Wii U

Not to be confused with WIIU.
Wii U
A Wii U (right) and Wii U GamePad
CodenameProject Café[1]
DeveloperNintendo IRD, NTD
ManufacturerNintendo, Foxconn, Mitsumi[2]
TypeHome video game console
GenerationEighth
Release date
  • NA: November 18, 2012
  • PAL: November 30, 2012
  • JP: December 8, 2012
Introductory priceUS$299/¥26,250 (Basic Set) (Deluxe/Premium Set (later bundles))
US$349/¥31,500 (Deluxe/Premium Set)
Discontinued
  • WW: January 31, 2017
Units soldWorldwide: 13.56 million
(as of December 31, 2019)[3]
(details)
Media
Physical and digital
Operating systemWii U system software
CPU1.24 GHz Tri-Core IBM PowerPC "Espresso"
Memory2 GB DDR3
StorageInternal flash memory:
8 GB (Basic Set) / 32 GB (Deluxe Set)
Removable storageSD/SDHC card (up to 32 GB)
USB storage device (up to 2 TB)
Display
Video output formats
Wii U GamePad (FWVGA)
Graphics550 MHz AMD Radeon-based "Latte", 352 GFLOPS
Sound5.1 linear PCM, analog stereo
Controller inputWii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, Nintendo 3DS (select games and applications only)
Camera1.3 megapixels (Wii U GamePad)
TouchpadResistive touchscreen (Wii U GamePad)
ConnectivityWi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0[4]
4 × USB 2.0
Power75 W
Current firmware5.5.6, as of 29 August 2022; 2 years ago (2022-08-29)
Online services
DimensionsWidth: 17.2 cm (6.8 in)
Height: 4.6 cm (1.8 in)
Length: 26.9 cm (10.6 in)
Mass1.5 kg (3.3 lb)
Best-selling gameMario Kart 8, 8.46 million[5]
Backward
compatibility		Wii
PredecessorWii
SuccessorNintendo Switch

The Wii U (/ˌwiː ˈjuː/ WEE YOO) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii.[6] Released in late 2012,[7] it is the first eighth-generation video game console[8][9] and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4.

The Wii U is the first Nintendo console to support HD graphics. The system's primary controller is the Wii U GamePad, which features an embedded touchscreen, a D-pad, analog sticks, and action buttons. The screen can be used either as a supplement to the main display or in supported games to play the game directly on the GamePad. The Wii U Pro Controller can be used in its place as a more traditional alternative. The Wii U is backward compatible with Wii software and accessories. Games can support any combination of the GamePad, Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Balance Board, or Nintendo's Classic Controller or Wii U Pro Controller. Online functionality centered around the Nintendo Network platform and Miiverse, an integrated social networking service which allowed users to share content in game-specific communities.

Critical response to the Wii U was mixed. It was praised for its innovative GamePad controller, improvements to online functionality over the Wii, backward compatibility with Wii software and peripherals, and price. However, it was criticized for its user interface and functionality, and the GamePad's short battery life.[10][11] It had low sales, primarily credited to a weak lineup of launch games, limited third-party support,[12] and poor marketing including the lack of distinguishing the unique functionality of the GamePad from just being a tablet device for the Wii.[13] Production of the Wii U ended on January 31, 2017.[14] On March 3, 2017, Nintendo released its successor, the Nintendo Switch, which retained and refined concepts introduced with the Wii U.[15] Most of the Wii U's exclusive games were later ported to the Switch.[16]

  1. ^ Purchese, Robert (June 7, 2011). "Project Cafe becomes Wii U". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  2. ^ "iPhone, Wii U Manufacturer Admits to Employing Children". IGN. October 17, 2012. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  3. ^ "IR Information : Sales Data – Hardware and Software Sales Units". Nintendo Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bluetooth was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wii U best-selling games was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "'Wii 2' Codenamed 'Project Café'". IGN. April 15, 2011. Archived from the original on May 20, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  7. ^ "Wii U confirmed for Europe this year". Metro. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  8. ^ "Nintendo's Project Cafe: Will Gamers Feel The Buzz?". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 30, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  9. ^ "Weekend Hot Topic, Part 2: Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4". Metro.co.uk. May 27, 2011. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  10. ^ Gilbert, Ben (October 9, 2017). "Nintendo learned from 2 huge mistakes with the Wii U to make the Switch a runaway success". Business Insider. Archived from the original on August 25, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  11. ^ Weinberger, Matt (December 31, 2017). "Nintendo started 2017 as a punching bag — and ended up with the hottest gadget of the year". Business Insider. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  12. ^ Gittins, Liam (July 3, 2015). "Why the Wii U Really Failed". VGU. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  13. ^ Kuchera, Ben (August 5, 2014). "The Wii U name is still hurting Nintendo". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  14. ^ Ashcraft, Brian (January 31, 2017). "Wii U Production Has Officially Ended For Japan [Update]". Kotaku. Archived from the original on January 31, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  15. ^ Clark, Peter Allen (January 31, 2018). "Thank Nintendo's failed Wii U for the Switch's wild success". Mashable. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  16. ^ Pereira, Bryant (August 12, 2020). "The Last Wii U Exclusives The Switch Needs". ScreenRant. Retrieved June 17, 2024.