Wii U News
November2012
News Hacker Claims To Have Deciphered Wii U CPU and GPU Speeds
Info apparently obtained from Wii U hacks
For plenty that aren't merely interested in playing games on Wii U, but also want to know about its capabilities under the hood, the past few weeks have been full of claim and counter-claim about various aspects of the system. The CPU has been at the forefront of the debate, with negative and damning...
News Some Euro Wii U Buyers Reporting A Distinct Lack Of Nintendo Land In Their Premium Bundle
Some of our bundled software is missing
As you'll no doubt be aware if you've been closely following our Wii U Euro launch thread, many people who ordered their systems online have been getting them a day early. While this should be reason enough to be very excited indeed, we've been informed by some early adopters that their joy has quickly turned...
Nintendo Download 30th November 2012 (Europe) - Wii U Edition
Got your hard drive ready?
Wii U is finally arriving in Europe and PAL regions, and with it comes all of the excitement of a new system. Part of that — after the system update, of course — is the Wii U eShop, which arrives with some exciting download-only games as well as a host of retail titles. There's plenty to get through, so let's get to...
Feature EU Wii U Launch Day - Live!
Hey America, now it's our turn!
Wii U launched what feels like years ago - Sunday 18th November in North America, to be precise. After literally days of waiting (days can seem like months when it comes to new Nintendo hardware) Europe is finally getting the shiny new system, and we're going to share the experience with you just as we did with the US...
Review New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)
High definition hijinks
New Super Mario Bros. U marks the first time that a brand new Mario game has accompanied a Nintendo hardware launch since the days of the N64, and consequently places an inordinate amount of pressure and expectation on its high-definition shoulders. It’s perhaps not what hardcore fans wanted; following so closely on the...
News Iwata: We Don't Want To Emulate Xbox Live and PSN
Nintendo president also sorry for 1GB day-one update
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has stated in an interview with IGN that his company is not attempting to play catch-up with rivals Microsoft and Sony when it comes to online services. With the recent launch of the Wii U and the establishment of Miiverse, Nintendo has recieved a few critical...
News Wii U Version Of 007 Legends Canned In Australia
Epic Mickey 2, NBA 2K13 and Marvel Avengers all delayed
The Wii U launches in Australia on Friday and several stores will open at midnight so that eager Aussies can get hold of one as quickly as possible. However, three games that won't be available alongside the Wii U Down Under are Epic Mickey 2: Power of Two, NBA 2K13, and
News Pier Solar Kickstarter Campaign Successful, Wii U Port Added As New Stretch Goal
$200,000 is the figure required
Indie developer WaterMelon, creators of the recent Pier Solar and the Great Architects for the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis in the US), recently launched a Kickstarter campaign with the aim being to create a HD edition for Xbox 360, PC, Mac and Dreamcast. The target was set at $139,000 and it didn’t take long for the...
Review Scribblenauts Unlimited (Wii U)
Scribble to your heart’s content
The Scribblenauts series has always been about pushing your imagination to its limits and solving puzzles in unique and often hilarious ways. With its various open worlds and the ability to seamlessly traverse between them, as well as the brand new object editor which lets you create almost anything and everything,...
News Australian Wii U Midnight Launch Details Revealed
Bonza!
The Wii U will finally become available in Europe this coming Friday, and HMV's flagship London store on Oxford Street will be hosting the big event with a midnight launch. It’s not just Europe that will be having a very happy 30th November, though - on the other side of the globe Australians will be picking up their brand spanking new Wii...
Review ESPN Sports Connection (Wii U)
Taking one for the team
Launching with Wii Sports was, in hindsight, one of Nintendo's best ideas: the pack-in's elegant simplicity helped skyrocket the fledgling Wii right up into the stratosphere. Families rallied around Tennis, grannies couldn't get enough Bowling, that annoying uncle hogged Golf, mass hysteria yadda yadda. So no surprise then...
News Game Designer Says "Wii U Isn't Sure of Itself, and That's its Greatest Virtue"
Nintendo tackles modern technology habits
There are plenty of us, outside of North America at least, that are waiting to spend serious time on Wii U, so concepts such as asynchronous multiplayer are still shrouded in some mystery; even early adopters are likely to still be discovering new uses for the system's GamePad controller. Plenty is already...
Rumour Yoshi's Land Coming To Wii U
Best Buy product page outs potential sequel
Yesterday, retailer Best Buy Canada leaked the existence of the Wii Mini - a smaller, cheaper (and arguably less useful) version of the Wii console which was officially confirmed by Nintendo hours later. It would appear that Best Buy isn't done with letting cats out of bags, and has published a product...
News Wii U GamePad Offers Nine-Axis Controls
Utilises the earth’s magnetic pull
Motion sensors have been a major part of the gaming industry for a while now. Ever since the Nintendo Wii was first revealed all those years ago developers have been clambering over each other to implement motion controls into their games – even more so when it became so successful. Since then we’ve seen...
News TVii Application Will Be Available In Japan At Launch
But not all of its features will be free
Nintendo has revealed that TVii - the application that allows users to merge all of their video streaming packages together and change TV channels - will be available in selected European regions at some point in 2013. It looked as though Japan was being left in the lurch but this is not the case as the Land...
News Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Dogged By Performance Issues
More frame rate woes
Wii U has launched with more titles to choose from than ever before. Of course those with a keen eye will be quick to point out that this is largely because third party developers have simply ported some of their old games from other platforms over to Nintendo’s new console. One of those titles is Batman: Arkham City Armored...
News Latest Iwata Asks Episode Reveals How Killer Freaks Became ZombiU
From hyperactive alien Rabbids to slow lumbering zombies
During E3 back in 2011 Ubisoft revealed a trailer for a Wii U exclusive game known as Killer Freaks from Outer Space. The game looked to be a light-hearted survival horror game that featured strange intergalactic creatures that were hell bent on consuming every living being in their path...
News Want To Know What It's Like To Drop Your Wii U GamePad?
Drop it like it's hot
Those crazy guys over at GizmoSlip are known for their drop tests, testing the durability of expensive new gadgets by dropping them from a maximum height of 6 feet onto a concrete surface with no other aim but to see if it smashes into a million pieces or not. The Wii U GamePad was next on their 'to break' list, plunging it to...
News Reggie: Sony and Microsoft Need To React To What Nintendo Is Doing With Wii U
"Faster processors and pretty pictures won't be enough"
The Wii U has its fair share of plaudits but its fair to say it also has an equal share of doubters as well. Since the new console has launched many developers have taken a swipe at it claiming its lack of power will make it outdated and irrelevant once Sony and Microsoft throw their new...
News People Are Already Queuing For The Wii U In London
Dedicated fans show their appreciation for Nintendo
Last week we reported that HMV's flagship store on Oxford Street would be hosting the UK's Wii U midnight launch, with the first 100 in the line getting a free copy of New Super Mario Bros. U. Some more prizes and goody bags will be given away on the night too to mark the occasion. It comes as no...
Pants party
When you're aiming for a wide audience with your new console, it's important to have all of your boxes ticked. New Mario? Check. Zombies? Check. Party game? Check, mate. That seems to be the driving force behind SiNG Party, a game so light and fluffy that it wafts through the air like the smell of cotton candy. It just kind of exists in...
News Miyamoto: Nintendo Will Offer more Support To "Committed" Third Party Developers
Exclusive titles will get big support
While Wii U's launch is now well underway, with a fair bit of fanfare surrounding it, many want to know what the games of the future will be like on Nintendo's new home console. Some people certainly believe that when it comes to utilising the unique control schemes the Wii and Wii U have to offer, it's only...
News New Update Incoming For Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed
Will address Boost Challenge and Ninja Tag issues
Sonic & All Stars Racing Transformed is the only racing title currently available on Wii U, and it looks as though many people who picked up the game have found a few minor issues with it. The issues in question happen during non-race modes like Boost Challenge and Ninja Tag where, according to...
News Wii U Shifts 400K Units in Début Week
It's "essentially sold out of retail"
Nintendo's revealed its sales results to incorporate the Wii U launch and the Black Friday festivities, with NoA COO Reggie Fils-Aime weighing in with the company's perspective in an interview with CNET. Nintendo's total hardware sales — according to internal data — hit around 1.2 million units in the U.S.,...
News New Super Mario Bros. U Director Explains Why Peach Isn't A Playable Character
She's just not suited for it
New Super Mario Bros. U is the latest instalment in the New Super Mario Bros. series and allows you to play as Mario, Luigi, Toad and even your own Mii. Previous Mario sidescrollers – like Super Mario Bros. 2 on the NES for example – have allowed you to play as Princess Peach as well, but she's since been dropped and...
News Lack of "OMG" Idea Explains Borderlands Wii U Absence
Aliens: Colonial Marines pushed some buttons
Gearbox is the developer behind Aliens: Colonial Marines, a title coming to Wii U in 2013 that promises to make many film-buffs weep with joy at the first "beep" sound to emanate from the GamePad. The famous motion control sensor from Aliens will be recreated on the system's controller, and is likely to...
Guide Transferring your Mii to the Wii U
From Mii to U
When the Wii first arrived in 2006, the ability to put yourself in the game with Miis was a novel addition that caught on quickly. These days most of us have grown quite attached to our own Miis, as evidenced by the number of them gracing the Nintendo Life forums and comment sections as user avatars. Thankfully, a new console doesn't...
News Wii U Can be Used as a Portable Home Console
Not something we ever considered...
We never thought we'd see a Wii U treated as a portable system, but that's exactly what's happened with a keen Japanese gamer — importing a system ahead of time clearly wasn't enough on its own. The console isn't portable, of course, but on select games you don't technically need to use the TV; a power outlet is...
News Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii U Is "Much More Graphically Intensive" Than Rival Systems
Content from major devs to make for a "well-rounded console"
While there's been much talk about Wii U in terms of its substantial launch lineup, as well as opinions on the system's operation system and functions such as Miiverse, there's also been plenty of discussion about CPU chips and graphical capabilities. Like Wii before it, some are...
News Fan Made Wii U Album Available For Download
Wii bet that U will like these!
Wii U Grooves - a fan made album of remixed Wii U sounds - has been uploaded to the interwebs for your listening pleasure. DJ Cutman, who has a passion for video games and chip-tune music, mixed the 9-track album and has made it available for download right here. The songs are inspired - and cleverly named - by the...
News The Godfather of Video Games Is Baffled By The Wii U
Atari founder Nolan Bushnell doesn't think Nintendo's console will be a success
When you're considering the history of the video game industry, the name Nolan Bushnell is almost certain to crop up. Bushnell founded Atari back in 1972 and enjoyed incredible success with arcade hits like Pong and the Atari VCS home console. Although he's not been...
News Nintendo TVii Service Coming To Europe In "Selected Regions"
Will be available sometime in 2013
Nintendo's Wii U launched in North America recently without the TVii application that allows users to merge all of their video streaming packages together into one comfortable little hub. The app will be made available in December, however, once Nintendo has given it one final polish. It seems North Americans...
Talking Point Nintendo And The Third-Party Challenge
Can the Big N win over support for Wii U in the long run?
With Wii U finally available in North America and shortly on its way to European store shelves, Nintendo fans across the world seemingly have a lot to be happy about. At long last, we’ll be able to experience our favourite franchises in glorious high-definition, along with some high profile...
Worth your launch day carrots?
The inaugural Rabbids game was a launch title for the Wii back in 2006, so it seems only fitting that Wii U should have its own outing with the furry little hellions right from the get-go in Rabbids Land. This time around the action is presented in the context of a digital board game, like Mario Party, and while the...
Review Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Wii U)
Tag, you're it
For as well known a household name as Tekken is, it’s strange to realize that it’s never made its way to a Nintendo home console at any point. There have been handheld offerings on the Game Boy Advance and 3DS, but portable fighters are rarely more than appetizers compared to their beefy console counterparts. Namco Bandai finally...
News ZombiU Demo Coming To Wii U eShop
Expect it before 15th December
Ubisoft has a plenty of Wii U titles available on launch with the likes of ZombiU, Assassin’s Creed III and Rabbids Land to name a few. Rayman Legends unfortunately didn’t make it into the launch line up and is now penned in for an early 2013 release
News Call of Duty Black Ops II Suffers From Reduced Frame Rate On Wii U
Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions more consistent
Now that Wii U has finally been released, we have three HD home consoles on the market. It seems every man and his dog wants to know which one performs best, especially when it comes to those third party multi-platform games Nintendo gamers aren't used to seeing. One of those multi-platform games...
Feature Reinventing Nintendo's Legacy Franchises on Wii U
It's comeback time
Despite often being criticized for a perceived lack of new franchises, Nintendo’s back catalogue offers a wealth of unique games which have each carved out their own place in the company’s legacy. From Mario to Link to lesser known characters such as Ness and the Ice Climbers, it is clear that Nintendo has a diverse range of...
News UK Retailers: Wii U Is Sold Out
Allocation is all on pre-orders
The Wii U has now launched in North America - as if you needed telling - and will emerge in the European market this coming Friday, 30th November. It's fair to say Nintendo fans in the UK, jealous of their North American counterparts, are chomping at the bit to get hold of their new console, but if you haven't got a...
News YouTube App Goes Live on Wii U
In case you hadn't tapped the icon yet
After a launch day that involved a firmware update and a few icons on the home menu that weren't quite ready for action, Wii U is starting to get into its stride with entertainment apps. It's not just about games, remember. If you haven't tried it in the last couple of days, you should know that the free...
Fear Factor
ZombiU definitely has a lot to prove. After Red Steel - Ubisoft’s hardcore offering at the Wii’s launch - failed to win over the masses by making large promises it failed to deliver on, public response to ZombiU has typically been laced with skepticism. Now that the game has been unleashed and is happily infecting shiny new Wii U...
Guide Using USB Storage with the Wii U
Commit these instructions to memory
The Wii U's eShop represents a big step forward in digital distribution for Nintendo, with eShop-only indie titles sharing shelf space with downloadable versions of major retail releases from day one. These larger titles can easily occupy over 10GB of space, with Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition confirmed to...
News Wii U UK Launch Event Set for HMV in London
Free games for the first 100
With one week before its release in Europe, details have now emerged of the UK's Wii U launch event — it's set for HMV's flagship London store on Oxford Street. As you'd expect it'll be a midnight launch, and various incentives and activities are planned to keep eager Wii U early-adopters warm. The doors will...
News Scribblenauts Unlimited Delayed In Europe Until 2013
And we don't know why just yet
5th Cell, developer of Scribblenauts Unlimited, has confirmed that the Wii U title — and the 3DS title too, for that matter — won't hit European shores until 2013. Responding to a post on NeoGAF, 5th Cell CEO Jeremiah Slaczka denied that it's an issue of localisation. "Nope. It's due to stuff I can't talk about...
News Analyst Believes Nintendo Shouldn't Compete With Sony And Microsoft
Wii U “in an awkward place with its identity”
Wii U has a plethora of games for consumers to choose from on launch. There’s something for everyone – for the casual gamers there’s Nintendo Land and the like and for the more core gamers there are titles such as Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. However,...
News Nintendo Provides Final Wii U Launch Line-Up for Europe
The final, final list
With the European launch of Wii U getting ever closer — quiet, North Americans — Nintendo of Europe has now issued its definitive list of packaged retails games that'll be there on day one. We already knew about all — or at least most — of these, but it's nevertheless nice to see a confirmed line-up for what games...
News SUMO Digital Invites Fans To Campaign for Sonic Racing DLC Characters
Now that's a challenge
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is one of many Wii U launch titles, though it provides the sole source of racing fun for early adopters in North America. Of course the Wii U version, like its compatriots on Xbox 360 and PS3, will be open to potential DLC as the months pass by, and Sumo Digital's Steve Lycett has taken...
News THQ Adds Clarity To The Wii U "Horrible, Slow CPU" Comments
But worries surrounding it refuse to go away
It emerged yesterday that 4A, the developer behind Metro: Last Light, is not very impressed with the Wii U's CPU; Oles Shishkovtsov, the studio's chief technical officer, called it "a horrible, slow CPU". Huw Beynon of THQ, publisher for the latest Metro title, elaborated further by saying that bringing...
News Wii U System Update Can Be Downloaded in the Background
Play while you wait
If one complaint drowned out all others among excited Wii U owners on launch day, it was the waiting time to install the system update. Depending on your internet speed and the performance of the Nintendo servers, the download typically seemed to take anything between 45 minutes and three hours, and then you'd have another 10-15...
News Wii U GamePad Can Play Assassin's Creed 3 in 3D
All about the software and glasses
When Wii U was unveiled, just a few months after the arrival of 3DS, some wondered whether the GamePad's screen would feature autostereoscopic capabilities like the handheld's screen. It didn't take long for that idea to fade away, as the realities of a glasses-free 3D screen that size, as well as its constant use...
News Amazon Instant Video Goes Live on Wii U
Just tap the icon
Much like the arrival of Hulu Plus on Wii U, good things come to those who wait. Joining yesterday's addition to the TV streaming options on Nintendo's new system, and Netflix which was ready on day one, is Amazon Instant Video, live right now. If you're a subscriber to the service, simply tap on the tile visible on the home menu...
News THQ Enters Forebearance Agreement With Creditors
Foreclosure delayed, for now
THQ has been going through some difficult times lately. The developer currently has $16.4 million outstanding on its facility and two weeks ago it defaulted on a loan worth $50 million. Things were looking bleak, but it appears the company has entered into an agreement with the finance company Wells Fargo Capital Finance...
News "What is Wii U?" Adverts Start Quizzing Gamers
Depends on the game, of course
With all of the hubbub and excitement it may be possible that some Nintendo fans have forgotten about us Europeans and PAL gamers, still waiting for Wii U to arrive. It's actually the worst for Japanese gamers who'll get the system last — what were the odds on that a year ago? In any case, for many of us the...
News Hulu Plus Now Up and Running on Wii U
Watch TV, on your TV!
Wii U is a pretty strong offering, in terms of functionality, on day one once the system update is in place. More is on the way, of course, such as the TVii app that will arrive in December, while the Wii U menu on the GamePad is showing some other services that aren't quite up and running just yet. One of these icons is for...
News Sumo Digital: Mario Kart Could Learn From Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
"We've pushed the genre forward with this game"
Racing games aren't exactly in abundance for Wii U at the moment. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed represents the only racer on Nintendo's new console at this current time, with Need For Speed: Most Wanted set to emerge later in the launch window. Some may see titles like Sonic & All-Stars...
News Wii U Demo Pods Being Installed In UK GAME Stores
Hundreds of consoles sent out into the wild
It can be quite difficult to really sell the concept of a new console with just words and advertising alone; this is something Nintendo has found with Wii, 3DS and now Wii U. The best way for people to get a feel for what a new console is like is for them to literally get their mitts on it; that's exactly...
Site News Don't Worry, Our Wii U Reviews Are Incoming
Taking our sweet time
As you've no doubt noticed, the Wii U has just been released in the US. New console launches are exciting times; the anticipation of fresh hardware creates a groundswell of interest, and fans clamour over magazines and websites to digest critical reaction to new software. We're already aware from the various comments on...
News Microwave 'Artist' Returns to Melt a Wii U
A deluxe model, no less
So, plenty of you in North America have a shiny Wii U, and you're possibly cradling the GamePad in your arms between game sessions and telling children with sticky hands to stay away. Or maybe you're just playing a load of games, but we're sure most are you are being quite careful to keep your new console shiny. What you...
News 2K Boss Has No Doubts That Wii U Will Be Successful
"Nintendo always impresses and surprises me"
2K Games president Christoph Hartmann is clearly something of a Nintendo fan, and has made some incredibly positive noises to UK trade publication MCV. Speaking in an interview which goes live on MCV tomorrow, Hartmann was effusive in his praise: Nintendo always impresses and surprises me. The team...
News The Wii U CPU Is "Horrible" According To Metro: Last Light Developer
Honesty may not be the best policy
Ukrainian developer 4A clearly isn't happy about the Wii U's CPU, and isn't afraid to be blunt about it. Oles Shishkovtsov, the studio's chief technical officer, explained how he wasn't one bit impressed with the brains of Nintendo's new console, explaining that it has "a horrible, slow CPU." 4A's upcoming game -...
News Wii U Becomes Profitable With One Game Sale
Buy a game, make Mario say wahoo!
It was confirmed in late October that Wii U will be sold at a loss, which gave the retail price some context and perhaps made some supporters nervous about the financial impact on the company. According to comments from Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime, however, the loss on each console is evidently small...
News Wii U on Plenty of U.S. Christmas Lists
The kids are alright
With the Holiday season upon us, there are a number of gadgets vying to be the hottest attraction for shoppers, with Wii U doing its best to join in. Of course, so much money at this time of year is spent on kids, and according to surveys conducted by research firm Nielson, Wii U is high on a lot of wishlists. Of those...
Talking Point The Nintendo Network ID's Next Big Step
Not quite fully “networked”, yet
We’ve praised the concept behind the Nintendo Network a fair bit here on Nintendo Life, and in various news posts and features we’ve stated or alluded to the fact that it could be the start of a bright new online era for Nintendo. To start this particular article on a positive point, there are plenty of...
News Wii U Software Discounts Hit Ahead of Black Friday, Analysts Weigh In
Consoles reportedly sold out, over 2500 on eBay
Now that Wii U has had a day or so to launch and fly off store shelves, industry analysts are starting to look at the early signs of success, or otherwise, for the system. It's all very, very early days, of course, but nevertheless a couple of interesting trends have emerged. For starters, and to the...
News Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition Does Not Require Online Pass
Good news for second-hand buyers
Pre-owned titles are, of course, cheaper than buying a new copy of a game, so it’s easy to see why consumers sometimes decide to choose them instead of paying full-whack price. Of course the publishers of these games aren’t exactly jumping for joy about this, as they receive diddly-squat from the transaction of a...
News Premium Wii U Owners In The UK Need To Spend £62.50 To Receive £5 eShop Voucher
Points mean prizes?
One of the big draws for the Wii U Premium Pack is its reward scheme which allows users to gain money back on their eShop purchases. It was originally claimed that eShoppers would gain 10% back as a reward but it appears this is not the case - it’s a little bit less. Nintendo UK has revealed a little bit more information on...
News Dangerously Infectious ZombiU App Now Available On iOS
Zombie me up, baby
Following in the footsteps of Nintendo itself, Ubisoft has released a ZombiU app for iOS devices to coincide with the launch of the game on the shiny new Wii U. The free application allows you to take a picture of yourself and will automatically generate an infected image. You can see the difference between the level of...
News Reggie - Wii U Is "Absolutely The Beginning Of A New Generation"
Hints at some launch window surprises
One big debate that has surrounded Wii U ever since it was revealed is whether or not the new console is the last through the door of the old generation, or the first to break into the next one. With the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 coming towards the end of their product life cycles it seems inevitable that their...
News Simple Workaround Allows You To Play Wii U Games Off An SD Card
Play your cards right
Before the launch of the Wii U, Nintendo confirmed that software could not be played from an SD card, but it would appear that it is technically possible - provided you have one of those cheap USB card readers handy. YouTube user Shokio discovered that if you pop your SD card into one of these readers and then insert it into...
News Link And Mario Have Gate-Crashed These Scribblenauts Unlimited Trailers
Crossover chaos
The amazing news that Scribblenauts Unlimited would feature famous Nintendo characters was met with a fair degree of excitement, and thanks to two new trailers released by Warner Bros. Interactive, we can now see this magical crossover in motion. The videos detail the kind of things you can do with the classic Legend of Zelda and...
News Take An In-Depth Look At What's Under The Wii U's Shiny Exterior
What silicon treasures lie beneath?
Are you curious about what's inside the Wii U? Users across the web have been discussing the system's technical specifications for months, but now that it is finally available in North America, many folk are seeing first-hand what Nintendo has to offer. However, few (if any) observations are as thorough and...
News Wii U Version Of Grand Theft Auto V "Up For Consideration"
Rockstar keeps its options open
Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most anticipated games for 2013, with the title being released in Spring for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. It did originally appear that the game would not be making it to Wii U or PC, but Rockstar’s vice-president Dan Houser says the developer has not ruled either platform out...
News Ubisoft Has No Plans To Release DLC For ZombiU
But it remains a "possibility"
Downloadable content is still a bit of an alien concept for many Nintendo gamers. We’ve had some DLC made available for 3DS titles with the likes of Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy and New Super Mario Bros. 2 having content through internal stores, and Wii had rare instances too, but now that Wii U has arrived the scope...
News Halting Wii U System Update May Brick the System
Be careful, gamers
A number of you in North America likely have your shiny new Wii U setup, and you've probably installed the day one update that's required for access to features such as Miiverse and the eShop. According to reports out in the Twitter-sphere, however, you may also be one of a small minority that's inadvertently bricked your Wii U...
News Miiverse Hacked By Mistake, Possible Metal Gear And Yoshi Wii U Games Unearthed
UPDATED: It was only a "mock up" area, says Nintendo
EDIT: As many of you have pointed out, since the publication of this article Nintendo has revealed to GamesIndustry International that the menu accessed by the 'hacker' was in fact a mocked-up test menu and was not linked to the main Miiverse system. Nintendo's official line is as follows: It...
News Nintendo Network IDs Are Tied To A Single Wii U Console, For Now
Will change "in the future"
When Nintendo confirmed the death of friend codes and the establishment of the Xbox Box Live-style Nintendo Network ID, the community rejoiced. However, it seems that for the time being at least the system isn't going to be anywhere near as flexible as Microsoft and Sony's online equivalents. Nintendo Network IDs are...
News Isaiah Triforce Johnson Grabs First Wii U at Launch Event
Reunited with his old pal Reggie
To join in with all of the hubbub of North American gamers picking up Wii U systems today, Nintendo has sent out some pictures of the midnight launch event in New York for us to enjoy. As the headline makes clear, Isaiah Triforce Johnson was on hand with his trusty Power Glove to seize the honour, once again, of...
News Ubisoft Uplay App On The Way To Wii U
Adding a bit extra
Ubisoft is comfortably the most supportive third-party developer in Wii U's launch window, releasing a mixture of ports and exclusive titles that cover genres suitable for less experienced players, through to blockbusters for those who'd call themselves hardcore. It seems the publisher's support is set to step up a notch further,...
News Frozenbyte - Indie Developers Have More Control On Wii U eShop
Trine 2 developer enjoying the freedom
Trine 2: Director's Cut is available in the Wii U eShop right now in North America — and will be on launch in Europe — and the game's developer, Frozenbyte, has had nothing but praise for the way Nintendo is approaching downloadable gaming. In an interview with IGN, marketing manager at Frozenbyte, Mikael...
News New Trailer Released As Chasing Aurora Soars Onto Wii U eShop in North America
Broken Rules' indie title finally flies the nest
Broken Rules has released a launch trailer for its Wii U indie game Chasing Aurora, which is available now on the Wii U eShop in North America. Featuring up to five-player asynchronous multiplayer and glorious vector art, Chasing Aurora is a 2D aerial action game where players battle it out as birds...
Nintendo Download 18th November 2012 (North America)
U better believe it
It's a special Nintendo Download update today, as lucky gamers in North America can enter a brave new world of HD offerings on Wii U. There are five download-only titles to choose from and a giddying range of retail options, which shows how seriously Nintendo's taking the idea of selling us games without boxes. Let's get to it...
Feature Wii U Launch Day, Live!
It's a whole new game
So here we are, North America, your Wii U day has arrived. It's a Super Sunday, and some of you will be lucky enough to have a midnight launch, while others will need to have a good night's sleep and wait for the stores to open. Either way, you're first up for Nintendo's brand new system, so we expect you to be rushing home,...
News Jack Tretton Wishes Nintendo Every Success With Wii U
"Nintendo has a great heritage in the business"
President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America Jack Tretton has wished Nintendo every success with Wii U, ahead of the official launch in just a few short hours. Speaking about his own company’s heritage on the latest Official Playstation Blogcast, Tretton took the time to talk about Wii...
Feature What Excites Us About Wii U - NA Edition
So close we can smell the packaging
And so it's almost here, a new home console launch from Nintendo. We only have one of these every five years or more, and North America gets out of the gate first to soak up the new system and put it through its paces. It brings plenty of new features to the table, including its impressive GamePad, a new online...
News Reggie Discusses Embracing The Digital Age Ahead of Wii U Launch
Delighted with developer input for the GamePad
Reggie is out in force leading up to Nintendo's next generation console release on 18th November (like you'd forgotten). Reggie appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show last night in the US to do some high-profile promotion work, and took a midnight stroll to the Nintendo World Store to meet and greet fans...
News Wii U Mass Effect 3 Owners Cannot Retake Omega
New DLC pack unavailable on Wii U
Bioware is set to release some additional DLC for Mass Effect 3 on 27th November in the form of the Omega pack, however those with a copy of the game on Wii U will not be able to download it. This news comes via a tweet from the official Mass Effect account, which when answering a fan’s query on the DLC’s Wii U...
News Iwata Reveals How Nintendo Developed The Early Prototype For Wii U
Simply strap two Wii consoles together
With the immense success of the Wii, the folks at Nintendo certainly had their work cut out when developing its successor. It was around 2009 - with the Wii well into its third year of service - that Nintendo’s top men got around a table and started to discuss what their next move would be. The first task...
News Reggie Surprises Nintendo World Store Campers 24 Hours Before Wii U Launch
His body is ready!
Following Reggie's slot on the Jimmy Fallon show, the man himself took a stroll down to Nintendo World Store in NYC, where he stumbled upon 50 campers outside gearing up for Wii U's midnight launch. Reggie had some fun with the fans in the queue, where he was taking note of what fans wanted to see on the system (Smash Bros. and...
News Analysts Believe Wii U Will Be Put To The Test Come Summertime
Will Nintendo keep momentum?
As Nintendo of America’s Scott Moffitt pointed out recently, the response to Wii U has been nothing short of “phenomenal” as its North American launch date draws ever closer. Research firm IHS Screen Digest expects Nintendo to shift 3.5 million Wii U units worldwide by the end of December, meanwhile, which even...
News TVii Application Won't Be Available On Wii U Launch
Will arrive in December
Last week we discovered that the Wii U will need to be updated with a patch on day-one of launch to enable you to use features such as Miiverse, Wii U Chat and the eShop. North America was also told that TVii, the service that allows users to navigate through their online video subscriptions more easily, will also be...
News Nintendo's Recommended Range For GamePad Use Is Conservative
Playing it safe
Ever since the GamePad was revealed people have wondered just how far away from your TV you can go with it. Can you get to the next room? The kitchen? The bathroom? The garden shed? So far Nintendo have only confirmed that you can definitely play it within the same room and the official Wii U specs declare a maximum range of up to 26...
News Rayman Legends Demo Available In Wii U eShop On Launch
We will get to play it after all
Rayman Legends was originally supposed to be a Wii U launch day title but was pushed back to a Q1 2013 release, much to the disappointment of Rayman fans across the globe. However, North American Wii U owners will still be able to get a little bit of their Rayman fix on launch day as Ubisoft has confirmed that there...
News Iwata Asks Reveals New Super Mario Bros. U Took Three Years To Develop
And it's not child's play either
New Super Mario Bros. U will be one of two first party Wii U launch titles when Nintendo’s new console finally becomes available to buy - the other of course being Nintendo Land - and it has been revealed in the latest edition of Iwata Asks that the game has been in the works ever since its predecessor New
News GameStop Wii U Software Pre-Orders Surpass One Million
Mamma mia!
The Wii U is out in just two days time in North America, and you can already smell the excitement in the air. Drunk on the 'new console' fever, it seems that people have been getting a bit anxious thinking they may not secure their console for the holiday season. We reported that Wii U pre-orders were selling out quickly, and at one...
News New Super Mario Bros. U To Jump Into DLC
Additional courses planned
New Super Mario Bros. 2 did something new for the core Mario franchise: it introduced DLC. While much of the game may have felt familiar — not always a bad thing — the idea of extra content being made available after release was new for the series, and has added some longevity to the Coin Rush mode. In an Iwata Asks...
News Wii U Version Of Mighty Switch Force Much Harder Than The Original
The difficulty has gone into hyper drive
When you get your brand spanking new Wii U home on launch day and dive into the eShop, you’ll find a sidescrolling puzzle-platformer called Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition; it's a game 3DS owners will be more than familiar with seeing as it's an enhanced port of the 3DS eShop title, Mighty Switch...
Developer Interview Gaijin Games Gets Drunk with Wii U Power
WiiWare champs set their sights on the future and rhythm aliens
While plenty of developers have stepped up to take a swing at WiiWare, only a pinch have started from scratch and built good names strictly based on their output for the service. Perhaps the biggest success story in this realm is Gaijin Games: as a brand-new studio, the three-strong...
News Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition Coming To European eShop
Just not right away
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition will be available to download via the eShop on the same day the Wii U launches over in Japan and it has now been confirmed that European Wii U owners will be getting the same treatment, albeit not straight away. European Wii U owners will be able to download a copy of the game at some point...
"Wii U is a revolution of the social space of the play situation"
Spin The Bottle certainly isn't your average run-of-the-mill video game - but then the studio behind it is unique, as well. Spawned from the development hotbed of the Copenhagen Game Collective, KnapNok Games is all about creating unique experiences with modern technology, with a...
News Spin The Bottle Is A Wii U Game That Doesn't Use Your TV
Involves "tight coordination, daring trust, body and eye contact or extreme flexibility"
KnapNok Games has released details of its forthcoming Wii U eShop title Spin The Bottle, a game which allows up to 8 players to indulge in addictive micro-challenges which take their attention away from the TV and focus it solely on the Wii U GamePad. A...
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