Wii U News

November2012

  • News Unexpected Wii U Nintendo Direct Details Storage And Online

    Nintendo loves surprises

    Nintendo is always great at surprises, especially when it comes to not letting anybody know about its forthcoming Nintendo Direct presentations. True to form, Nintendo Japan uploaded a new video literally just minutes ago without telling anyone, so excuse us if we seem a little dazed. We'll be breaking down the video and...

  • News Nintendo Talks Miiverse, Nintendo Network, And Internet Browser

    NoA's Bill Trinen dishes on the Wii U's online functionalities

    Last week, Nintendo of Japan hosted a Nintendo Direct, which focused on Miiverse and a variety of online features for Wii U. While Nintendo of America has yet to host its own streamed broadcast on the subject, it's released a new video that showcases Miiverse, Nintendo Network, and the...

  • News New Chasing Aurora Gameplay Videos Show Off Different Modes

    Catch that pigeon!

    Broken Rules has released a series of new videos showing off the various game modes in its upcoming Wii U title Chasing Aurora. As the first title in a three-part series, Chasing Aurora is a 2D aerial action game in which players control birds and battle it out over the Alps for a glowing treasure known as Aurora's Gem. The game...

  • News ZombiU Live Action Video Shows Multiplayer Battle

    All hail the Zombie King

    Halloween may be gone for the year, but one particular Wii U game will be playing on the fact that, for many of us, it's the time of year with long, dark nights. ZombiU is one of the most eagerly anticipated Wii U launch titles, with early impressions emphasizing the complexities and difficulties it'll offer, as well as its...

  • Competition Winner Win a Wii U at Eurogamer Expo

    One lucky winner

    Nintendo Life attended Eurogamer.net's annual Eurogamer Expo in late September, the first ever public showing of the Wii U console in the UK. We had a great time meeting gamers, filling up our 3DS puzzle pieces and running rather intense competitions in the Nintendo Life StreetPass Zone. You can get a taste of what it was all about...

  • News Toki Tori 2 Lands on Wii U eShop on 20th December

    Not for use in festive meals

    Toki Tori 2 is likely to be one of the most widely recognisable names in the early weeks of the Wii U eShop, due to its predecessor being one of the leading titles to herald the arrival of WiiWare. The diminutive little chicken isn't going to be quite ready for launch day, however, with confirmation from Two Tribes that...

  • News Guess What? Wii U Discs Have A Rounded Edge

    Nintendo gets out the sandpaper

    As we’ve known for a while now, the Wii U will use piracy-fighting proprietary discs that will hold a capacity of 25GB – the same amount as a single-layer Blu-ray Disc used by the PlayStation 3 and much more than the 4.5GB single-layer DVDs that the Wii uses. Sometimes we get so bogged down by all this technical...

  • News Take A Look At The Gatorade-Infused Exclusive Features Of Wii U NBA 2K13

    Is it the shoes?

    2K Sports has slam-dunked a Developer Insight video for its upcoming NBA 2K13 for the Wii U. The video pays particular attention to hilariously-titled Gatorade Biometric Scanner. This feature allows you to quickly view your player's fatigue level and see whether they're hot or cold; all this can be done simply by holding the...

  • News Wii U Has "Plenty Of Power" According To Team Ninja

    But with great power, comes great responsibility

    Nintendo has had plenty of third party support for the Wii U with a whole host of games being released alongside its first party titles in the coming months. One such developer is Team Ninja - who will be releasing Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge on January 11th - and in a recent interview its studio...

  • News Ubisoft Boss Thinks Wii U Is Cheap, But Is Still Unhappy On Pricing

    No pleasing some people

    Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has stated that although the Wii U is cheap when compared to devices like Apple's iPad, he's not 100% happy with the price of the system. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Guillemot remarked: I always prefer lower pricing, so I can't say I'm happy. I'm never happy when the machines are expensive...

  • News Wii U Holiday Sales Projected to Exceed Wii Launch

    Four year sales expected to be lower, though

    With Wii U set to arrive, and Nintendo needing a strong performance to appease shareholders, market analysts are inevitably checking various sources of data and making their predictions on the system's outlook. The latest to do so is research firm IHS Screen Digest, with projections that bring good and...

  • News Wii U Software Storage on USB Devices Detailed

    UPDATE: Original source was "misinterpreted"

    UPDATE: We've since been contacted by Official Nintendo Magazine - the source of this particular piece of news - to clarify a few points. According to ONM, a post on the Japanese Wii U website was "misinterpreted" and it has NOT been confirmed by Nintendo that software cannot be played directly from...

  • Talking Point Life Without Wii U Achievements

    Nintendo sticks to its guns

    Nintendo isn't at all keen on mandatory, system-integrated achievements or trophies. The idea was ignored for Wii, while gamers with an Xbox 360 got used to notifications re-affirming their awesomeness for acts as simple as starting a new game, with their Gamerscore continually getting bigger with each accomplishment...

  • News Ubisoft Plan To Sell Wii U Retail Games Via The eShop

    Uplay service also incoming

    Nintendo are being secretive as always about their plans to bring retail Wii U games to the eShop but that hasn't stopped third party developers from getting the ball rolling with their own digital plans for the new console. Namco Bandai has already confirmed that Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition will be available...

  • News Wii U Won't Include Trophies Or Achievements

    Maybe in the future?

    Creative director and co-founder of 5th Cell Jeremiah Slaczka has revealed on NeoGAF that the Wii U will not have a universal achievement system. Slaczka went on to explain how Scribblenauts Unlimited would have its own in-game accomplishments: There are no Wii U accomplishments that are system wide. Scribblenauts Unlimited...

  • News Unemployment And Platforming Combine In Wii U Title 8-Bit Boy

    One man show

    Danish one-man studio AwesomeBlade Software has announced that its retro-themed platformer 8-Bit Boy is coming to the Wii U. Created by Rasmus Kønig Sørensen - a Danish ex-video game journalist with a bachelor degree in Construction Management - 8-Bit Boy is a love letter to the 2D platforming epics of old. Sørensen counts himself...

  • Feature Nintendo's Wii U Hype Machine

    Sharing the message

    Today marks the start of a major countdown for Wii U, as it's set to arrive in North American stores in just seven days; it's a major event for Nintendo, as new home consoles aren't an overly frequent occurrence. It's been six years since Wii arrived and revolutionised gaming with its focus on motion controls, and now the company...

  • Developer Interview Shin'en Multimedia on Nintendo, eShop Development, 3DS and Wii U

    Blasting onto eShop

    With the 3DS eShop continuing to grow, and the Wii U equivalent already shaping up with an increasingly encouraging range of confirmed titles, there’s plenty of positivity around Nintendo’s download offerings. Like any platform it still has its detractors and issues, such as the occasional broken mess on the release schedule...

  • News Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Live Streaming Confirmed, But Not on Wii U

    It's "being evaluated for a future update"

    Activision has confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops II will feature YouTube support to live stream online multiplayer League Play games, with the player's webcam and audio commentary also recorded. Those who pay for the Elite service, meanwhile, will be able to view additional info on players as they...

  • News Nintendo Executive Describes Rise of Tablet Gaming as "Undeniable"

    Believes these devices can be "allies"

    In recent years Nintendo has continually faced the threat of smartphones and tablet devices to its handheld systems, though the Wii U GamePad's inclusion of its own touch screen is now attracting similar comparisons. It's not always a popular topic amongst Nintendo gamers, but the rise in popularity of gaming...

  • News Wii U Browser to Use Multiple GamePad Control Options

    Gyro sensor, touch screen and buttons

    Nintendo hasn't always enjoyed the most success with its console web browsers, often due to modest specifications or a lack of system memory. Nintendo's now released a new Iwata Asks transcript where the team discuss the development of the Wii U Browser, and why it'll be a pleasant surprise for gamers. Part of...

  • News Nintendo World NYC Gearing Up For Wii U Midnight Launch

    Is your body ready?

    Nintendo will be holding a midnight launch at New York's Nintendo World Store to mark the release of Wii U; from 6pm on Saturday 17th November you can head down to the store and join in the hype. You can take a wild guess who will be there — none other than the man himself, Reggie Fils-Aime — to welcome fans and continue the...

  • News Satoru Iwata Would Like Miiverse to Become a "Game Diary"

    Oh, and there's a cardboard GamePad

    As more information continues to arrive in the final days before Wii U hits stores, additional Iwata Asks transcriptions are arriving in English to spread the word. One of the more recent additions features the Nintendo boss interviewing the developers behind Miiverse, a team with extensive experience in web...

  • News First Image of Wii U eShop Surfaces

    Mario and Luigi have never looked better

    While Nintendo has been keeping the Wii U's download retail system under wraps, the first picture of the console's eShop has now been released on Nintendo of Japan's website. The lone image shows off the system's interface, which looks similar to the 3DS' online storefront, and Nintendo is also promising...

  • News You'll Need To Update Your Wii U To Play Wii Games

    This update is crucial

    We are already aware that you'll need to update your Wii U fresh from the box to include key features such as Miiverse, Tvii, Wii U Chat and eShop. However, another very important feature in this update is Wii functionality. As you will no doubt be aware, the Wii U will have backwards compatibility with Nintendo's previous...

  • News Mega Drive RPG Classic Pier Solar Could Be Headed To Wii U

    Kickstarter campaign for HD version at 50% after just 3 days

    Back in 2010, indie developer WaterMelon created an all-new RPG for the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis to US readers) called Pier Solar and the Great Architects. An incredible achievement in itself, the game soon found a cult audience thanks to its gorgeous 2D visuals and gripping story line,...

  • News Rest Easy, You Can Replace The Wii U GamePad Battery Yourself

    Thank The Maker

    Anyone who has owned an Apple product will know that the company doesn't believe in user-serviceable power cells. Apple's reasoning is that by the time your iPod or iPhone's battery stops holding a charge, you'll be considering an replacement, or will have made the upgrade already. If you do insist on getting a new battery, you have...

  • News Hide And Seek Footage From Chasing Aurora is Found

    You can fly, but you can't hide

    We're certainly interested here at Nintendo Life when more information about Chasing Aurora emerges, so new footage of one of its multiplayer modes has caught our eye. Its attractive art style does it no harm, either. We interviewed developer Broken Rules last month, where it briefly mentioned the game's multiplayer...

  • News Wii to Wii U Data Transfer Details Emerge

    Pay close attention

    One feature pre-occupying the minds of some potential Wii U owners is the process to move their WiiWare and Virtual Console data onto the new console. With backwards compatibility a big part of the system — for some gamers — having access to years' worth of purchases is a welcome bonus. Of course, with Wii not having a user...

  • Reaction Wii U's Social Potential Takes Shape

    A bold new direction for Nintendo

    With just 11 days until Wii U arrives in North America — at the time of writing — it's perhaps surprising that substantial details on Nintendo's online services have taken so long to emerge. That said, it's not unprecedented, as Nintendo often likes to keep its cards close to its chest, withholding details and...

  • News Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Trailer Brings the Madness

    Includes a panda dressed as Princess Peach

    Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition will be available on launch day, and will include a number of features and modes exclusive to Nintendo's console. As you'd expect, adding Nintendo into a Tekken title promises to bring bizarre and humorous results, while the GamePad itself will allow control options...

  • News Nintendo Direct Wii U Summary Released by NoA

    WaraWara Plaza and Wii U Chat prominent

    With this morning's Nintendo Direct broadcast, there was a lot to digest, translate and understand about Miiverse and other Wii U system details. Nintendo of America has kindly put together a short summary video to highlight the key features, and provide a slightly more detailed look at the console's UI (user...

  • News Satoru Iwata Provides the Ultimate Wii U Unboxing

    Shaky YouTube videos, begone!

    Whenever new consoles hit the market, we see a glut of shaky-cam unboxing videos on YouTube, which we may watch out of sheer curiosity. In a surprising sequence in today's Nintendo Direct, however, Satoru Iwata provided his own video, albeit with much higher production values, which he called the Wii U Premium Pack...

  • News Miiverse Explained In Latest Nintendo Direct

    New information for the online social service

    Today's Nintendo Direct's broadcast provided fresh details on Miiverse, the feature many have been waiting to hear more about. It really starts with the WaraWara Plaza — an image can be found at the end of this article — when you power-up the Wii U; this is the first thing you'll see on the TV...

  • News Wii U Chat To Include Drawing on GamePad Screen

    We fear the consequences

    One of the smaller demonstrations in today's Wii U Nintendo Direct was that for Wii U Chat, the feature briefly shown prior to E3. Using the GamePad stand — though simply holding the controller is an option — Satoru Iwata called up Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime for a chat. Reggie did even say a few lines in...

  • News Wii U User Accounts and Nintendo Network ID Detailed

    12 user accounts allowed

    During today's Nintendo Direct broadcast, Satoru Iwata provided information on Wii U user accounts and the Nintendo Network ID. In terms of user accounts, it'll be possible to have up to 12 on the system, with each storing their own save data, settings and internet browser bookmarks. With the console's concept of being an...

  • Nintendo Direct Watch The Japanese Wii U Presentation Live

    Miiverse time, at last

    So here we are, another Nintendo Direct broadcast to sink our teeth into, with the focus expected to be on Miiverse. The great news is that you can watch it right here: 11am UK time, 12pm Central European time, 6am Eastern, 5am Central and 3am Pacific. It'll be in Japanese, of course, but we'll be watching with you and...

  • News Japanese Nintendo Direct Confirmed For 7th November

    Miiverse will be the main focus

    With Wii U on the horizon, Nintendo has revealed yet another Nintendo Direct broadcast for Japan at short notice. The presentation will focus on Miiverse, which isn't a surprise as we reported last month that this was expected to happen close to the console's launch. The presentation will be approximately 35 minutes...

  • News Wii U Will Require Day One Update for Key Features

    Miiverse, Wii U Chat, eShop and TVii included

    Wii U is getting so close that we can smell the packaging, and vital details about what to expect out of the box are starting to emerge. While many are no doubt hoping that preview systems will reveal Wii U's secrets to the world, it seems that we'll all have a little longer to wait. As reported by IGN,...

  • News Ubisoft: Wii U Stock Apparently Being Focused on US

    Tense times for Europe?

    Earlier today we reported that UK retailer GAME is bracing for a Wii U sell out, admitting that stock will be "tight on day one". This is a theme occurring regularly, with reports a couple of weeks ago of potential Wii U stock shortages in the UK, and the rather common knowledge that pre-orders are sold out at many US...

  • News Mass Effect 3 Wii U Content Detailed

    DLC becomes on-disc C

    Mass Effect 3 was one of Wii U's major third-party announcements for a launch release, bringing one of the year's biggest blockbuster titles to the system. The excitement is perhaps dulled by the fact that it's the concluding part of a trilogy, and that a special edition combining the games, Mass Effect Trilogy, is out today...

  • News Nintendo Teams Up With Disney For "Wii U Showdown"

    Get ready to cringe

    With Nintendo's quest to appeal to an extraordinarily wide range of gamers, it'll be susceptible to using marketing or adverts that make the older, jaded or more cynical amongst us gnash our teeth. These celebrity-based adverts can often be categorised as good, bad or cringeworthy, and we think another candidate for the latter...

  • News The Pinball Arcade Set for Wii U Launch Window Release

    Pinball wizards

    In a recent interview with Warpzoned, Rob Mann, community manager at Farsight Studios, has confirmed that his company is hoping to release The Pinball Arcade during the Wii U's launch window. The pinball simulation game is notable for including a collection of real-world pinball tables, which have been accurately remade in digital...

  • News GAME Bracing Itself For Pre-Launch Wii U Sell Out In The UK

    White basic bundle already completely sold out on day one

    UK video games retailer GAME has revealed that it expects to sell out of its entire allocation of Wii U consoles before the launch day of 30th November rolls around, but has stated that all current pre-orders will be fulfilled on the day of release. Speaking to Videogamer.com, a GAME...

  • News Miyamoto Working to Encourage More Wii U Third-Party Developers

    "I am trying to meet with the game developers individually"

    One of the big challenges facing Nintendo and its Wii U system is to encourage more third-party developers to commit to major projects on the system. While Wii had a diverse library — perhaps more so than many think — it arguably lacked a lot of big-hitting titles from third-parties...

  • News Hori Releasing Wii U Arcade Stick In The UK This December

    Not the prettiest, but will do the job

    Last week it was revealed that Hori is releasing a Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition fight stick in Japan, alongside the Wii U's launch on 8th December. We were hoping that this would be available in the West, and today Nintendo Gamer confirmed that one will indeed be making its way to the UK; but sadly...

  • Developer Interview Nyamyam On Tengami, Life After Rare And Nintendo's Stance On Indies

    "I think the hardware capabilities of the Wii U Game Pad are a good match for Tengami"

    Last week, we revealed that UK studio Nyamyam was impressed with the Wii U eShop and the potential it offers for independent developers. Keen for more knowledge, we got in touch with Nyamyam's Jennifer Schneidereit to talk about Wii U, Nintendo and Tengami - the...

  • News Wii U Kiosks Will Allow Gamers To Try Before They Buy

    A sneak peek before release

    Starting from today, Nintendo is supplying 5,000 Wii U kiosks across select retail stores in North America, to allow consumers the chance to try the console before making the big purchase. Participating retailers include Target, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart and Toys ‘R’ Us stores in the U.S. New Super Mario Bros. U,...

  • Talking Point Splinter Cell Director Doubts Triple-A Gaming's Future

    "Lower-case aaa" may take over

    While it's easy to get tangled up in technicalities when it comes to the graphical prowess of Wii U, one thing is 99% certain: the successors to Xbox 360 and PS3 will be more powerful, from a graphical standpoint. Whether or not the Wii U matches or surpasses the existing HD systems in this respect — it will take...

  • News Wii U Web Browser Software Specifications Revealed

    We're caught in Nintendo's web

    CVG has revealed a number of details concerning the Wii U's web browser software. According to the report, the Wii U will run a version of NetFront browser (NX v2.1), and will work on both the TV and GamePad screen, as previously demoed. As with most home systems, it will not be possible to download or upload videos...

  • News Miyamoto's Ideas for Metroid can be Found in Nintendo Land

    Not a bad starting point

    As you no doubt saw over the weekend, Shigeru Miyamoto recently conducted an interview with Gamekult.com, during which he shared some views on Wii U and Nintendo's most iconic characters. Some additional translated comments now provide Miyamoto's views on the Metroid franchise, and he's suggested that Wii U launch title...

  • News GAME Mobile App Suggests That Nintendo ID Is On Its Way

    Sign-in of the times?

    It's pretty much a given that Nintendo will create some kind of user ID system on the Wii U console, and we've had further evidence from UK retailer GAME. The company's mobile application for iOS now has a field requesting a "Nintendo ID" - and it's nestled right next to the "PSN" and "XBOX Live Tag" ID fields. Nintendo has...

  • News Developer Excited by Indie Friendly Wii U eShop

    Anticipated indie title teased for Wii U

    The Wii U eShop may still be a mystery to us — a Nintendo Direct broadcast to show it off wouldn't be a surprise — but there have certainly been plenty of developers queuing up to share optimistic viewpoints on the platform. The latest to do so is a young studio called Nyamyam, founded in late 2010 by two...

  • Talking Point Wii U and the Importance of Backward Compatibility

    Long live the Wii

    In future years, maybe even in a matter of weeks, there's likely to be plenty written about Wii and its lifespan, with judgements made on its strengths and weaknesses. The list of negatives is fairly predictable: it was underpowered, with motion controls that brought an unrelenting wave of sub-par games, it struggled for major...

  • News EA Releases Full Details On FIFA 13's Wii U GamePad Features

    A new way to play the beautiful game

    EA has now released a vast amount of detail on how FIFA 13 will make use of the Wii U GamePad's features. Some of this has already been covered in detail before, including taking control of the manager making strategic decisions on the sidelines, "shake and shoot" and touch screen navigation as opposed to...

  • Developer Interview Pwnee Studios Talks About Cloudberry Kingdom and Wii U

    "We have learnt to expect bizarre events"

    With all of the excitement surrounding the upcoming release of the Wii U console and its retail launch titles, it’s easy to forget the assortment of potentially fantastic Wii U eShop titles also heading our way. One of which is Cloudberry Kingdom, a platformer which promises to supply the gamer with...

  • News Nintendo Greece Scores Bonus Points With Super Mario Flashmob

    Worthy of the warp zone

    We've seen a few flashmobs in our time, but this has to rank as one of the best. Nintendo Greece confused, befuddled and ultimately delighted hordes of shoppers by holding a get-together of Super Marios in a shopping centre. The plumbers gleefully paraded around the various stores, drawing smiles from the assembled crowds...

  • News Wii U Web Browser Posts Impressive Benchmark Results

    Surf's up

    Early benchmark tests have shown that the Wii U's web browser is surprisingly good at handling HTML5 - better than Microsoft's Internet Explorer 10 on PC, in fact. The data posted on HTML5test.com shows the following info: Wii U browser – 323 + 8 Internet Explorer 10 – 320 + 6 Chrome 22 – 434 + 13 Xbox 360 Internet Explorer 9 –...

  • Talking Point Games That Need Wii U - World of Warcraft

    Or maybe this one's a game that Wii U needs?

    We’ve highlighted the importance of having well-established franchises on Wii U. We’ve also indicated how vital it is for Wii U to be open to new ideas and intellectual properties. This time, we’re saying that in order for Wii U to keep in-line with the competition, exceed it in fact, then it needs...

  • Watch First US Wii U Advert Appears

    How U Will Play Next

    In just 17 days' time, on 18th November, Nintendo will release Wii U across the Americas. Up until now its marketing machine hasn't really kicked into gear, but that's all about to change. Nintendo today unveiled what it described as "our brand new US Wii U advertising campaign" via its Wii U page on Facebook. Lots of bright...

  • News Wii U Madden NFL 13 Was Built In Just Six Months

    Tremendous turnaround

    We know that Madden NFL 13 on Wii U isn't going to offer all of the features seen in the 360 and PS3 editions of the game, but it's only now that the reason for this is becoming clear: the developers only had half a year to make the game. The amazing dev schedule has been revealed by IGN, w

October2012

  • News Assassin's Creed III on Wii U Will Feature All DLC

    No mention of micro-transactions, yet

    With a big-budget release on the scale of Assassin's Creed III, you can be confident that one thing will definitely make an appearance — DLC. With Wii U set to support extensive online options only rarely utilised on Wii, we'll need to get used to the idea that sometimes the game in the box won't be the final...

  • News Hori Set To Release Wii U Arcade Stick At Launch

    Fight 'em up arcade style

    For all you fighting fanatics out there, Hori is going to release a Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition fight stick this December, alongside the Wii U launch in Japan. To use the stick it'll need to be plugged into a Wii Remote, simply like you would use a Classic Controller; it'll set you back ¥7980 (approximately...

  • News Wii U Set To Embark On Nationwide Tour Of Australia

    Party Down Under

    Live in Australia? Didn't get to go to the EB Expo to play the Wii U earlier this year? Fear not, as Nintendo might be heading your way soon with some of the new consoles in tow. From the 5th of November, Wii U Experience Stores will be opened temporarily around Australia. Nintendo is currently advertising that Nintendo Land and...

  • News Pitchford: Wii U GamePad is Nintendo's "Best Controller" for Hardcore Games

    GamePad link is "direct, fast and immediate"

    Aliens: Colonial Marines, from Gearbox Software, is a high-profile multi-platform title on the list of those making their way to Wii U, with confirmation that it's due in the "launch window" — up to 31st March — which means that it may hit Nintendo's console around the same time as its February...

  • News SiNG Party Will Test Your Vocal Chords This January

    Tell the neighbours to buy some earplugs...

    Are you ready to play one of the highest-profile party games for Wii U? We hope so, as Nintendo has announced that SiNG Party will be hitting European shelves on 18th January 2013. Developed by FreeStyleGames, details have been provided on various modes such as Party Mode, Sing Mode, Team Mode and Practice...

  • Podcast NLFM Episode 23: Revenge of the Halloween Hootenanny

    Best served as cold as a corpse

    Grab your bluntest instruments and aim for the head because NLFM has risen from its grave for the third annual Halloween Hootenanny! More spooky, more sinister and more deathly, this episode is best listened to in a dark castle dungeon while eating raw pumpkins. Failing that, anywhere else will do. 1. Masanao...

  • News Wii U Digital Promotion Giving You More Bang For Your Buck

    Nintendo delves deeper into its Deluxe Set promotion

    We already knew that Nintendo had mentioned a digital promotion for those who purchased the Wii U Deluxe Bundle - buyers of said bundle who purchase a game from the Nintendo eShop will receive 10% of their value back in the form of points. This in turn allows users to purchase more content from...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. U Nabbit Chase Stages Revealed

    Dang nabbit!

    With launch less than three weeks away for lucky North American gamers, Nintendo has revealed some details for New Super Mario Bros. U. Some are well known and have previously come to light through magazine previews and other sources, such as the fact that the World Map will have a number of routes and secret exits — similar in...

  • Rumour Splinter Cell: Blacklist Sneaking Onto Wii U

    The pre-E3 rumour returns, courtesy of GameStop

    Just before L.A.'s E3 extravaganza this year, rumours emerged that Splinter Cell: Blacklist was coming to Wii U, yet Ubisoft's press conference passed without any mention of the multi-platform release arriving on Nintendo's new system. Whether fans would have been particularly disappointed depends on...

  • News Ostrich Island Could Be Making Its Way To Wii U

    The game we've all been waiting for...

    MeDungeon Games has revealed that it has plans to bring Ostrich Island to the Wii U eShop. The game is already in the works for Windows, Mac, and Linux, but may make its way to Wii U should its current crowd-funding initiative prove successful. It's described as a mix between an adventure game and a...

  • News Wii U Comparison Video Shows How It Sizes Up Against Other Nintendo Hardware

    Size isn't everything

    ONM has created a video which gives viewers a further insight into the Wii U's exciting new features and how it compares in size to other Nintendo systems. As you can see in the video below, the Wii U isn't that much bigger than the Wii, so hopefully you won't need to adjust your current home setup too much. Are you...

  • News Nintendo Is Holding Back Wii U Titles To Maintain Momentum Into 2013

    "We realize the biggest challenge is to make sure that Wii U sells well even in the next year"

    Talking in an investor's Q&A, Nintendo President and CEO Satoru Iwata has revealed that the company has intentionally held back certain Wii U launch titles to ensure that sales remain robust well into 2013. He said: If you look at how pre-orders are...

  • News Nintendo Considering Wii U TVii For Europe and Japan

    Details possible "in the not-so-distant future"

    While Nintendo of America's Wii U release date reveal featured a substantial section outlining TVii, the app that promises to give intuitive extra functionality to existing TV services, the equivalent European and Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcasts focused almost exclusively on games. The simple...

  • News Assassin's Creed III Micro-Transactions Sneak Into View

    Wii U inclusion yet to be confirmed

    Assassin's Creed III is one of the most high-profile multi-platform titles that'll be on store shelves for Wii U's launch. Nintendo gamers can look forward to a number of blockbuster hits that never saw the light of day on Wii, but at the same time these games may introduce one less-popular part of modern gaming:...

  • First Impressions Ed Boon's Injustice: Gods Among Us Lays The Smackdown

    Superhuman potential

    Recently we were lucky enough to attend a demonstration of NetherRealm Studio's upcoming DC Comics fighting game, Injustice: Gods Among Us, by Mortal Kombat creator himself, Ed Boon. Boon started the presentation by stating that because he had been making Mortal Kombat games for so long, he felt it was time to try something...

  • News Hurricane Sandy Forces Isaiah Triforce Johnson To Abandon Queue For Wii U

    Mother Nature takes no heed of hardware launch hype

    We reported a few days ago that Isaiah Triforce Johnson was already queuing for his Wii U outside the Nintendo World Store in New York City, almost a month before the system was due to be released. Sadly, Johnson has had to abandon his vigil due to the incoming threat of Hurricane Sandy, which is...

  • News Burger King Reveals Wii U Promotional Toys

    Lots of burgers to get them all

    Burger King has revealed its latest batch of children's toys in the form of famous Nintendo characters, alongside its promotional Wii U giveaway. We were aware that the fast food chain was scheduled to include Wii U toys in its kid's meals across the US, but no idea was given as to when these would arrive. Earlier...

  • News Miiverse To Be Detailed In An Upcoming Nintendo Direct

    "Sometime" before launch

    Nintendo has been worryingly quiet on what the Wii U dashboard and online functionality might entail on its new console. One thing we do know is that it plans to have a "social network" style presence with Miiverse, a place where gamers can see what games one another is playing and help each other progress through particular...

  • News Two Brothers Making Its Way To The Wii U eShop

    One to watch?

    Indie developers Ackkstudios got the approval to be a Wii U developer this week, and has announced that its first project is to port over Two Brothers to the Wii U eShop next year. The game is inspired by 8-bit action RPGs and GameBoy games, with the aim of combining modern gaming concepts and a classic feel to bring about a unique...

  • News Need for Speed: Most Wanted Racing Onto Wii U in 2013

    EA gives confirmation

    As part of Nintendo's financial briefing earlier this week there was a display of a number of third-party titles in the works for Wii U, one of which was Need for Speed: Most Wanted. EA's juggernaut racing series makes its latest appearance on Xbox 360, PS3 and Vita in just a few days, but the Wii U version is currently slated...

  • News Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Download Will Be Cheaper Than Retail

    But will come with a hefty file size

    Namco Bandai is set to make the Wii U version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 available both physically and digitally on launch day in Japan, according to a report on Siliconera. However, the game will be cheaper if you decide to download it from the Wii U eShop. In stores, the fighter will set gamers back 6,980 Yen,...

  • News Paper Mario, Fire Emblem and Rayman Legends Get New Trailers

    Now with 100% more Lums, goats, and arrows!

    Yesterday, Nintendo of America broadcasted a new Nintendo Direct, which focused specifically on upcoming 3DS titles and software. We already posted the brand new trailer to the newly-named Animal Crossing: New Leaf, but Nintendo also released fresh trailers for

  • News Ninja Gaiden 3 Wii U Confirmed for January 2013 Release In Europe

    Exclusive features detailed

    Nintendo Europe has confirmed that Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge will launch on January 11th 2013. The blood-soaked action title comes to Europe almost two months after it sees release in North America. The street date in that region is November 18th - Wii U launch day. Here's the list of exclusive Wii U features, ripped...

  • News Wii U Stock Shortage Reports Surface in UK

    Everyone stay calm

    Although there are a fair share of nay-sayers and doubters surrounding Wii U and its long term prospects for success, there seems to be little doubt that it'll have a strong launch. Pre-orders are sold out at various retailers in the US, for example, while GAME told us a month ago that UK pre-orders are exceeding expectations. The...

  • News Nintendo Confirms Wii U Will Be Sold At A Loss

    Still think it's expensive?

    Nintendo confirmed during its second quarter financial results briefing that Wii U will be sold at a loss. This may come as a slight shock to some considering Wii U is launching at a relatively high price, and suggests Nintendo won't be in a position to change the pricing for some time. We can't imagine what cost it would...

  • News Nintendo Releases Updated Global Release Schedule

    Time to mark your calenders!

    Nintendo has published an updated release schedule for all its big upcoming Wii U and 3DS games. Back in August, Luigi's Mansion 2 was listed for a 2013 release back in August but now we have a more definite release window for the spooky sequel. It's also good to see that Brain Age: Concentration Training is definitely...

  • News Pachter Pours Scorn Over Wii U Sales Projections

    "Disappointing and unrealistic"

    Whenever there are Nintendo-related sales figures to be discussed and dissected, you can almost guarantee that games industry analyst Michael Pachter will have some wisdom to impart. Nintendo recently proclaimed that it intended to shift 5.5 million Wii U consoles before April 2013, along with 24 million units of...

  • News Nintendo Targets 5.5 Million Wii U Sales This Financial Year

    All before April

    Earlier today we brought you the news that Nintendo had cut its profit projections due to half-year results, with the overall picture being one of disappointment if not disaster. One of the reasons for this was lower than expected 3DS sales, with six months worth of results showing around five million unit sales, leaving Nintendo...

  • News Wii U Branded Remotes Feature External Sync Button

    Nintendo's making sure everyone's in sync

    Impatient gamers rejoice! Nintendo Connect has discovered that Wii U-branded remotes will sport a handy, external sync button. As a result, players will no longer be required to remove the remote's battery cover in order to sync it with their console. Located on the underside of the remote, this surprise...

  • News Capcom Shares Revelations on Wii U's Resident Evil Potential

    Not necessarily Resident Evil 6

    With Wii U about to arrive we've seen a decent level of third-party support in the launch window release schedule, though plenty of big-name multi-platform releases and franchises are missing. One of these is Resident Evil 6, even prompting us to refer to it as a game that needs Wii U. It's not the most loved title in...

  • First Impressions Little Inferno

    Let us be your little Virgil

    2D Boy released what is still arguably the best game on the WiiWare service, World of Goo. But since the release of that game four years ago the developer has been rather quiet. The game never got a sequel and lips were sealed tight on future projects, but we knew that whatever this immensely talented — and...

  • News No Voice Support For Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed On Wii U

    Developer cites Wii U voice chat limitations as reason for omission

    Developer Sumo Digital has confirmed that Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed will not have voice chat support on Wii U. The news comes less than a week after a Nintendo representative confirmed that in-game voice chat will not be possible through the GamePad's built-in...

  • News Isaiah Triforce Johnson Is Already Queuing For His Wii U

    Remember the guy who gets all the Nintendo consoles first?

    Serial queue-starter Isaiah Triforce Johnson has made a bit of a name for himself as the first person to buy just about every piece of Nintendo hardware in recent history. He was the first to purchase Wii and the first to get his hands on 3DS in North America. Now, he has already begun to...

  • News The Wii U Nintendo Network Will Connect to EA's Origin

    So many connections

    Although Wii is rapidly fading into a borderline retro status with gamers, do you remember how simple it was to play its small collection of online games on the web? Sure, connection drops were common on the humble hardware and friend codes were a ponderous way to organise things, but a lot of the time you pressed a button and,...

  • News Rayman Creator Says Wii U is "Surprisingly Powerful"

    Developing titles is easier than expected

    We already know Rayman creator Michel Ancel is a big fan of Wii U, as last week we reported his praise of the GamePad, saying it's "more advanced than what people might think". He's also stated how surprised he is at the console's power, and that developing Rayman Legends for Wii U has been easier than he...

  • News EA: FIFA 13 on Wii U is "Laying the Foundation"

    Ultimate Team missing as Wii U's online is in its "infancy"

    FIFA 13 on Wii U was inevitable, as EA is always keen to bring one of its biggest franchises to every system possible. Occasionally it's a little too keen and churns out yearly updates that are barely updates at all, or in the now-infamous case of FIFA 13 on Wii, some releases aren't far...

  • News First UK Wii U Television Advertisement Breaks Cover

    Commercial break

    The first UK television advertisement for the new Wii U console aired tonight, shown in a commercial break during an episode of the TV series Homeland. Narrated by British comedian Adam Buxton, the advert did its best to show off the core features of Nintendo's new system, such as the GamePad's fancy touchscreen and the ability to...

  • Talking Point Affordable Consoles Come at a Cost

    There are no easy answers

    Earlier this week we reported on the news that Foxconn, manufacturer for many of the world’s biggest technology companies, employed under-age interns to work on Wii U manufacturing. Foxconn admitted that it had employed 14-16 year old school attendees and stated that it had “apologized to each of the students for our...

  • News Chasing Aurora 'Freeze Tag' Mode Gameplay Footage

    Tag, you're it!

    Back towards the start of the summer, Broken Rules announced Chasing Aurora, a beautiful physics based flight game for the Wii U eShop this year. Broken Rules is aiming for a November release; it's hoping to have it ready for Wii U's launch day. Below is a gameplay trailer for one of the multiplayer modes, 'Freeze Tag', where the...

Wii U Features

Forum Topics

Wii U Recommendations Thread

Wii U Recommendations Thread

995 replies |

Most Read

Wii U - Guides