Wii U: Difference between revisions

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{{System-Infobox
{{system infobox
|Image=[[File:Wii U Console.png|300px]]<br>'''Wii U''' system (right) and its GamePad controller. (left)
|image=[[File:Wii U Console.png|300px]]<br>Wii U system (right) and its GamePad controller (left)
|Rel={{released|USA|November 18, 2012|Mexico|November 29, 2012|South Africa|November 29, 2012|Europe|November 30, 2012|Australia|November 30, 2012<ref>[http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=news]</ref>|Japan|December 8, 2012<ref name="WiiU">[http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=185310]</ref>|Brazil|November 26, 2013<ref>http://jogos.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/2013/11/07/mais-caro-do-mundo-wii-u-sai-no-brasil-por-r-1899-em-2611.htm</ref>}}
|generation=Eighth
|Dis={{released
|release={{release|USA|November 18, 2012|Canada|November 18, 2012<ref>https://www.straight.com/life/nintendo-wii-u-console-set-november-18-release-canada</ref>|Mexico|November 29, 2012|South Africa|November 29, 2012|Europe|November 30, 2012|Australia|November 30, 2012<ref>[http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=news]</ref>|Japan|December 8, 2012<ref name="WiiU">rawmeatcowboy (September 13, 2012). [http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=185310 JAPAN - WII U NINTENDO DIRECT #1 LIVE STREAM/BLOG]. ''GoNintendo''. Retrieved March 5, 2020.</ref>|Chile|December 10, 2012<ref>https://www.emol.com/noticias/tecnologia/2012/11/29/572013/nintendo-presenta-su-nueva-consola-wii-u-en-chile.html</ref>|Brazil|November 26, 2013<ref>http://jogos.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/2013/11/07/mais-caro-do-mundo-wii-u-sai-no-brasil-por-r-1899-em-2611.htm</ref>}}
|Europe|October 1, 2016<ref>https://mynintendonews.com/2016/09/23/europe-retailers-will-no-longer-be-able-to-order-wii-u-consoles-after-october-1st/</ref>
|discontinued={{release|Europe|October 1, 2016<ref>SSF1991 (September 23, 2016). [https://mynintendonews.com/2016/09/23/europe-retailers-will-no-longer-be-able-to-order-wii-u-consoles-after-october-1st/ Europe: Retailers Will No Longer Be Able To Order Wii U Consoles After October 1st]. ''My Nintendo News''. Retrieved March 5, 2020.</ref>|USA|November 10, 2016<ref>Ashcraft, Brian (November 10, 2016). [http://kotaku.com/nintendo-announces-wii-u-production-is-ending-1788802568 In Japan, Nintendo Announces Wii U Production Is Ending]. ''Kotaku''. Retrieved March 5, 2020.</ref>|Australia|November 14, 2016<ref>Kinsley, John (November 14, 2016). [http://nintendotoday.com/new-wii-u-bundle-released-in-australia/ New Wii U bundle released in Australia]. ''NintendoToday''. Retrieved March 5, 2020.</ref>|Japan|January 31, 2017<ref>Ashcraft, Brian (January 31, 2017). [http://kotaku.com/wii-u-production-has-officially-ended-for-japan-1791813878 Wii U Production Has Officially Ended For Japan] ''Kotaku''. Retrieved March 5, 2020.</ref>}}
|USA|November 10, 2016<ref>http://kotaku.com/nintendo-announces-wii-u-production-is-ending-1788802568?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Twitter&utm_source=Kotaku_Twitter&utm_medium=Socialflow</ref>
|predecessor=[[Wii]]
|Australia|November 14, 2016<ref>http://nintendotoday.com/new-wii-u-bundle-released-in-australia/</ref>
|successor=[[Nintendo Switch]]
|Japan|January 31, 2017<ref>http://kotaku.com/wii-u-production-has-officially-ended-for-japan-1791813878</ref>}}
|Pre=[[Wii]]
|Suc=[[Nintendo Switch]]
|ratings=
|ratings=
}}
}}
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[[File:Wii U Logo.svg|left|100px]]
[[File:Wii U Logo.svg|left|100px]]
The '''Wii U''' (codenamed '''Project Café''' in development) is an eighth generation home console produced by [[Nintendo]] as the successor to the [[Wii]]. It was announced during Nintendo's conference at [[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011|E3 2011]]. The main feature of the Wii U is its controller, the Wii U GamePad, which has a touch screen, camera, and other new features. According to [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]], the Wii U was never shown to Nintendo's software development team prior to its unveiling at E3 2011. The Wii U was the third Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan, the other two being the Wii and [[Nintendo DS]].
The '''{{wp|Wii U}}''' is an eighth-generation home video game console produced by [[Nintendo]] as the successor to the [[Wii]]. It is Nintendo's first home console since the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] to share a portion of its name with its predecessor. During development, the console was codenamed "Project Café." It was announced during Nintendo's conference at {{wp|E3 2011}}. The main feature of the Wii U is its controller, the [[#Wii U GamePad|Wii U GamePad]], which has a touch screen, a camera, a microphone, and other features. According to [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]], the Wii U was never shown to Nintendo's software development team prior to its unveiling at E3 2011. With the name "Wii" originating from the word "we," the "U" ("you") was added to reflect the console's intended appeal to single-player play as well as multiplayer. It is the home console counterpart of the [[Nintendo 3DS]].
 
The Wii U was released in the United States on November 18, 2012; in Europe and Australia on November 30, 2012; and in Japan on December 8, 2012. The Wii U was the third Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan, the other two being the Wii and the original [[Nintendo DS]]. It is also the first Nintendo home console since the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] to be released before its competitors' consoles of the same generation were announced.
 
In contrast to the Wii, the Wii U was not very successful when compared to its contemporaries, {{wp|Sony}}'s {{wp|PlayStation 4}} and {{wp|Microsoft}}'s {{wp|Xbox One}}. It was initially expected to sell 100 million units;<ref>[https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-07-07-wii-u-was-expected-to-sell-100-million-units/ Wii U was expected to sell 100 million units | GamesIndustry.biz]</ref> however, it managed to sell only 13.56 million units worldwide,<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/ IR Information : Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units]. ''Nintendo''. Retrieved June 11, 2020.</ref> making it Nintendo's least successful home console, a record previously held by the [[Nintendo GameCube]]. Because of this, it was discontinued in Europe on October 1, 2016; in North America on November 10, 2016; in Australia on November 14, 2016; and in Japan on January 31, 2017, only about four years after the console's initial release. The Wii U's lifetime sales were outsold in only nine months by its successor, the [[Nintendo Switch]].<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42885803</ref><ref>https://hypebeast.com/2019/10/nintendo-switch-passes-wii-u-lifetime-sales</ref> Commonly cited reasons for the Wii U's weak sales include its confusing marketing, complicated GamePad, few third-party titles (many being canceled and/or unreleased), high initial pricing, and lack of Blu-ray, DVD, and CD playback.<ref>https://www.lifewire.com/reasons-the-wii-u-is-a-failure-2498588</ref> However, many first-party Wii U titles were [[Reissue|ported]] to the Nintendo Switch.


==Features==
==Features==
The Wii U console resembles the [[Wii]], except is much longer with rounder sides. It has a slot to insert 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs as well as the Wii's DVD optical discs. The console can play high-definition games at 720p and 1080p, the first of Nintendo's consoles to do so. The console itself is approximately 4.6 cm tall, 17.3 cm wide, and 26.7 cm long. When placed horizontally, it slightly resembles the [[Wii#Wii Family Edition|Wii Family Edition]].
The Wii U console resembles the Wii, except it is much longer with rounder sides. It has a slot to insert 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs based on the Blu-ray format, as well as the Wii's optical discs based on the DVD format. The console can play high-definition games at 720p and 1080p. The console itself is approximately 4.6 cm tall, 17.3 cm wide, and 26.7 cm long. When placed horizontally, it slightly resembles the [[Wii#Wii Family Edition|Wii Family Edition]]. It features {{wp|IBM}} microprocessor technology inside.


The Wii U supports all the controllers (and respective peripherals) used with the Wii: the [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]], the [[Wii#Nunchuk|Nunchuk]] controller, the [[Wii#Wii Remote Plus|Wii Remote Plus]], the [[Wii#Wii Classic Controller|Classic Controller]], the Classic Controller Pro, and the [[Wii#Wii Balance Board|Wii Balance Board]]. It is compatible with the Wii hardware and software, but, similar to the Wii Family Edition, it is not compatible with the [[Nintendo GameCube]] hardware or software.<ref>http://kotaku.com/5810081/farewell-gamecube-the-wii-u-doesnt-play-you</ref>
The Wii U supports all the controllers (and respective peripherals) used with the Wii: the [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]], the [[Wii#Nunchuk|Nunchuk]] controller, the [[Wii#Wii Remote Plus|Wii Remote Plus]], the [[Wii#Wii Classic Controller|Classic Controller]], the Classic Controller Pro, and the [[Wii#Wii Balance Board|Wii Balance Board]]. It is compatible with the Wii hardware and software; similar to the Wii Family Edition and [[Wii#Wii mini|Wii Mini]], however, it is incompatible with the [[Nintendo GameCube]] hardware or software.<ref>http://kotaku.com/5810081/farewell-gamecube-the-wii-u-doesnt-play-you</ref> While the disc drive contains grips to load 8 cm GameCube discs, it will eject them almost immediately after insertion. The Wii U is the first home Nintendo console whose controllers' control sticks can be pressed down to act as extra buttons; although, the only ''Super Mario'' games that use these features are ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'', in which pressing the right stick resets the camera angle, and ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' in which it is used to change the hand on the TV Screen in edit mode. It is also the first home Nintendo console whose controllers include perfectly circular analog stick movement.


The Wii U supports up to eight-player local play, as seen in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''. It can support up to two GamePads, a feature not yet used for any games, though the Wii U GamePad is not currently sold at retail. The console has an internal flash memory, holding 8 GB for the standard set, and 32 GB for the deluxe set. Additionally, the Wii U has the option to expand its memory by using an external USB hard disk drive, however, even though the Wii U has an SD Card slot, SD Cards cannot be used for Wii U data storage (excluding Mii storage), though they can be used for storing Wii data via the Wii Menu only. This also means that Wii U game data cannot be transferred onto other Wii U systems on SD cards.
The Wii U supports up to eight-player local play, as seen in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''. It was intended to be able to support two GamePads, but this was scrapped during development. The console has an internal flash memory, holding 8 GB for the standard set, and 32 GB for the deluxe set. Additionally, the Wii U has the option to expand its memory by using an external USB hard disk drive—however, even though the Wii U has an [[Memory Card|SD Card]] slot, SD Cards cannot be used for Wii U data storage (excluding Mii storage), though they can be used for storing Wii data via the Wii Menu only. This also means that Wii U game data cannot be transferred onto other Wii U systems on SD cards.


The Wii U allows players to connect to the internet using [[Nintendo Network]], the successor to [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]], via a wireless connection or using the Wii LAN Adapter.
Until its termination on April 8, 2024, the Wii U allowed players to connect to the internet using [[Nintendo Network]], the successor to [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]], via a wireless connection or using the Wii LAN Adapter.


==Peripherals==
==Peripherals==
===Wii U GamePad===
===Wii U GamePad===
[[File:Blackcontroller big.png|250px|thumb|Detail of the Wii U GamePad.]]
[[File:Wii U GamePad Black.png|250px|thumb|Detail of the Wii U GamePad]]
The '''Wii U GamePad''' is the main controller of the Wii U console. The GamePad has a 6.2 inch (15.7 cm) resistive touchscreen in the center, and is the first ever controller for a home video game console to have this feature. Its button layout is somewhat similar to that of the [[Nintendo 3DS]], having the traditional {{button|Stick}} to the left of the screen and the {{button|wiiu|A}}, {{button|wiiu|B}}, {{button|wiiu|Y}}, and {{button|wiiu|X}} buttons to the right. The GamePad has two traditional {{button|Stick}}, one on each side of the screen and over the traditional buttons. The sticks are slightly displaced nearer to the edges of the controller and are clickable. The {{button|wiiu|L}} and {{button|wiiu|R}} buttons are located behind the GamePad, as are the {{button|wiiu|ZL}} and {{button|wiiu|ZR}} buttons. Below the screen is the {{button|wiiu|Home}} button, situated between the microphone aperture and the battery light, and next to the light is the {{button|wiiu|TV}} button. The {{button|wiiu|minus}} select button and {{button|wiiu|plus}} start button are found below the {{button|wiiu|A}}{{button|wiiu|B}}{{button|wiiu|Y}}{{button|wiiu|X}} buttons. The {{button|wiiu|Power}} button is directly below the screen right to the TV button. The controller also has a {{button|wiiu|NFC}} [[wikipedia:Near Field Communication|NFC]] sensor, able to read objects or codes near to the controller. The GamePad can be used with a stylus and features a frontal camera, a microphone, a stereo speaker, sensor strip, rumble system, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, rechargeable battery and built-in flash memory to store data. <ref>[http://wiiublog.com/wii-u-controller-has-built-in-flash-memory-and-a-bunch-of-other-things-we-already-knew-about/ Wii U's North American patent sheet]</ref> Using the controller, one can browse the internet, send videos, flip channels, take screenshots, and connect to Miiverse while playing any game. It can also be used as universal TV control. Video chat is also included but cannot be executed while playing. Games for this console can be played on the TV screen, the controller screen, or a combination of both,<ref>http://e3.nintendo.com/hw/#/introduction</ref> known as [[wikipedia:Asymmetry#Other uses|asymmetric gameplay]]. The controller cannot be used to play Wii games, although its sensor can be used for playing Wii games and its screen can be used to display them.
The '''Wii U GamePad''' is the main controller of the Wii U console. The GamePad has a 6.2 inch (15.7 cm) resistive touchscreen in the center, and is the first ever controller for a home video game console to have this feature. Its button layout is somewhat similar to that of the [[Nintendo 3DS]], having the traditional {{button|Stick}} to the left of the screen and the {{button|wiiu|A}}, {{button|wiiu|B}}, {{button|wiiu|Y}}, and {{button|wiiu|X}} buttons to the right. The GamePad has two traditional {{button|Stick}}, one on each side of the screen and over the traditional buttons. The sticks are slightly displaced nearer to the edges of the controller and are clickable. The {{button|wiiu|L}} and {{button|wiiu|R}} buttons are located behind the GamePad, as are the {{button|wiiu|ZL}} and {{button|wiiu|ZR}} buttons. Below the screen is the {{button|wiiu|Home}} button, situated between the microphone aperture and the battery light, and next to the light is the {{button|wiiu|TV}} button. The {{button|wiiu|minus}} select button and {{button|wiiu|plus}} start button are found below the {{button|wiiu|A}}{{button|wiiu|B}}{{button|wiiu|Y}}{{button|wiiu|X}} buttons. The {{button|wiiu|Power}} button is directly below the screen right to the TV button. The controller also has a {{button|wiiu|NFC}} {{wp|Near-field communication|NFC}} sensor, able to read objects or codes near to the controller. The GamePad can be used with a stylus and features a frontal camera, a microphone, a stereo speaker, sensor strip, rumble system, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, rechargeable battery and built-in flash memory to store data. <ref>[http://wiiublog.com/wii-u-controller-has-built-in-flash-memory-and-a-bunch-of-other-things-we-already-knew-about/ Wii U's North American patent sheet]</ref> Using the controller, one can browse the internet, send videos, flip channels, take screenshots, and connect to Miiverse while playing any game. It can also be used as universal TV control. Video chat is also included but cannot be executed while playing. Games for this console can be played on the TV screen, the controller screen, or a combination of both,<ref>http://e3.nintendo.com/hw/#/introduction</ref> known as {{wp|Asymmetry#Other uses|asymmetric gameplay}}. The controller cannot be used to play Wii games, although its sensor can be used for playing Wii games and its screen can be used to display them.


===Wii U Pro Controller===
===Wii U Pro Controller===
[[File:Wii U Pro Controller White.png|thumb|left|200px]]
[[File:Wii U Pro Controller White.png|thumb|left|200px]]
The '''Wii U Pro Controller''' is an alternate peripheral for the Wii U console. Introduced by [[Satoru Iwata]] in a ''Nintendo Direct'' video on June 3, 2012, the Wii U Pro Controller is somewhat similar to the Wii's Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro and the GameCube Controller by the frontal button layout and that it has grips. However, the {{button|wiiu|A}}, {{button|wiiu|B}}, {{button|wiiu|Y}}, {{button|wiiu|X}}, and the {{button|wiiu|Pad}} are found below the {{button|Stick}}. The {{button|Stick}} is also clickable, this is the only thing besides the button names that sets its layout apart from that of the Microsoft [[wikipedia:Xbox 360 Controller|Xbox 360 controller]]. The player number lights from the Wii Remote and the {{button|wiiu|Power}}, have been added in the center of the controller, as it is wireless and battery-powered. The Wii U Pro Controller is also slightly bulkier than the Wii's wired controllers, and the {{button|wiiu|ZL}} and {{button|wiiu|ZR}} are arranged differently as actual trigger buttons, similar to how they were arranged on the Classic Controller Pro, though they are now pressure-sensitive. The controller shares the same battery as the 3DS and can last working for approximately 80 hours.<ref>[http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=190115 Wii U Pro Controller and 3DS share the same battery]</ref> When using it in menus, the left {{button|Stick}} controls the pointer. Like the Wii U GamePad, the Pro Controller is incompatible with Wii games.
The '''Wii U Pro Controller''' is an alternate peripheral for the Wii U console. Introduced by [[Satoru Iwata]] in a ''Nintendo Direct'' video on June 3, 2012, the Wii U Pro Controller is similar to the Wii's Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro and the GameCube Controller in its frontal button layout and the presence of grips, with all inputs functioning identically to their GamePad equivalents. Unlike previous alternate controllers, however, the {{button|wiiu|A}}, {{button|wiiu|B}}, {{button|wiiu|Y}}, {{button|wiiu|X}}, and the {{button|wiiu|Pad}} are all found below the {{button|Stick}}; this is the only thing besides the button names that sets its layout apart from that of the Microsoft {{wp|Xbox 360 controller}}. The player number lights from the Wii Remote and the {{button|wiiu|Power}}, have been added in the center of the controller, as it is wireless and battery-powered. The Wii U Pro Controller is also slightly bulkier than the Wii's wired controllers, and the {{button|wiiu|ZL}} and {{button|wiiu|ZR}} are arranged differently as actual trigger buttons as on the GamePad, closest to how they were arranged on the Classic Controller Pro. When using it in menus, the left {{button|Stick}} controls the pointer. Like the Wii U GamePad, the Pro Controller is incompatible with Wii games, even those that use the Wii Classic Controller (e.g. ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'').
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===GameCube Controller Adapter===
===GameCube Controller Adapter===
[[File:Wii U GameCube Adapter 1.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
[[File:Wii U GameCube Adapter 1.jpg|thumb|200px]]
The '''GameCube Controller Adapter''' is a peripheral allowing use of [[Nintendo GameCube]] controllers for compatible Wii U games. It was announced on May 29, 2014 during a video published by Nintendo<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMQySEjyCUw</ref> overviewing the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Invitational at E3 2014, and has been confirmed to be released during the 2014 holiday season.<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/10/e3-2014-gamecube-adapter-controller-and-smash-bundle-pricing-revealed]</ref> So far, GameCube controllers have only been confirmed as an input method for ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', but Nintendo says that they "plan to utilize [it] in future Wii U releases". It has four ports for GameCube controllers, and plugs into the Wii U through two USB ports; one is for power, while the other is for receiving and sending input. It launched alongside ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', in addition to a bundle that features the game, the adapter, and a ''Super Smash Bros.''-themed GameCube controller.
The '''GameCube Controller Adapter''' is a peripheral allowing use of [[Nintendo GameCube]] controllers for compatible Wii U games. It was announced on May 29, 2014 during a video published by Nintendo<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMQySEjyCUw</ref> overviewing the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Invitational at E3 2014, and has been confirmed to be released during the 2014 holiday season.<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/10/e3-2014-gamecube-adapter-controller-and-smash-bundle-pricing-revealed]</ref> It has four ports for GameCube controllers, and plugs into the Wii U through two USB ports; one is for power, while the other is for receiving and sending input. It launched alongside ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', in addition to a bundle that features the game, the adapter, and a ''Super Smash Bros.''-themed GameCube controller. ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' became the only Wii U game to support the GameCube Controller Adapter. As of system version 4.0.0, the GameCube adapter is compatible with the [[Nintendo Switch]] as well.
{{br|left}}
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===amiibo===
===amiibo===
[[File:Amiibo - Wii U GamePad black.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An amiibo scanning on the Wii U GamePad.]]
[[File:Amiibo - Wii U GamePad black.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An amiibo scanning on the Wii U GamePad]]
[[File:Amiiboset.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Several ''Super Smash Bros.'' '''amiibo''' figurines.]]
[[File:Amiiboset.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Several ''Super Smash Bros.'' amiibo figurines]]
{{main|amiibo}}
{{main|amiibo}}
'''amiibo''' is a line of figurines usable in compatible Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles. By placing a figure on the Wii U GamePad's {{button|wiiu|NFC}}, the amiibo is able to interact with the game. The product line launched on November 21, 2014, with ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' as the first title to be compatible with the line. amiibo functionality is also featured in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' as of version 3.0, and in ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'', ''[[Mario Party 10]]'', ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', and ''[[Super Mario Maker]]''. Certain amiibo figures are also compatible with multiple games (e.g. the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Mario is compatible with ''Mario Kart 8'' and ''Mario Party 10'', having the amiibo functionality programmed for those games<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/12/e3-2014-nintendo-on-amiibo-smash-bros-and-custom-figurines]</ref>).
'''amiibo''' is a line of figurines usable in compatible Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles. By placing a figure on the Wii U GamePad's {{button|wiiu|NFC}}, the amiibo is able to interact with the game. The product line launched on November 21, 2014, with ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' as the first title to be compatible with the line. amiibo functionality is also featured in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]'' as of version 3.0, and in ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'', ''[[Mario Party 10]]'', ''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', and ''[[Super Mario Maker]]''. Certain amiibo figures are also compatible with multiple games (e.g. the ''Super Smash Bros.'' Mario is compatible with ''Mario Kart 8'' and ''Mario Party 10'', having the amiibo functionality programmed for those games<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/12/e3-2014-nintendo-on-amiibo-smash-bros-and-custom-figurines]</ref>).
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===Wii Peripherals===
===Wii peripherals===
:''Main: [[Wii#Wii Remote|Wii Remote]], [[Wii#Wii Balance Board|Wii Balance Board]], [[Wii#Classic Controller|Wii Classic Controller]], [[Wii#Wii Wheel|Wii Wheel]], [[Wii#Wii Zapper|Wii Zapper]].''
{{main|Wii#Peripherals{{!}}Wii § Peripherals}}
 
In addition to being compatible with Wii software, the Wii U is also compatible with most Wii controllers and accessories.
In addition to being compatible with Wii software, the Wii U is also compatible with most Wii controllers and accessories.


===Nintendo 3DS===
===Nintendo 3DS===
:''Main articles: [[Nintendo 3DS#Nintendo 3DS|Nintendo 3DS]], [[Nintendo 3DS#New Nintendo 3DS|New Nintendo 3DS]].
{{main|Nintendo 3DS}}
Systems in the Nintendo 3DS family can be used as controllers in certain Wii U games. ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' is an example of a game that can use this feature.
 
==Appearances of peripherals in the ''Super Mario'' franchise==
===''Game & Wario''===
A controller bearing a striking resemblance to the Wii U GamePad appears in several cutscenes of this game.
 
===''Mario Party 10''===
The icon for Bowser Party pictures [[Bowser]] holding a black Wii U GamePad in international versions and a white Wii U GamePad in the Japanese version, with [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Peach]], and [[Yoshi]] standing on it. A similar image is used in promotional artwork, including the boxart.
 
===''Yoshi's Woolly World''===
Although the Wii U itself does not appear in this game, [[List of Yoshi designs in Yoshi's Woolly World#Wii U Deluxe Yoshi|Wii U Deluxe Yoshi]] is an unlockable Yoshi design based on the Wii U's Deluxe edition.


Systems in the Nintendo 3DS family can be used as controllers in certain Wii U games. ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' is an example of a game that can use this feature.
===''The Super Mario Bros. Movie''===
Although the Wii U itself does not appear in ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', a design on the vehicle-building machine references the Wii U GamePad's functionality as a horn in ''[[Mario Kart 8]]''.


==Software==
==''Super Mario''-related software==
===WaraWara Plaza===
===WaraWara Plaza===
[[File:Wii U WaraWara Plaza.jpg|200px|thumb|right|WaraWara Plaza.]]  
[[File:Wii U WaraWara Plaza.jpg|200px|thumb|WaraWara Plaza]]
WaraWara Plaza ("bustling plaza" in English) is the main menu for Wii U. This feature allows players to see Miis on-screen gathering around accessible tiles. The Miis represent all the player's friends, familiars and miscellaneous individuals who are using the service, and the tiles they are surrounding represent where they are communicating in real time. Because the tiles are integrated with Miiverse, the user can explore the topics on every tile and look up what games their friends are playing. WaraWara Plaza also offers chat, video conference and information sharing, and it can be quickly accessed even when playing a game by pressing the {{button|wiiu|Home}} button. The WaraWara Plaza had a different design shown in Nintendo Direct's pre-E3 video, as it featured some game icons in the middle of the plaza.
WaraWara Plaza (from the Japanese term 「わらわら」 ''warawara'', meaning "bustling" in English) is the main menu for Wii U. This feature allows players to see Miis on-screen gathering around accessible tiles. The Miis represent all the player's friends, familiars, and miscellaneous individuals who are using the service, and the tiles they are surrounding represent where they are communicating in real time. Because the tiles were integrated with Miiverse, the user could explore the topics on every tile and look up what games their friends were playing. WaraWara Plaza also offers chat, video conference, and information sharing, and it can be quickly accessed even when playing a game by pressing the {{button|wiiu|Home}} button. The WaraWara Plaza had a different design shown in Nintendo Direct's pre-E3 video, as it featured some game icons in the middle of the plaza. For users without a Nintendo Network ID or with Miiverse banned by Parental Controls, and following Miiverse's termination, WaraWara Plaza instead shows the pre-installed apps on the Wii U such as the Nintendo eShop and the System Settings.


===Miiverse===
===Miiverse===
{{main|Miiverse}}
{{main|Miiverse}}
[[File:Miiverse.svg|150px|left]]
[[File:Miiverse.svg|150px|left]]
Miiverse is a social networking service designed for players to share ideas and comments on the games they are playing. Players can make posts in game communities where others can respond to them, as well as follow other users and add friends. First released on the Wii U and the Internet, Miiverse has been subsequently released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]], smartphones, computers, etc.
Miiverse was a social networking service designed for players to share ideas and comments on the games they are playing. Players could make posts in game communities where others could respond to them, as well as follow other users and add friends. First released on the Wii U and the Internet, Miiverse was subsequently released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]], smartphones, computers, etc.


===Wii U Chat===
On November 7th, 2017, at 10:00 PM PST, the Miiverse service was discontinued.
[[File:Wii u chat.png|left|150px]]
Wii U Chat is a built-in application allowing users to communicate in real-time with other Wii U owners using the inner camera of the Wii U GamePad. Apart from this, it also allows the user to draw designs on the touchscreen so they appear on the face of the person they are conversing with. The video chat can be displayed on both the television screen and the GamePad, meaning programs can still be watched while talking to the person. Wii U Chat in itself confirms that applications such as [[wikipedia:Skype|Skype]] will not be seen on Wii U. Wii U Chat was originally made available with a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection.


===Nintendo eShop===
===Nintendo eShop===
{{main|Nintendo eShop}}
{{main|Nintendo eShop}}
[[File:Logo-Nintendo-eShop.svg|left|175px]]Nintendo's current online shop service, first released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]], is also present on Wii U. The Nintendo eShop was first made available on the system through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection. With the eShop, users can download exclusive Wii U software, demos and videos, as well as view information on upcoming games, and some Wii titles are available as digital downloads. [[Virtual Console]] games for [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]], [[Nintendo 64]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and [[Nintendo DS]] are also available. These games can be played on the Wii U GamePad via Off-TV Play; games transferred over from a Wii console do not support Off-TV Play nor do they support other Wii U Virtual Console features, but they can be upgraded to Wii U Virtual Console games for a discounted price.
[[File:Nintendo eShop newlogo.png|left|175px]]
 
Nintendo's current online shop service, first released on the [[Nintendo 3DS]], is also present on Wii U. The Nintendo eShop was first made available on the system through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection. With the eShop, users can download exclusive Wii U software, demos, and videos, as well as view information on upcoming games, and some Wii titles are available as digital downloads. [[Virtual Console]] games for [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]], [[Nintendo 64]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and [[Nintendo DS]] were also available. These games can be played on the Wii U GamePad via Off-TV Play; games transferred over from a Wii console do not support Off-TV Play nor do they support other Wii U Virtual Console features, but they can be upgraded to Wii U Virtual Console games for a discounted price.
===Nintendo TVii===
[[File:TVii logo.png|left|200px]]
A new television based service by Nintendo debuted on the Wii U. Together with [[wikipedia:Hulu Plus|Hulu Plus]], [[wikipedia:Netflix|Netflix]], [[wikipedia:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Instant Video]], and [[wikipedia:YouTube|YouTube]], Nintendo TVii ''(pronounced 'Nintendo TVee')'', collects and collaborates these services so they can be enjoyed on one software. This service is free although the subscriptions for Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon are not. Videos on TVii can be playable on both the television screen and the GamePad. It also provides instant information from [[wikipedia:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]] and [[wikipedia:IMDb|IMDb]] about the film or program the users are currently watching. Control over the user's DVR is also possible via the service.


Nintendo TVii can only be received through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection and was delayed and eventually canceled in Europe. It was discontinued on August 11, 2015 only in North America.
With the discontinuation of digital purchases for Wii U in March 2023, it is no longer possible to digitally buy games and downloadable content, though they can still be downloaded by those who purchased them when they were available.
{{br}}
{{br}}


===Wii Menu===
===Wii Menu===
The [[Wii]] Menu is a built in section on the Wii U Menu. It takes players to the Wii Menu from the Wii so they can play Virtual Console games, original Wii and [[WiiWare]] games. There is a Wii Shop Channel where players can purchase downloadable games or download the Wii to Wii U System Transfer to transfer the data from the Wii to the Wii U. The Wii Menu serves the same function as that of the original Wii menu.
The Wii Menu is a built in section on the Wii U Menu. It takes players to a variation of the original Wii Menu from the Wii so they can play Wii, Virtual Console, and [[WiiWare]] games. It features support for all games in the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]]. Prior to its closure, the Wii Shop Channel was even available for consumers to purchase downloadable games. The Wii to Wii U System Transfer allowed for users to transfer the data from a Wii to the Wii U.
 
The following channels have been pre-installed:
* [[Disc Channel]]
* [[Mii Channel]]
* [[Wii Shop Channel]]
* Wii Menu Manual (a special manual for those who haven't used a Wii)
* Wii U Menu (reboots the console into the Wii U Menu)
* [[Wii#Wii U Transfer Tool|Wii U Transfer Tool]] (used for transferring content from a Wii to the Wii U)
 
The following channels were pre-installed on Wii consoles, but were not included:
* [[Photo Channel]]
* [[Forecast Channel]]
* [[News Channel]]
 
A system update released after the Wii U launched provided the user the ability to hold {{button|wiiu|B}} when turning on the console. This will automatically take the user to the Wii Menu without having to go through the Wii U menu first.
 
Another system update released after the Wii U's initial launch in the fall of 2013 provided the option of using the GamePad as well to view the Wii Menu, where a sensor bar is built-in to the GamePad to provide Wii Remote support. A Wii Remote is still required to use Wii mode; the Gamepad cannot be used as a controller for Wii software.


On January 14, 2015, Nintendo began digitally re-releasing Wii games on the Nintendo eShop that can be started directly from the Wii U Menu, bypassing the Wii Menu. Unlike the disc-based games, the Wii U Pro Controller and Wii U Gamepad can be used in any games that support the classic controller. However, a Wii Remote is still required to start up the game. Digital Wii titles also include a digital version of the original manual like Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 64 VC games.
On January 14, 2015, Nintendo began digitally re-releasing Wii games on the Nintendo eShop that can be started directly from the Wii U Menu, bypassing the Wii Menu. Unlike the disc-based games, the Wii U Pro Controller and Wii U GamePad can be used in any games that support the classic controller. However, a Wii Remote is still required to start up the game. Digital Wii titles also include a digital version of the original manual like Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 64 VC games.


==''Mario''-related games==
==''Super Mario''-related games==
===Physical and digital games===
===Physical and digital games===
*''[[Nintendo Land]]''
*''[[Nintendo Land]]''
Line 120: Line 110:
*''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]'' (digital only outside Japan; game cases with download codes sold in Europe)
*''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]'' (digital only outside Japan; game cases with download codes sold in Europe)
*''[[Mario Party 10]]''
*''[[Mario Party 10]]''
*''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]''<ref>[http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=194713]</ref>
*''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]''
*''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers]]''
*''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers]]''
*''[[Super Mario Maker]]''
*''[[Super Mario Maker]]''
*''[[Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash]]''
*''[[Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash]]''
*''[[Minecraft|Minecraft: Wii U Edition]]''
*''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''
*''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''
*''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''
*''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''
Line 129: Line 120:
===Exclusive Nintendo eShop games===
===Exclusive Nintendo eShop games===
*''[[NES Remix]]''
*''[[NES Remix]]''
*''[[Dr. Luigi (game)|Dr. Luigi]]''
*''[[Dr. Luigi]]''
*''[[NES Remix 2]]''
*''[[NES Remix 2]]''
*''[[Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge]]''
*''[[Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge]]''
Line 135: Line 126:


===[[Tech demo]]s===
===[[Tech demo]]s===
*''[[New Super Mario Bros. Mii]]'' ([[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]) (later incorporated into ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'')
*''[[New Super Mario Bros. Mii]]'' ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]'')
*''[[Chase Mii]]'' ([[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]) (later incorporated into ''[[Nintendo Land]]'' as [[Mario Chase]])
*''[[Chase Mii]]'' ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''[[Nintendo Land]]'' as [[Mario Chase]])
*''[[List of beta elements in Game & Wario#Shield Pose|Shield Pose]]'' ([[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]) (later incorporated into ''[[Game & Wario]]'' as [[Pirates]])
*''[[List of Game & Wario pre-release and unused content#Shield Pose|Shield Pose]]'' ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''[[Game & Wario]]'' as [[Pirates]])
*''[[List of Game & Wario pre-release and unused content#Measure Up|Measure Up]]'' ([[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]) (later incorporated into ''Game & Wario'' as [[Design]])
*''[[List of Game & Wario pre-release and unused content#Measure Up|Measure Up]]'' ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''Game & Wario'' as [[Design]])
*[[Shutter|Zapper demo]] ([[wikipedia:Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2011]]) (later incorporated into ''Game & Wario'' as [[Shutter]])
*[[Shutter|Zapper demo]] ({{wp|E3 2011}}) (later incorporated into ''Game & Wario'' as [[Shutter]])
*[[Tech demo#List of Mario-related tech demos|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' Wii U demo]] ([[wikipedia:Game Developers Conference|GDC 2014]]) (later incorporated into ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]'')
*[[Tech demo#List of Mario-related tech demos|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' Wii U demo]] ({{wp|Game Developers Conference|GDC 2014}}) (later incorporated into ''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]'')


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 148: Line 139:
NSMBU boxcover.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
NSMBU boxcover.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U]]''
Box NA - Game & Wario.png|''[[Game & Wario]]''
Box NA - Game & Wario.png|''[[Game & Wario]]''
Box NA (final) - New Super Luigi U.png|''[[New Super Luigi U]]''
NSLU NA Box Art.png|''[[New Super Luigi U]]''
Box NA - New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U|New Super Mario Bros. U<br>+ New Super Luigi U]]''
NSMBU Plus NSLU NA Box Art.png|''[[New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U|New Super Mario Bros. U<br>+ New Super Luigi U]]''
M&S2014 Wii U Boxart.jpg|''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]''
M&S2014 Wii U Boxart.jpg|''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]''
Box NA - Super Mario 3D World.png|''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''
Box NA - Super Mario 3D World.png|''[[Super Mario 3D World]]''
Logo EN - NES Remix.png|''[[NES Remix]]''
Logo EN - NES Remix.png|''[[NES Remix]]''
Logo EN - Dr. Luigi.png|''[[Dr. Luigi (game)|Dr. Luigi]]''
Logo EN - Dr. Luigi.png|''[[Dr. Luigi]]''
DKC-TF box.jpeg|''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''
DKC-TF box.jpeg|''[[Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze]]''
Logo EN - NES Remix 2.png|''[[NES Remix 2]]''
Logo EN - NES Remix 2.png|''[[NES Remix 2]]''
Box NA - Mario Kart 8.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 8]]''
MK8 NA Box Art.jpg|''[[Mario Kart 8]]''
SSBWiiU NA Boxart.png|''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''
SSBWiiU NA Boxart.png|''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]''
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker US box final.jpg|''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]''
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker US box final.jpg|''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]''
NES Remix Pack box.jpg|''[[NES Remix Pack]]''
NES Remix Pack cover art.png|''[[NES Remix Pack]]''
Mario-dk-tipping-stars-boxart-eu-wii-u.jpg|''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Wii U)|Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]''
Mario vs DK Tipping Stars EU box Wii U.png|''[[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Wii U)|Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars]]''
WiiU MarioParty10 pkg.jpg|''[[Mario Party 10]]''
Mario Party 10 box.png|''[[Mario Party 10]]''
YWW NA Boxart.png|''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]''
YWW NA Boxart.png|''[[Yoshi's Woolly World]]''
Super Mario Maker Wii U NA Boxart.jpg|''[[Super Mario Maker]]''
Super Mario Maker Wii U NA Boxart.jpg|''[[Super Mario Maker]]''
MarioTennisUltraSmashBoxart.png|''[[Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash]]''
Mario Tennis Ultra Smash box art.jpg|''[[Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash]]''
MSRio2016 OlympicGames boxart.png|''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''
MSRio2016 OlympicGames boxart.png|''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U)| Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''
SkylandersWiiU.jpg|''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers]]''
SkylandersWiiU.jpg|''[[Skylanders: SuperChargers]]''
MM&FACAmericanLogo.png|''[[Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge]]''
MM&FACAmericanLogo.png|''[[Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge]]''
AmiibotapUSlogo.jpg|''[[amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits]]''
PMCS Boxart.png|''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''
PMCS Boxart.png|''[[Paper Mario: Color Splash]]''
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Media==
{{media table
|file1=EShop Wii U.oga
|title1=[[Nintendo eShop]]
|description1=The first background music for the Nintendo eShop
|length1=0:30
|file2=Wii U Settings.oga
|title2=Settings
|length2=0:30
|file3=Wii U Home Menu.oga
|title3=[[#WaraWara Plaza|WaraWara Plaza]]
|length3=0:30
|file4=Mii Maker - Wii U - Menu.oga
|title4=Mii Maker
|length4=0:30
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The Wii U was released in North America on the same date 11 years after the [[Nintendo GameCube]], 14 years after the [[Game Boy Color]], and one day less than 6 years after the original [[Wii]].
*This is the first Nintendo home console since the [[Nintendo 64]] to have [[New Super Mario Bros. U|a ''Super Mario'' game]] as a launch title.
*This is Nintendo's first home console since the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] to share a portion of its name with its predecessor.
*This is the first Nintendo console since the NES to use standard audio/video cables as it supports HDMI and comes with its own HDMI cable; by extent, it is also the first Nintendo home console since the [[Nintendo GameCube]] to support digital audio/video output. The system can also use the Wii's composite AV or component AV cables to hook up to older TV sets that don't support HDMI.
*This is the first home Nintendo console whose controllers' analog sticks can be pressed down to act as extra buttons; although, the only ''Mario'' games that use these features are ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', ''[[Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker]]'', in which pressing the right analog stick resets the camera angle, and ''[[Super Mario Maker]]'' in which it is used to change the hand on the TV Screen in edit mode.
*This is the first home Nintendo console whose controllers include perfectly circular analog stick movement.
*This is the first home Nintendo console since the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] to be released before its competitors' consoles of the same generation were announced ([[wikipedia:Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]]'s [[wikipedia:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]] and [[wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft]]'s [[wikipedia:Xbox One|Xbox One]] were not announced until 2013, after the release of the Wii U in the previous year).
*This is the first Nintendo home console since the [[Nintendo 64]] to have a ''Super Mario'' game as a launch title.
*This is so far the only Nintendo home console to have only one ''Mario Party'' game.


==References==
==References==
{{NIWA|NWiki=1|SmashWiki=1|Inkipedia=1|Pikipedia=1|Bulbapedia=1|Nookipedia=1|DKWiki=1|ZeldaWiki=1|WiKirby=1}}
<references/>
<references/>


==External Links==
==External links==
*[http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu Official page of Wii U]
{{NIWA|Bulbapedia=1|FZeroWiki=1|FireEmblem=1|Inkipedia=1|LylatWiki=1|NWiki=1|Nookipedia=1|Pikipedia=1|SmashWiki=1|StarfyWiki=1|StrategyWiki=Category:Wii U|WiKirby=1|ZeldaWiki=1}}
*[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/console/0/0 ''Iwata Asks'' about Wii U console]
*[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/console/0/0 ''Iwata Asks'' about Wii U console]
*[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/gamepad/0/0 ''Iwata Asks'' about Wii U GamePad]
*[http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/gamepad/0/0 ''Iwata Asks'' about Wii U GamePad]
{{Consoles}}
 
{{Wii U}}
{{Wii U}}
{{Systems}}
[[de:Wii U]]
[[de:Wii U]]
[[it:Nintendo Wii U]]
[[it:Wii U]]
[[Category:Systems]]
[[Category:Amiibo]]
[[Category:Amiibo]]

Latest revision as of 17:14, April 20, 2024

Wii U
Wii U Console
Wii U system (right) and its GamePad controller (left)
Generation Eighth generation
Release date USA November 18, 2012
Canada November 18, 2012[1]
Mexico November 29, 2012
South Africa November 29, 2012
Europe November 30, 2012
Australia November 30, 2012[2]
Japan December 8, 2012[3]
Chile December 10, 2012[4]
Brazil November 26, 2013[5]
Discontinued Europe October 1, 2016[6]
USA November 10, 2016[7]
Australia November 14, 2016[8]
Japan January 31, 2017[9]
Predecessor Wii
Successor Nintendo Switch
“How U Will Play Next”
—Advertisement slogan for the Wii U
Wii U Logo.svg

The Wii U is an eighth-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. It is Nintendo's first home console since the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to share a portion of its name with its predecessor. During development, the console was codenamed "Project Café." It was announced during Nintendo's conference at E3 2011. The main feature of the Wii U is its controller, the Wii U GamePad, which has a touch screen, a camera, a microphone, and other features. According to Yoshiaki Koizumi, the Wii U was never shown to Nintendo's software development team prior to its unveiling at E3 2011. With the name "Wii" originating from the word "we," the "U" ("you") was added to reflect the console's intended appeal to single-player play as well as multiplayer. It is the home console counterpart of the Nintendo 3DS.

The Wii U was released in the United States on November 18, 2012; in Europe and Australia on November 30, 2012; and in Japan on December 8, 2012. The Wii U was the third Nintendo console to be released in North America before Japan, the other two being the Wii and the original Nintendo DS. It is also the first Nintendo home console since the NES to be released before its competitors' consoles of the same generation were announced.

In contrast to the Wii, the Wii U was not very successful when compared to its contemporaries, Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One. It was initially expected to sell 100 million units;[10] however, it managed to sell only 13.56 million units worldwide,[11] making it Nintendo's least successful home console, a record previously held by the Nintendo GameCube. Because of this, it was discontinued in Europe on October 1, 2016; in North America on November 10, 2016; in Australia on November 14, 2016; and in Japan on January 31, 2017, only about four years after the console's initial release. The Wii U's lifetime sales were outsold in only nine months by its successor, the Nintendo Switch.[12][13] Commonly cited reasons for the Wii U's weak sales include its confusing marketing, complicated GamePad, few third-party titles (many being canceled and/or unreleased), high initial pricing, and lack of Blu-ray, DVD, and CD playback.[14] However, many first-party Wii U titles were ported to the Nintendo Switch.

Features[edit]

The Wii U console resembles the Wii, except it is much longer with rounder sides. It has a slot to insert 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs based on the Blu-ray format, as well as the Wii's optical discs based on the DVD format. The console can play high-definition games at 720p and 1080p. The console itself is approximately 4.6 cm tall, 17.3 cm wide, and 26.7 cm long. When placed horizontally, it slightly resembles the Wii Family Edition. It features IBM microprocessor technology inside.

The Wii U supports all the controllers (and respective peripherals) used with the Wii: the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk controller, the Wii Remote Plus, the Classic Controller, the Classic Controller Pro, and the Wii Balance Board. It is compatible with the Wii hardware and software; similar to the Wii Family Edition and Wii Mini, however, it is incompatible with the Nintendo GameCube hardware or software.[15] While the disc drive contains grips to load 8 cm GameCube discs, it will eject them almost immediately after insertion. The Wii U is the first home Nintendo console whose controllers' control sticks can be pressed down to act as extra buttons; although, the only Super Mario games that use these features are Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, in which pressing the right stick resets the camera angle, and Super Mario Maker in which it is used to change the hand on the TV Screen in edit mode. It is also the first home Nintendo console whose controllers include perfectly circular analog stick movement.

The Wii U supports up to eight-player local play, as seen in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. It was intended to be able to support two GamePads, but this was scrapped during development. The console has an internal flash memory, holding 8 GB for the standard set, and 32 GB for the deluxe set. Additionally, the Wii U has the option to expand its memory by using an external USB hard disk drive—however, even though the Wii U has an SD Card slot, SD Cards cannot be used for Wii U data storage (excluding Mii storage), though they can be used for storing Wii data via the Wii Menu only. This also means that Wii U game data cannot be transferred onto other Wii U systems on SD cards.

Until its termination on April 8, 2024, the Wii U allowed players to connect to the internet using Nintendo Network, the successor to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, via a wireless connection or using the Wii LAN Adapter.

Peripherals[edit]

Wii U GamePad[edit]

A black Wii U GamePad
Detail of the Wii U GamePad

The Wii U GamePad is the main controller of the Wii U console. The GamePad has a 6.2 inch (15.7 cm) resistive touchscreen in the center, and is the first ever controller for a home video game console to have this feature. Its button layout is somewhat similar to that of the Nintendo 3DS, having the traditional Control Stick to the left of the screen and the A Button, B Button, Y Button, and X Button buttons to the right. The GamePad has two traditional Control Stick, one on each side of the screen and over the traditional buttons. The sticks are slightly displaced nearer to the edges of the controller and are clickable. The L Button and R Button buttons are located behind the GamePad, as are the ZL Button and ZR Button buttons. Below the screen is the HOME Button button, situated between the microphone aperture and the battery light, and next to the light is the TV Button button. The Minus Button select button and Plus Button start button are found below the A ButtonB ButtonY ButtonX Button buttons. The Power Button button is directly below the screen right to the TV button. The controller also has a NFC sensor NFC sensor, able to read objects or codes near to the controller. The GamePad can be used with a stylus and features a frontal camera, a microphone, a stereo speaker, sensor strip, rumble system, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, rechargeable battery and built-in flash memory to store data. [16] Using the controller, one can browse the internet, send videos, flip channels, take screenshots, and connect to Miiverse while playing any game. It can also be used as universal TV control. Video chat is also included but cannot be executed while playing. Games for this console can be played on the TV screen, the controller screen, or a combination of both,[17] known as asymmetric gameplay. The controller cannot be used to play Wii games, although its sensor can be used for playing Wii games and its screen can be used to display them.

Wii U Pro Controller[edit]

Wii U Pro Controller White.png

The Wii U Pro Controller is an alternate peripheral for the Wii U console. Introduced by Satoru Iwata in a Nintendo Direct video on June 3, 2012, the Wii U Pro Controller is similar to the Wii's Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro and the GameCube Controller in its frontal button layout and the presence of grips, with all inputs functioning identically to their GamePad equivalents. Unlike previous alternate controllers, however, the A Button, B Button, Y Button, X Button, and the +Control Pad are all found below the Control Stick; this is the only thing besides the button names that sets its layout apart from that of the Microsoft Xbox 360 controller. The player number lights from the Wii Remote and the Power Button, have been added in the center of the controller, as it is wireless and battery-powered. The Wii U Pro Controller is also slightly bulkier than the Wii's wired controllers, and the ZL Button and ZR Button are arranged differently as actual trigger buttons as on the GamePad, closest to how they were arranged on the Classic Controller Pro. When using it in menus, the left Control Stick controls the pointer. Like the Wii U GamePad, the Pro Controller is incompatible with Wii games, even those that use the Wii Classic Controller (e.g. Mario Kart Wii).

GameCube Controller Adapter[edit]

Wii U GameCube Adapter 1.jpg

The GameCube Controller Adapter is a peripheral allowing use of Nintendo GameCube controllers for compatible Wii U games. It was announced on May 29, 2014 during a video published by Nintendo[18] overviewing the Super Smash Bros. Invitational at E3 2014, and has been confirmed to be released during the 2014 holiday season.[19] It has four ports for GameCube controllers, and plugs into the Wii U through two USB ports; one is for power, while the other is for receiving and sending input. It launched alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, in addition to a bundle that features the game, the adapter, and a Super Smash Bros.-themed GameCube controller. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U became the only Wii U game to support the GameCube Controller Adapter. As of system version 4.0.0, the GameCube adapter is compatible with the Nintendo Switch as well.

amiibo[edit]

Official artwork of an amiibo scanning on the Wii U GamePad (black)
An amiibo scanning on the Wii U GamePad
Amiibo set
Several Super Smash Bros. amiibo figurines
Main article: amiibo

amiibo is a line of figurines usable in compatible Wii U and Nintendo 3DS titles. By placing a figure on the Wii U GamePad's NFC sensor, the amiibo is able to interact with the game. The product line launched on November 21, 2014, with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U as the first title to be compatible with the line. amiibo functionality is also featured in Mario Kart 8 as of version 3.0, and in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10, Yoshi's Woolly World, and Super Mario Maker. Certain amiibo figures are also compatible with multiple games (e.g. the Super Smash Bros. Mario is compatible with Mario Kart 8 and Mario Party 10, having the amiibo functionality programmed for those games[20]).

Wii peripherals[edit]

Main article: Wii § Peripherals

In addition to being compatible with Wii software, the Wii U is also compatible with most Wii controllers and accessories.

Nintendo 3DS[edit]

Main article: Nintendo 3DS

Systems in the Nintendo 3DS family can be used as controllers in certain Wii U games. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U is an example of a game that can use this feature.

Appearances of peripherals in the Super Mario franchise[edit]

Game & Wario[edit]

A controller bearing a striking resemblance to the Wii U GamePad appears in several cutscenes of this game.

Mario Party 10[edit]

The icon for Bowser Party pictures Bowser holding a black Wii U GamePad in international versions and a white Wii U GamePad in the Japanese version, with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi standing on it. A similar image is used in promotional artwork, including the boxart.

Yoshi's Woolly World[edit]

Although the Wii U itself does not appear in this game, Wii U Deluxe Yoshi is an unlockable Yoshi design based on the Wii U's Deluxe edition.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

Although the Wii U itself does not appear in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, a design on the vehicle-building machine references the Wii U GamePad's functionality as a horn in Mario Kart 8.

Super Mario-related software[edit]

WaraWara Plaza[edit]

Wii U WaraWara Plaza
WaraWara Plaza

WaraWara Plaza (from the Japanese term 「わらわら」 warawara, meaning "bustling" in English) is the main menu for Wii U. This feature allows players to see Miis on-screen gathering around accessible tiles. The Miis represent all the player's friends, familiars, and miscellaneous individuals who are using the service, and the tiles they are surrounding represent where they are communicating in real time. Because the tiles were integrated with Miiverse, the user could explore the topics on every tile and look up what games their friends were playing. WaraWara Plaza also offers chat, video conference, and information sharing, and it can be quickly accessed even when playing a game by pressing the HOME Button button. The WaraWara Plaza had a different design shown in Nintendo Direct's pre-E3 video, as it featured some game icons in the middle of the plaza. For users without a Nintendo Network ID or with Miiverse banned by Parental Controls, and following Miiverse's termination, WaraWara Plaza instead shows the pre-installed apps on the Wii U such as the Nintendo eShop and the System Settings.

Miiverse[edit]

Main article: Miiverse
Miiverse logo

Miiverse was a social networking service designed for players to share ideas and comments on the games they are playing. Players could make posts in game communities where others could respond to them, as well as follow other users and add friends. First released on the Wii U and the Internet, Miiverse was subsequently released on the Nintendo 3DS, smartphones, computers, etc.

On November 7th, 2017, at 10:00 PM PST, the Miiverse service was discontinued.

Nintendo eShop[edit]

Main article: Nintendo eShop
Nintendo eShop logo since 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

Nintendo's current online shop service, first released on the Nintendo 3DS, is also present on Wii U. The Nintendo eShop was first made available on the system through a system update released on launch day via a wireless Internet connection. With the eShop, users can download exclusive Wii U software, demos, and videos, as well as view information on upcoming games, and some Wii titles are available as digital downloads. Virtual Console games for NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS were also available. These games can be played on the Wii U GamePad via Off-TV Play; games transferred over from a Wii console do not support Off-TV Play nor do they support other Wii U Virtual Console features, but they can be upgraded to Wii U Virtual Console games for a discounted price.

With the discontinuation of digital purchases for Wii U in March 2023, it is no longer possible to digitally buy games and downloadable content, though they can still be downloaded by those who purchased them when they were available.

Wii Menu[edit]

The Wii Menu is a built in section on the Wii U Menu. It takes players to a variation of the original Wii Menu from the Wii so they can play Wii, Virtual Console, and WiiWare games. It features support for all games in the Super Mario franchise. Prior to its closure, the Wii Shop Channel was even available for consumers to purchase downloadable games. The Wii to Wii U System Transfer allowed for users to transfer the data from a Wii to the Wii U.

On January 14, 2015, Nintendo began digitally re-releasing Wii games on the Nintendo eShop that can be started directly from the Wii U Menu, bypassing the Wii Menu. Unlike the disc-based games, the Wii U Pro Controller and Wii U GamePad can be used in any games that support the classic controller. However, a Wii Remote is still required to start up the game. Digital Wii titles also include a digital version of the original manual like Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 64 VC games.

Super Mario-related games[edit]

Physical and digital games[edit]

Exclusive Nintendo eShop games[edit]

Tech demos[edit]

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Wii U.

Media[edit]

Audio.svg Nintendo eShop - The first background music for the Nintendo eShop
File infoMedia:EShop Wii U.oga
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Audio.svg Settings
File infoMedia:Wii U Settings.oga
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Audio.svg WaraWara Plaza
File infoMedia:Wii U Home Menu.oga
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Audio.svg Mii Maker
File infoMedia:Mii Maker - Wii U - Menu.oga
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Help:Media • Having trouble playing?

Trivia[edit]

  • This is the first Nintendo home console since the Nintendo 64 to have a Super Mario game as a launch title.
  • This is the first Nintendo console since the NES to use standard audio/video cables as it supports HDMI and comes with its own HDMI cable; by extent, it is also the first Nintendo home console since the Nintendo GameCube to support digital audio/video output. The system can also use the Wii's composite AV or component AV cables to hook up to older TV sets that don't support HDMI.

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://www.straight.com/life/nintendo-wii-u-console-set-november-18-release-canada
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ rawmeatcowboy (September 13, 2012). JAPAN - WII U NINTENDO DIRECT #1 LIVE STREAM/BLOG. GoNintendo. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  4. ^ https://www.emol.com/noticias/tecnologia/2012/11/29/572013/nintendo-presenta-su-nueva-consola-wii-u-en-chile.html
  5. ^ http://jogos.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/2013/11/07/mais-caro-do-mundo-wii-u-sai-no-brasil-por-r-1899-em-2611.htm
  6. ^ SSF1991 (September 23, 2016). Europe: Retailers Will No Longer Be Able To Order Wii U Consoles After October 1st. My Nintendo News. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  7. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (November 10, 2016). In Japan, Nintendo Announces Wii U Production Is Ending. Kotaku. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Kinsley, John (November 14, 2016). New Wii U bundle released in Australia. NintendoToday. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (January 31, 2017). Wii U Production Has Officially Ended For Japan Kotaku. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  10. ^ Wii U was expected to sell 100 million units | GamesIndustry.biz
  11. ^ IR Information : Sales Data - Dedicated Video Game Sales Units. Nintendo. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  12. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42885803
  13. ^ https://hypebeast.com/2019/10/nintendo-switch-passes-wii-u-lifetime-sales
  14. ^ https://www.lifewire.com/reasons-the-wii-u-is-a-failure-2498588
  15. ^ http://kotaku.com/5810081/farewell-gamecube-the-wii-u-doesnt-play-you
  16. ^ Wii U's North American patent sheet
  17. ^ http://e3.nintendo.com/hw/#/introduction
  18. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMQySEjyCUw
  19. ^ [2]
  20. ^ [3]

External links[edit]

Wii U coverage on other NIWA wikis:
[Edit]
Wii U games
Super Mario franchise New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) • New Super Luigi U (2013) • Super Mario 3D World (2013) • Mario Kart 8 (2014) • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2014) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (2015) • Mario Party 10 (2015) • Super Mario Maker (2015) • Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (2015) • Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016)
Donkey Kong franchise Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014)
Yoshi franchise Yoshi's Woolly World (2015)
Wario franchise Game & Wario (2013)
Crossovers Nintendo Land (2012) • Sonic Lost World (2013) • Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (2013) • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014) • Skylanders: SuperChargers (2015) • Minecraft: Wii U Edition (2015) • Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016)
Compilations New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U (2013) • NES Remix Pack (2014)
Nintendo eShop NES Remix (2013) • Dr. Luigi (2013) • NES Remix 2 (2014) • amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits (2015) • Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (2016) • Virtual Console games (2013-2016)
[Edit]
Video game systems and add-ons
Nintendo home consoles Nintendo Entertainment System/Family Computer (Family BASIC, Family Computer Disk System) • Super Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Famicom (Satellaview, Super Game Boy) • Nintendo 64 (Nintendo 64DD) • Nintendo GameCube (Game Boy Player) • Wii (Virtual Console, WiiWare) • Wii U (Virtual Console)
Nintendo handhelds Game & Watch • Game Boy • Virtual Boy • Game Boy Color • Game Boy Advance • Nintendo DS (Nintendo DSi, DSiWare) • Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console)
Other MS-DOS • VS. System • Nintendo PlayChoice-10 • Nelsonic Game Watch • Super Mario Bros. Watch • Gamewatch Boy • Philips CD-i • Mini Classics • Nintendo Switch • Triforce • Visteon Dockable Entertainment System • Classics • LodgeNet
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