Topic: Can't play Smash Bros. anymore because of update

tl;dr: Smash data and firmware are the only thing taking up space on my Wii U but I can't transfer or delete existing Smash data to make room for more Smash data

I've got an 8GB Wii U Basic and want to play Smash. It has a new update today to support Corrin and all that so I try to boot up the game. I'm told I don't have enough free space in the system memory for the update, which I don't think much of since I use a 1TB external hard drive for storing all my games.

Then I go to Data Management and realize that the existing Smash update data (1926 MB worth) is saved on my Wii U's memory for some reason. It's the only thing stored on my Wii U besides KB large save files so I figure I'll transfer it to my 1TB drive but..."You cannot select software that is being updated or downloaded" appears. Makes sense, but I paused and deleted the new update from Download Management and I still can't touch the old update file for whatever reason.

Basically, it's impossible to clear space since the only things that could make space on the system are 1)Smash update data that can't be touched 2) data that came from mandatory Wii U updates and can't be touched. I now understand why the 8GB model was discontinued...

I actually tried contacting Nintendo support first and they weren't able to provide any solution outside of generic ones that didn't help, so I'm just hoping someone else has encountered this and solved it. The worst part is that I literally cannot play the game even if I don't want to get Corrin, Bayonetta, etc. I fear my only solution is buying a 32GB Wii U and doing a system transfer, which would cost $300 and yield zero other benefits. Is there no way to download an update directly to the hard drive when it's not there already?

MAYBE you could delete Smash Bros. (I'm assuming it's the download version?) and redownload it? It should download the latest version directly to your hard drive, so you don't have to update. It's just a hunch and is based on you not having the disc version, but that's the only potential solution I can think of.

Unfortunately, I've got a disk copy. Thanks for trying to give me a hand though. In an absolute pinch I could go digital and do that.

Hm, this is bizarre, @Ark. I had the exact same problem yesterday — I downloaded the new DLC and went to launch Smash (disc version), but the game wouldn't launch because I did not have enough space to download the update. Like you, my Smash data was on my nearly full internal Wii U HD, but I have an external HD with plenty of space. And like you, I initially couldn't transfer the Smash data because it was "being updated or downloaded." I did almost exactly what you did, and — though it was a slow, annoying process — it ended up working. Just to clarify, in the tiny off-chance that it might help you, here are exactly the steps I took:

-Paused downloads in the Download menu
-Deleted any visible Smash-related downloads in the Download menu
-Resumed downloads in the Download menu
-Shut down and restarted the Wii U
-Transferred the Smash data to my external HD
-Returned to the eShop and selected "Redownload" for the new Smash DLC, waited for that download to complete
-Launched Smash from the disc, which prompted the new (now-successful) update installation

I sounds like you're doing just that, but maybe there's something in there that'll get you up and running. In any case, this was one of the rare times that really had me thinking that Nintendo needs to up their OS game on the NX. Really tedious stuff to deal with, here. Godspeed on getting it figured.

Welp, I didn't think deleting some already-downloaded 80kb DLC files unrelated to the update itself would solve the problem, but clearing the list seemed to do it. Almost seems obvious in hindsight...

I think it was triggered by Download Management, since it retains freshly downloaded items until you launch the corresponding game/app and doesn't offer a way to clear the list before doing so. Of course, it couldn't launch the game because there was an update required to do so. Thus, Data Management believed that something was in progress (even though it actually wasn't) and locked down everything related to Smash because all files related to one game are grouped together.

Regardless of whatever quirk was the culprit, you are a hero and saved me hours grief/quite a few bucks. Now it's just a matter of re-downloading 2GB. Thanks a million!

@Ark, that's great news! I'm just glad to hear that it helped at all. I know I'd be pretty frustrated if I suddenly lost access to Smash Bros. all because the Wii U's OS is kinda clunky. There's actually quite a bit I like about the OS, but yeah, Download Management should really have a simple "clear queue" option.

In any case, enjoy your Smash-meets-Bayonetta insanity — it's really great stuff.