing strong performance for Mario Kart 8 and a related bump in Wii U sales, in particular. The latest weekly Media Create charts for Japan are out, and they continue the positive trend, albeit...
News Wii Fit U Update Adds New Features, Extra Challenge Courses for Walking and Climbing
"If the weather is good, I hope you manage to go out with your Fit Meter"
Wii Fit U, for a variety of reasons, has struggled to have the same major impact as its predecessors on Wii. That's a pity, as it includes the exercises that made those titles popular in addition to a host of new GamePad-driven mini-games, while the Fit Meter is a handy gadget...
News Nintendo Needs To Cut Wii U Cost To Capitalise On Mario Kart 8 Success, Says Ubisoft CEO
"Nintendo has to perform this year, otherwise they will have less games"
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has passed judgement on the Wii U's future in an interview with CVG, stating that the Japanese firm needs to get more machines into homes if it wants to remain a key player in the market. Guillemot — whose company has supported the Wii U perhaps...
News Masahiro Sakurai Teases Trophy Rush Mini-Game For Super Smash Bros.
"Quite a bit different from Coin Launcher in Super Smash Bros. Brawl."
With its arrival now confirmed to be around three and a half months away, we can expect more firm details on Super Smash Bros. for 3DS to filter through in the coming weeks. We'll get a sense of how fully featured it is in comparison to its eventual Wii U partner, though to date...
Review How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Wii U)
Needs a bit more training
How to Train Your Dragon 2, developed by Australian studio Torus Games and published by Little Orbit, is a throwback to movie tie-ins of yore. Most big action films these days opt for cheaper, often microtransaction-based game tie-ins on mobile devices, like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and
Guide The Biggest Wii U and 3DS Retail Games Coming In 2014
With apologies to your wallet
We're rapidly approaching the second half of 2014, and before this year's E3 shenanigans Nintendo system owners would have been forgiven for some nerves about the volume of games on the way this year. The show did reveal a host of release dates and new titles, however, though keeping track of those coming in the near...
News Miyamoto Confirms Next Wii U System Update Is Already In Development
More improvements coming to the Wii U
It's fair to say that the last Wii U System Update was a bit special. The Quick Start menu is fantastic, offering the chance to get into your games with less waiting time. It was certainly encouraging to see Nintendo thoughtfully augment the abilities of the console and add something that is of genuine benefit...
News Mario Kart 8 Speeds Into Second Place In NPD May Sales, Kirby Powers Up In Ninth
Impressive results in software, Wii U hardware sales improved over May 2013
We already know that Mario Kart 8 enjoyed a terrific launch, confirmed to have sold 1.2 million copies in its opening weekend and to have boosted hardware sales in UK. It's a vital first step in driving Wii U
News Check Out Bayonetta's Mech and More in These Treehouse Videos
Splatoon! Yoshi's Woolly World! Devil's Third! Smash!
Not too long ago we brought you ten Nintendo Treehouse videos from E3, as the company has slowly uploaded the best of its live stream from the LA event. We enjoyed watching all of the action live, but these videos are a great catch-up for those that didn't have the time to do just that, while...
News Free Copy of Bayonetta Comes as a Separate Disc With Bayonetta 2 in Japan
Let's be having you, physical media fans
An E3 announcement from Nintendo that flashed by but nevertheless raised eyebrows in the Nintendo Life office was confirmation that a Wii U version of Bayonetta will be included with copies of Bayonetta 2, a welcome bonus that'll give Nintendo gamers the opportunity to jump into the sequel with all the...
News Developers Weigh In On The Way Forward For Wii U
"The system plays host to a bunch of great, very unique games"
Following Nintendo's E3 exploits, we now have a greater idea of what content is coming to the Wii U in the remainder of 2014 and beyond. It was an event with some genuine surprises, combined with expected details, and laid out the path for the system — GamePad included — for the...
News Mario Kart 8 and Tomodachi Life Hold Firm in UK Charts
There's this thing called the World Cup, it apparently affects sales
The latest UK chart results are in, and they bring reasonable news for Nintendo's two main entries in the top 40, reflecting a quiet spell for game sales but also early signs of hope for the company's current plucky, yet bizarre, 3DS title. To start at the top end, Mario Kart 8,...
News FIFA 15 Is Lacing Its Boots For A Wii And 3DS Appearance, But Is Skipping The Wii U
Foul play
EA has revealed that it is releasing a stripped-down version of FIFA 15 for the Wii and 3DS, but won't be bringing its best-selling soccer series to the Wii U. FIFA 15 will hit next-generation machines with a host of new features, but the publisher has stated that versions for older systems won't come with the same amount of content: A...
News Mii Swordfighter Characters Show Off Their Moves in Super Smash Bros.
Shurikens of Light! Chakrams! Gale Strikes!
The first reveal from Nintendo in its E3 Digital Event was Mii characters for Super Smash Bros., an inclusion that means — in theory — almost anyone can be a challenger. You want to fight as Reggie Fils-Aime or Satoru Iwata? Import or create their Mii characters onto your system, and they're good to...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Outlines His Work Routine and Highlights Splatoon Development Team
Also says Virtual Reality gives him "quite a bit of pause"
Shigeru Miyamoto's role at Nintendo has changed a great deal in recent years, with the legendary game designer now one of the most senior managers in the company and responsible for far more than developing a game or two a year. Rumours of retirement a couple of years ago transpired to be a...
First Impressions Getting Creative With Mario Maker
Make Mine Mario
Mario Maker may have been inadvertently revealed a little earlier than intended at E3 this year, but with the allure of what was on offer — a new Wii U title which lets budding Miyamotos create and play their own Mario levels — we’d argue that the effect was less like ruining a surprise and more like knowing you’re getting...
News Eiji Aonuma Plans To Shake Up the Puzzle Formula in The Legend of Zelda for Wii U
"I wanna kinda rethink or maybe reconstruct the idea of puzzle-solving"
The Legend of Zelda for Wii U was probably, for quite a few devoted Nintendo fans, the highlight of the company's E3 Digital Event. Series producer Eiji Aonuma presented a vision of a large, open world before we were treated to a highly stylised action sequence. Finding a blend...
First Impressions Solving the Puzzle of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Toad Captain! My Captain!
Sometimes games play host to smaller experiences so fun they could easily stand as full-fledged titles of their own. Kirby games are famous for this, of course, with Kirby Fighters & Dedede’s Drum Dash on offer in the pink puffball’s latest outing, though Mario’s also been known to get in on the act — Super...
Feature Catch Up With Ten of the Nintendo Treehouse E3 Demonstrations
Essential viewing
Nintendo's multi-faceted approach to E3 this year did much to earn praise, as it ignored convention and produced a series of videos and events that played up to its strengths. The Digital Event was stylish, the Super Smash Bros. Invitational was raucous fun, and there were two roundtable events that generated plenty of buzz. That...
First Impressions Enjoying the Craft of Yoshi's Woolly World
A purled gem
For fans who have been anxiously awaiting news of Yarn Yoshi since it was first announced in January 2013, seeing Nintendo’s Takashi Tezuka and Good-Feel’s Etsunobu Ebisu walk into a yarn shop during the E3 Digital Event was enough to send hopeful hearts flutter-jumping in anticipation. Now sporting a new name and a launch window of...
News Shigeru Miyamoto Hints at Star Fox for Wii U Structure, Explains Background of Mario Maker
Potential link between Project Guard and Star Fox
Now that the E3 LA extravaganza is finished, we're starting to learn a little more about projects that were shown by Nintendo during the event. Shigeru Miyamoto has been doing the rounds, for example, and in an interview with Entertainment Weekly has given a little more context for his GamePad...
News Here's Another Huge Batch of Hyrule Warriors Screens to Enjoy
Spare no-one
Hyrule Warriors is no longer a Japanese title that we hope to eventually see in the West, as Tecmo Koei's extravagant Dynasty Warriors / Zelda mash-up has been confirmed for a September arrival. It'll be all about wiping out hundreds of enemies, taking on a boss, and then doing that all over again, all within a world full of...
News Star Fox on Wii U to Support Local Co-Op With GamePad Player as Gunner
Second screen detailed further
Star Fox for Wii U was one of the most peculiar reveals of E3 2014, in that it was leaked hours before Nintendo's Digital Event, teased but not shown by the company, and remained a behind-closed-doors demo away from the thousands in attendance on the main show floor. It was one of the biggest stories of the entire...
News Mario Kart 8 Toys Boosting Into McDonald's Happy Meals
Best. Happy Meal. Ever.
In recent times we've been marvelling at Nintendo's entries into the McDonald's Happy Meal scene, even going so far as to unbox the recent Super Mario toys in the UK. They were fairly generic franchise toys, but it's all about to get real in the U.S. with the emergence of the Mario Kart 8 toys pictured above. As you can see...
Poll What Did You Think of Nintendo's E3?
It's actually finished, you know
E3 is over, finished, done for another year. It was three days (four if you consider the 'day zero' press conferences) of gaming madness, with information overload and the main console manufacturers, publishers and developers doing the equivalent of jumping around screaming "look at me, please!" for a sustained...
News This Splatoon Collage Shows Off the Artists on Miiverse
Insert your own ink pun here, dear readers
Splatoon arrived at E3 with the challenge of being a new IP that needed to grab some attention, but it seems that Nintendo's colourful online shooter has done just that. It's a title that seems to be typical Nintendo — take some established ideas, play around with concepts and add a dash of chaos and...
News Mario Maker to Include Additional Graphical Styles, Sharing Levels is "Really The Whole Point"
"I'd also like to include other graphics that aren't Mario"
Mario Maker on Wii U may have been leaked before E3, but its formal reveal was still a delight to see in action. Though it's certainly possible to mod Mario levels in various unofficial ways, the prospect of an accessible and official editing app from Nintendo is particularly enticing. Many...
E3 2014 Amiibo Figures Will Have A Price Tag Comparable To Skylanders And Disney Infinity Toys
Reggie shares some details
Nintendo of America chief Reggie Fils-Aime has revealed that Amiibo (or "amiibo", if you want to be fussy) NFC figures will be priced around the same level as the toys seen in the Skylanders and Disney Infinity ranges. Speaking to the Seattle Times, Fils-Aime said: You can expect them to be comparable to the Disney and...
News Wii Owners Are Upgrading To PlayStation 4, Claims Sony
Lies, damn lies and statistics?
Sony Worldwide Studios senior VP of product development Scott Rohde has made the bold claim that Wii and Xbox 360 owners are choosing the PS4 as their next system. Using stats collected by industry tracker Nielsen, Rohde explained that many new PS4 owners did not previously own a PS3, and instead upgraded from a...
News Bayonetta Download Code Included With Retail and eShop Copies of Bayonetta 2
So, calm your horses
During E3 Nintendo made the rather pleasing announcement that upcoming system exclusive Bayonetta 2 will come with a copy of the original Bayonetta. As demonstrated through the company's Treehouse broadcast, meanwhile, the Wii U version of the first title in the series will also include GamePad touch controls and Nintendo-themed...
E3 2014 Nintendo Hopes to Share Metroid News in the "Near Future"
Keen to accommodate both 3D and 2D styles of franchise
One notable feature of Nintendo's showing at E3 2014 has been its willingness to unveil new IPs or, if not entirely new brands, spin-off small ideas or franchises into new releases. Intelligent Systems is bringing us Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., for example, while one of the largest — and popular...
Video Nintendo Unleashes Its Official E3 2014 Highlights
Three minutes of E3 goodness
The lights are going off at E3, and Nintendo is packing up all of those lovely debug systems that are home to titles that, we hope, will be future classics. It certainly seemed like Nintendo kept us busy over the three days, especially with its rolling Treehouse coverage. Now that the doors are closing the company has...
E3 2014 Nintendo Planning To Release Amiibo Figures for Entire Super Smash Bros. Roster
Explains how the figures will work
As E3 draws to a close for another year, one of the most significant reveals for Nintendo will likely be regarded as the Amiibo figure platform. Previous codenamed NFP (Nintendo Figurine Platform), an initial range was finally shown, demonstrated and confirmed for a number of new and existing titles, even including...
Talking Point Nintendo's GamePad Bet Could Pay Off
It's all about Amiibo and Nintendo's unique charm
The Wii U, through its troubles in its first 18 months-or-so, has been the subject of a lot of analysis and opinion around its GamePad controller. Its presence with the system adds to its cost and, as the hardware has struggled to grab the public's attention in the same manner as its predecessor,...
E3 2014 Nintendo Won't Bring Live Twitch Streaming to Wii U as it Lacks 'Fun'
Reggie Fils-Aime also addresses the issue of the YouTube affiliate program
For those of you following our E3 2014 coverage here on Nintendo Life, or indeed on Nintendo's official channels, you've likely seen a lot of Twitch. Our Nintendo Digital Event reaction video was initially a live broadcast, and Nintendo's rolling Treehouse show through E3 has...
E3 2014 Watch Nintendo's Treehouse Broadcast - Live!
Enjoy the E3 experience
The famed Nintendo Treehouse team will be providing rolling coverage from its booth through the three day event, including appearances from Shigeru Miyamoto, as one example. It's a great way to see E3 in action, and you can watch it here. [liveblog=e3_2014_nintendo_treehouse]#E3 #Nintendo
E3 2014 No DLC In The Works For Content-Rich Bayonetta 2
Director feels there's enough content for "one and a half" games
Bayonetta 2 may be taking its sweet time getting to market — we saw it at last year's E3, after all — but it would appear that the wait will be more than worth it. Speaking to US Gamer, game director Yusuke Hashimoto has revealed that he is very proud indeed of the level of
Weirdness Conan O'Brien Plays Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
"So everyone at Nintendo is on acid?"
Late-night funnyman Conan O'Brien is not a gamer – a fact he'll tell you every chance he gets. As a result, the recent "Clueless Gamer" series on his show has become perhaps his most popular segment, as he plays through all sorts of big-name titles like Resident Evil 6 and Watch_Dogs with no regard for...
E3 2014 Getting To Grips With Amiibo, Nintendo's Revolutionary Take On NFC Toys
Make some space on your shelves
We all knew that Nintendo's "figurine platform" would be shown off at E3, but now it has a shiny new name: Amiibo. Taking inspiration from the likes of Skylanders and Disney Infinity, Amiibo is based around character toys blessed with NFC tech which can be read by the Wii U GamePad (and an optional 3DS accessory which...
First Impressions Taking Aim With Nintendo's New Online Shooter IP, Splatoon
Colour us ink-pressed
Whatever your expectations for Nintendo's Digital Event at E3 this year, it's safe to say that they probably didn't include squid-girls flinging ink at each other across a cityscape in team-based battles. A surprise in every sense of the word, Splatoon came out of nowhere to significant fanfare as one of Nintendo’s flagship...
E3 2014 Hyrule Warriors Not Part of Zelda Timeline, More Like an Avengers Spin-Off
Oh Aonuma-san, we love you
With a Western release confirmed for 26th September, Hyrule Warriors is likely to be on plenty of Wii U owners' radars. The mashup of Tecmo Koei's Dynasty Warriors with Nintendo's iconic franchise is fairly close, then, and is creating plenty of buzz with the sheer range of playable characters and the level of fan-service...
E3 2014 Launch Sales of Mario Kart 8 Outperform Mario Kart 7 Figures in North America
An 18% attach rate in just three days
We already know that Mario Kart 8 enjoyed an exceptional launch, selling 1.2 million copies worldwide in its opening weekend. In an analyst meeting behind closed doors, it seems that the title has seized the honour of, initially at least, outperforming its 3DS predecessor. Senior Research Analyst David Gibson...
Talking Point Nintendo's Innovative E3 Approach is a Breath of a Fresh Air
Going its own way
As this article goes live Nintendo's Treehouse team will be well into its second day of live demonstrations, showing off projects and titles revealed in the Nintendo Digital Event. It's an approach from Nintendo to offer rolling coverage and continually seize attention, while the company has fulfilled an obligation for a major live...
E3 2014 Reggie Fils-Aime Reaffirms Nintendo's Commitment to the GamePad
"We believe that the GamePad is an integral part of Wii U"
A vital part of Nintendo's messaging at E3, so far, is that the GamePad is to become increasingly integral to the Wii U in the coming months and years. Shigeru Miyamoto has been focused on it exclusively, with Splatoon also being given a lot of time on the Treehouse broadcast. Speaking to...
News Persona Q Gives 3DS a Boost in Japan, Wii U Takes Second Spot
Mario Kart 8 approaches 400,000 physical retail sales
After a chart topping performance from Mario Kart 8 and Wii U in Japan last week, the latest Media Create results bring the 3DS back to the fore with a major new release. Kicking off with software, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth has arrived at number one in Nintendo's homeland, which...
E3 2014 Quickfire Shigeru Miyamoto Video Focuses On His Three GamePad Projects
Watch a player's face as they play Star Fox...
Nintendo is slowly waking up for day two of E3, and has released a snappy video featuring Shigeru Miyamoto that's focused on his GamePad-centric projects. It was formally stated to investors in January that the Director and lead designer would be tasked with developing experiences to accentuate the...
E3 2014 Three Different Modes Detailed for Star Fox Wii U
An outside developer may be enlisted to hit 2015 release target
The reveal of Star Fox for Wii U has been a relatively extraordinary occurrence so far at E3, as it was inadvertently leaked by TIME and then, peculiarly, not considered ready for demonstration in the Nintendo Treehouse broadcast. As a result, there's no useful footage — the screen...
E3 2014 PDP Shows Off its New GameCube-Styled Wired Fight Pad For Wii U and Wii
More ways to smash
PDP has taken the golden opportunity that is E3 2014 to show off its upcoming Wired Fight Pad for Wii U and Wii, and they're bound to turn the heads of many long-time Nintendo fans. Clearly designed to capitalise on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U's impending release, these remodelled versions of the Classic Controller (not to be...
Feature All Of The Vital Super Smash Bros. Roundtable Details, As Pac-Man Joins The Fight
Our man at E3 on Mii customisation, Amiibo and more
Below is a detailed summary from the recently held Super Smash Bros. roundtable, presented by Masahiro Sakurai, as we highlight the most important details and question answers. Once Masahiro Sakurai took to the stage to begin the roundtable, it didn't take long for him to drop the biggest news...
Poll Your Favourite Showing from Nintendo During E3 Day One
So many choices
Day one of E3 has drawn to a close, with the exhibitors and press heading off to an evening of writing — yes, including us — and 'after show events'. It's been an exciting day, as Nintendo kicked it off with its Digital Event, followed it with hours of live demonstrations from the Treehouse team and then, finally, the rather...
E3 2014 Time for Another Blowout of Nintendo Videos
Because we don't want to miss anything
It's been a manic day so far, yet Nintendo has unveiled some footage and trailers that's not appeared in its Digital Event or follow-up articles. Clearly it's time to resolve that. There are a host of additional trailers to enjoy, covering retail and download titles on both Wii U and 3DS. Without further ado,...
E3 2014 Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Invitational - Live!
Get ready!
Nintendo's big live show at this year's E3 is a celebration of the franchise and also a live tournament of Super Smash Bros. on Wii U. Hosted by Geoff Keighley and with well-known competitors, this could be a battle for the ages. [liveblog=e3_2014_smash_bros_invitational]#E3 #SmashBros
E3 2014 Zelda Wii U Looks So Great You Really Should Put It On Your Desktop
Wallpaper ahoy!
If you're like us then you're probably still recovering from that gorgeous Legend of Zelda Wii U footage shown off during Nintendo's E3 Digital Event. The forthcoming game looks amazing, but 2015 feels so far away — so what better way to make the wait a little less painful than to furnish your desktop with one of these beautiful...
E3 2014 Wii U eShop Version of Bayonetta 2 Does Not Come with the First Game
Two-player online multiplayer also confirmed
A small disclaimer found at the bottom of the Bayonetta 2 official website has revealed that the Nintendo eShop version of the game will not include the Wii U port of the original title that was released back in 2010. Before you reach for your pitchforks, it's worth noting that the text may simply be...
E3 2014 New Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Title Marching For Wii U In 2015
Share puzzles and reward creators on Miiverse
There's a mini-puzzle revolution headed for Wii U next year, as the ever-popular Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series makes its home console debut. The latest entry currently goes by the working title of Mario Vs. Donkey Kong, and will feature the same charming toy characters as always with a little extra HD...
E3 2014 Nintendo Life's E3 Reaction - Live!
Time to chew it all over
Now that Nintendo's Digital Event is finished, the team will give initial reactions to what was shown. [ If you want to ask the Nlife team anything during our Twitch broadcast, just tweet us using the #NlifeTwitch hashtag.
E3 2014 Nintendo Rolls Out New Kirby Game Trailer For Wii U
From canvas to clay
As a surprise announcement slipped in between the vast Hyrule Warriors and the mighty Xenoblade Chronicles X during today's Digital Event, Nintendo showed us a glimpse at Kirby's next outing set to take place on Wii U. Stylus at the ready! Following Yoshi's Woolly trend of creative new art styles, the adventure seems to be set...
E3 2014 Nintendo Confirms New 'Retro' GameCube Controller and Adapter Pricing
Special Super Smash Bros. bundle to also launch
Following its Digital Event at E3, Nintendo has released additional details into the wild, with exciting news for Super Smash Bros. fans with a love for the GameCube controls. Nintendo revealed the GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U just recently, and has now also announced that it'll arrive (with...
E3 2014 Devil's Third Confirmed As Wii U Exclusive
Ex-Team Ninja boss Tomonobu Itagaki is now working with Nintendo
Former Team Ninja boss and Ninja Gaiden chief Tomonobu Itagaki has revealed to IGN that his next game is coming to the Wii U as an exclusive release. Being developed by Valhalla Game Studios and running on the same game engine as Darksiders II, Devil's Third is an action title whi
E3 2014 Palutena to Descend From the Heavens to Join Super Smash Bros.
Divine Intervention
Kid Icarus fans will be delighted to learn that Palutena, the Goddess of Light from the classic Nintendo series, will be making a playable appearance in the upcoming Super Smash Bros games for Wii U and 3DS. Showcased during Nintendo's Digital Event, gameplay footage revealed the divine being's impressive move set. The footage...
E3 2014 Splatoon Will Offer Team-Based Ink-Splatting Action For Wii U In 2015
Team Fortress, Nintendo-style?
One of the new titles confirmed by Nintendo during its E3 Digital Event is Splatoon, a 4 on 4 combat title where the objective is to cover as much of the level with your own ink. It sounds bizarre, but gets even stranger. You can transform into a squid and swin through your own team's ink, allowing you to move faster...
E3 2014 Mario Party 10 Subtly Announced for Wii U, Amiibo-Compatible
First title for the series on Wii U
During its Nintendo Minute Live @ E3 showcase, Nintendo stealthily announced that Mario Party 10 will be coming to Wii U when discussing game compatibility with its upcoming Amiibo NFC figurines. Not much is known about the game, but it will be available to play on the show floor at E3. With that said, it was...
E3 2014 Hyrule Warriors Will Be Crossing Swords September 26th
Sooner than you think
Dynasty Warriors and Zelda crossover title Hyrule Warriors has been confirmed for launch on September 26th — sooner than many of us could have hoped for. Amazingly, Hyrule Warriors will even beat Bayonetta 2 to market — a game which was shown at last year's E3. It's close enough to taste — are you excited? [
E3 2014 Mario Maker Officially Announced for Wii U, Coming 2015
Let'sa build whole new stages!
It appeared in a grainy, slightly dodgy looking photo earlier this week, but it turns out that the rumours were true after all; Mario Maker has been announced for Wii U and will be arriving on the system next year. Similar in concept to popular PlayStation series LittleBigPlanet, Mario Maker enables players to build...
E3 2014 Bayonetta 2 Comes With The Original Game, As Well As Link And Samus Costumes
Launching October
Remember Bayonetta 2? It was shown off at last year's E3, but still isn't out yet. However, Nintendo and Platinum Games have made the wait a little more bearable by confirming that it will come bundled with the original title — which first released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 — as well as Link and Samus costumes to unlock in the...
E3 2014 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Announced for Wii U
More star-hunting adventures to arrive on Wii U Holiday 2014
The Nintendo Digital Event has thrown up a few surprises already today, one of them being a new Wii U game called Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. Veterans of Super Mario 3D World will instantly recognise the concept behind this just-announced title; it's based on the Captain Toad...
E3 2014 Monolith's X Becomes Xenoblade Chronicles X, Locked In For 2015 Release
Space battles, massive robots, what's not to like?
X has a new name: Xenoblade Chronicles X. The new title was confirmed during today's E3 Digital Event, along with fresh footage which shows epic space battles and massive mechs. Aside from the new title, Nintendo confirmed that the game will be coming in 2015, crushing hopes of a western release...
E3 2014 Wii U Legend Of Zelda Revealed, Confirmed For 2015 Release
Open world Zelda shown off at E3
Nintendo has shown the first footage of The Legend of Zelda title for the Wii U during its E3 Digital Event. The game boasts a massive open world, a cel-shaded art style and what appears to be some particularly dynamic combat — but no title as yet. The only other confirmed info is that the game is due for release...
E3 2014 Yoshi's Woolly World Details Revealed During Nintendo Digital Event
Nintendo pulls the wool over your eyes in the most beautiful way
New details, gameplay footage and even a new title for previously announced Wii U title Yarn Yoshi - now known as Yoshi's Woolly World. The new title sports a beautiful woollen aesthetic, one which — dare we say — looks almost lifelike in terms of textures. The gameplay itself is...
E3 2014 Nintendo Reveals Amiibo NFC Concept, Confirmed For Mario Kart 8
Toys 'r' Us
As expected, Nintendo has confirmed its NFC figurine platform for the Wii U, and has even given it a funky new name: Amiibo. During Nintendo's E3 Digital Event, Amiibo was shown in the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros., where a Mario figure was deployed to assist in battle. Other confirmed figures for the game are Kirby, Yoshi,...
E3 2014 Mii Fighter Confirmed for Super Smash Bros.
Anyone can now join the fight
Nintendo has revealed during its E3 2014 Digital Event that Miis will be playable in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. games, and they're a lot more fleshed out than you might have thought. The showcase initially teased the inclusion by showing Satoru Iwata and Reggie Fils-Aime face off against one another in an epic...
E3 2014 Project Giant Robot Revealed as Experimental Wii U Project
Tilt the torso on the GamePad, punch and grab with sticks
As part of what appears to have been an accidental leak by Time, Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed Star Fox for Wii U along with two Wii U concepts; one of these is Project Giant Robot. This appears to be more a 'tech demo' than an established game, to be clear, but serves as a demonstration of...
E3 2014 Nintendo Reveals Project Guard GamePad Tower Defence Concept
Classed only as "experimental" by Miyamoto
A new GamePad-centric prototype game, Project Guard, has inadvertently been revealed by TIME, after it – ironically enough – published an exclusive interview with Shigeru Miyamoto ahead of time. The article has since been pulled, however, we were able to discover a few titbits about the experimental...
E3 2014 Shigeru Miyamoto Confirms Star Fox for Wii U
"It’s been maybe 6 to 10 months that we’ve been experimenting with it"
In a shock reveal less than two hours before Nintendo's Digital Event, Time has published — and it seems is attempting to pull down — an interview and hands-on time with a new Star Fox title for Wii U. One of the most demanded franchises is actually coming to Wii U, but...
Talking Point What We Expect From Nintendo at E3 2014
Hype train incoming
The Nintendo Digital Event is just hours away, which means forged MK8 DLC images and many more besides that we've ignored will be consigned to another year of irrelevance. Nintendo will lay out its major projects for the remainder of 2014 and, we suspect, one or two of the biggest titles of 2015. With its current gen rivals in a...
E3 2014 Ubisoft Admits to Holding Back Completed Wii U Game Until Sales Improve
"We have one game that we are waiting until Wii U has a certain market"
In its E3 press conference Ubisoft has confirmed Just Dance 2015 for Wii U, the only title in the show coming to Nintendo hardware. While that is a positive, extraordinary comments have emerged from the company's CEO in which he admits that a completed game is sitting on the...
Feature Our Hopes and Dreams for E3 2014
Let's be optimists
With E3 mania well and truly underway, it's time to get some predictions out of our systems. We'll be pulling together a 'realistic' set of expectations before the main event, but in this article three members of our team based in HQ share what they want to see from Nintendo this year. Some of these hopes are realistic, others...
E3 2014 Nintendo Reveals A Slew of New Trailers for Previously Announced Games
And there's a lot of them!
It's that time of the year where the video game industry goes absolutely bonkers for a few days and unveils a ton of new information about upcoming games for various systems and devices. In true keeping with this tradition, Nintendo of America has uploaded a shed-load of new trailers for previously announced Wii U and 3DS...
News Here's A First Look At Skylanders Trap Team Villain Buzzer Beak
Pecking order
If you're interested in all things Skylanders, then you'll be pleased to know that our friends over at Family Gamer TV have an exclusive reveal of a new Skylanders Trap Team villain Buzzer Beak and his related Air Trap. As you can see, he appears to be inspired from a variety of different animals, with the beak of a toucan and the...
Rumour Mario Kart 8 DLC to Feature Expanded Roster and New Battle Modes
E3 madness begins
Update: We've received some further information that suggests these images are indeed fakes, good job you kept that salt handy, right? Original Article: E3 mania is well and truly underway, with screens now emerging of a potential Mario Kart 8 DLC leak that could be confirmed during Nintendo's Digital Event. Strap yourselves in...
Talking Point The Legend of Zelda on Wii U Can Wear Many Masks
Time for the Majora's Mask concept to return
"You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" the enigmatic Happy Mask Salesman says. His immortal words mark the true beginning of one of Link's most bizarre adventures; one that arguably took the series' portrayal of love, fear, death and despair to new — and so far unsurpassed — levels. Though...
News Mario Kart 8 Stays Second in UK as Tomodachi Life Has Modest Début
Still on the podium
The UK chart results are in for last week's sales, with points of interest being the momentum of Wii U racer Mario Kart 8 and the launch of quirky 3DS Mii-sim Tomodachi Life; ultimately, it's a mix of good and bad news. On the happy news front, Mario Kart 8 has retained second place in the all-format chart behind Ubisoft's Watch...
Feature Our Top 10 Wii U Retail Games - Summer 2014
Our favourites so far
With E3 2014 right around the corner, Nintendo seems set to prioritise the Wii U in its Digital Event, subsequent coverage and, of course, the Super Smash Bros. Invitational. The 3DS will have a role to play, of course, but many eyes are on Nintendo's home console to see how it'll capitalise on the recent success of Mario Kart...
News GameCube-Style Wii U Controller, the WaveDash, Seeks Kickstarter Funding
It's wireless and will act like a Wii U Pro Controller
Not long ago Nintendo excited a lot of loyal fans by unveiling The GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U, the reveal of which was tied with details of the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Invitational at E3 2014. Of course, that's all about plugging in existing controllers, and a company from LA has...
Play Mario Kart 8 in the NLife Community GP - Today!
Get your boosting going
We may have the Nintendo Life GP on the go around the clock, but we thought it was high time, a week after release, for a good old-fashioned community race day in Mario Kart 8. Yesterday we asked for your votes on the tournament criteria, which has left us with the following: 150cc Grand Prix
Weirdness This Walmart Employee Got a Little Confused by a Mario Kart 8 Poster
So close yet so far
It's Friday, it's been a long week, so we all need a little humour to get the weekend started. Thankfully a Walmart employee has served up a clanger for us to enjoy, though it's a mistake with an undeniable logic to it, regardless. As you can see above, someone baffled by the whole anti-gravity thing in Mario Kart 8 has decided...
News Spider-Man's Sworn Enemy Venom Revealed In Wii U Disney Infinity 2.0 Pack
Another Marvel favourite
As we approach E3, news of all things Nintendo comes thick and fast — in fact, you never quite know where it’s going to pop up next. Today we had news of a Wii U Disney Infinity 2.0 pack including Venom. Venom is one of Spider-Man's arch-enemies and is a slightly unusual character – not least as the name has belonged...
Play Mario Kart 8 With Nintendo Life in a 10 Hour Community Tournament
Bring it on
As you may have seen recently, we've opened the round-the-clock Nintendo Life GP in Wii U racer Mario Kart 8, and since its launch two days ago hundreds of players have jumped in for some races. That's a rolling tournament with no real rules or winners, it's just for fun. We've decided that an old-fashioned Community session is needed,...
News Natsume Confirms A-Train: City Simulator For 3DS and Alphadia Genesis for Wii U
Some story background for Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley also included
Natsume recently announced that Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley is coming to 3DS in 2014, and has today used its pre-E3 press release to confirm two more titles coming to Nintendo systems; both seem like candidates for the eShop, though that's not confirmed. First up we have...
News Wii Sports Club Retail Version Hits North America on 25th July
Baseball and Boxing arrive as downloads on 26th June
Just yesterday Nintendo of Europe confirmed details for a Wii Sports Club retail version along with release dates for the final two downloadable parts — Wii Sports Club: Baseball and Wii Sports Club: Boxing. Nintendo of America ha
Poll Should Nintendo Patch The Controversial Fire Hopping Technique In Mario Kart 8?
New trick shaves seconds off lap times
Every new Mario Kart release comes with its own little tricks, but sometimes these speed-boosting techniques are seen as largely unintentional on Nintendo's part, leading fans to decry them as "exploits" rather than recognizing them as legitimate strategies. In Mario Kart 8's case, the "Fire Hop" is dividing...
News Nintendo@E3 2014 Community Now Live on Miiverse
Announcement community included
Following hot on the heels of a platform update, Miiverse has another exciting addition for social Nintendo gamers to enjoy. It's formally launched its Nintendo@E3 2014 Community, and a sub-community that'll host official announcements through 'news, videos and events'. The main community is already buzzing with...
Wii U release inconclusive
Fans of The Walking Dead are in for a treat with pinball masters Zen Studios announcing it has partnered with the series creator and writer Robert Kirkman, Skybound, and Telltale Games, to release an all-new digital table for Zen Pinball 2 based on the popular episodic game series of the same name. In a true collaborative...
News Miiverse Update Eases Comment Restriction and Boosts Post Character Limit
Down to two minutes and up to 400 characters, that is
After a major Wii U system update this week, Nintendo has applied a smaller yet potentially rather popular update to its bespoke Miiverse social network, with tweaks that will give users a little more freedom on the platform. The ever evolving platform's changes have been applied across the Wii...
Talking Point Nintendo's System Updates Bring The Wii U to Another Level
A major leap from day one
For those that owned the Wii U since day one, cast your mind back to its UI (user interface) and OS (operating system) when you fired up the system for the first time. It was, to be rather blunt, a mediocre experience, mainly due to its excessively slow performance. Don't forget that a popular video of a Japanese fan...
News Nintendo Revenue Claims on Mario Kart 8 YouTube Footage Reportedly Underway
An expected development
Just over a week ago Nintendo confirmed that it would be offering an affiliate program for YouTube, in which it would offer tiered packages to content producers that would share ad revenues between Nintendo, Google and the channels in question. After the controversy following the company's heavy-handed claims of revenue in...
News Mario Kart 8 and the Wii U Take Top Spots in Japanese Charts
Yo-kai Watch passes one million retail sales
As was the case in Western markets, Mario Kart 8 has arrived in Japan to give the Wii U a lift in performance — it's had a notable impact in the software and hardware Media Create charts. Elsewhere popular Level-5 title Yo-kai Watch has finally gone past one million physical retail sales in these...
Play The Nintendo Life Mario Kart 8 GP Is Now Open
Come join our rolling tournament
As we all know, Mario Kart 8 is now available worldwide, and many of you will already have spent countless hours navigating its various courses and taking out rivals with red shells. With the view of bringing the Nintendo Life karting community together, we've opened up a rolling tournament called Nintendo Life GP,...
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