Wii U - Timeline
Wednesday6th Jan 2021
News Netflix Is Winding Down Its Services On Wii U And 3DS
Will be discontinued as of 30th June
Nintendo has now removed Netflix's video application designed for the Wii U and 3DS from both eShops. As of 31st December 2020, it can no longer be downloaded by new users. It is, however, still possible for existing users to re-download the applications at this point in time. The service for Wii U and 3DS will...
Wednesday30th Dec 2020
Random Dust Off Your Wii U, It's Time For Some Banjo-Kazooie And Blast Corps
Update: Maybe not...
Update [Wed 30th Dec, 2020 10:00 GMT]: Nintendo has updated the release schedule on its Japanese website and sure enough it was a mistake. Sorry folks! "Banjo-Kazooie's Adventure" and "Blast Dozer" have been posted as Wii U software delivered on December 30, 2020, but they will not be delivered. We apologize for the...
Monday28th Dec 2020
News This "Impossible" Glitch Could Change The Way You Play Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Forever
Want to keep the Bow of Light? Now you can
Zelda: Breath of the Wild has remained one of the Switch's most popular games despite being released right at the start of the console's life back in 2017. Since its release, fans have spent countless hours trying to unearth all of its secrets and master the strategies that will allow them to speed-run it...
Thursday24th Dec 2020
News The Wii U's Getting A New Game Today, Just In Time For Christmas
Although it's not exactly 'new'
Loading up the Wii U eShop doesn't tend to result in many new games or exciting updates these days, but thanks to a release arriving on the system's digital shelves today, owners of Nintendo's discontinued system can finally get stuck into something new. Well, we say new, but the game in question is Commander Keen in...
Wednesday23rd Dec 2020
Video Are People Still Playing Wii U Games Online? Let's Find Out
Can you still get games on Smash, Splatoon and more?
It's December 2020, almost four whole years since the Wii U was discontinued due to poor global sales and the incoming Nintendo Switch, but we have one burning question on our minds: are people still playing this thing online? Yes, our newest lovely YouTube star Jon has taken the Wii U and its...
Sunday20th Dec 2020
Random Nintendo Extracts Customer's Missing Wedding Ring From Their Wii U
My precious
A Twitter user has shared a story about Nintendo repairing a Wii U that had a missing wedding ring lodged in it. User @sam_nama explains how their daughter put the ring in it - treating the system as if it was a piggy bank. Obviously, it didn't work out and the console had to be sent to Nintendo for repair. Upon return, it was...
Monday14th Dec 2020
Random Holiday-Themed Game Seasonal Assistant Coming To The Wii U eShop Early On In 2021
It's a Christmas miracle
Did you know games are still being released on the Wii U? In fact, early next year, there'll be a special holiday-themed game launching on the system's eShop for $3.99 / € 3.59. It's called Seasonal Assistant and is a spin-off of Ultra Dolphin Revolution's arcade action Wii U eShop title, Spellcaster's Assistant. Here's...
Thursday3rd Dec 2020
Random Mario Maker Player Still Trying To Complete Course After 3,353 Hours
Ideally before the game's services are discontinued
Last week, Nintendo revealed it would be pulling the plug on the online services in the original Super Mario Maker for Wii U. After 31st March 2021, it will no longer be possible to upload courses but it will still be possible to play courses that were uploaded before the service discontinuation...
Wednesday25th Nov 2020
News Super Mario Maker Online Services To Be Terminated, Will Soon Be Removed From Sale
Goodbye, old friend
Nintendo has announced a discontinuation of online services for the original Super Mario Maker on Wii U, meaning players will no longer be able to upload their own courses. The discontinuation comes into effect on 31st March 2021; from that date, it will "no longer be possible to upload courses" and on that same day, the Super...
Wednesday18th Nov 2020
News The Wii U First Launched Eight Years Ago Today
Oh you poor, poor thing
Eight years ago today on the 18th November 2012, Nintendo's Wii U hit the market in North America. Coming off the back of the Wii, Nintendo's most successful home console of all time, hopes were no doubt high for this latest system, but we all know how the story goes from there. With its blocky GamePad controller and HD...
Thursday5th Nov 2020
News The Top Ten Best-Selling Games For Wii U, 3DS, Wii And DS (As Of September 2020)
Mario Kart still reigns supreme
Earlier today, we shared an updated list of the top ten best-selling Nintendo Switch games of all time, but how are the likes of the Wii U and 3DS doing, and even the Wii and DS before those? Well, it just so happens that Nintendo has also provided up-to-date figures for its best-selling games on those platforms. As...
Monday2nd Nov 2020
News Pikmin 3 Opening Week Physical Sales Were Lower On Switch Than Wii U (UK)
Not what Nintendo was hoping for
Last Friday saw the launch of Pikmin 3 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch, a new and improved port of Pikmin 3 which originally released on Wii U. In an unusual turn of events, the Switch version hasn't managed to outperform the original game in its opening week sales – in the UK, at least. Thanks to the Switch's...
Wednesday21st Oct 2020
News Rodea The Sky Soldier Is Being Removed From The Wii U And 3DS eShops In Japan
Following its removal in Europe and NA
Rodea the Sky Soldier, an action-adventure title produced by Sonic lead programmer Yuji Naka, will be removed from the Wii U and 3DS eShops in Japan next month. The game's delisting follows similar removals in Europe and North America earlier this year, meaning the title will soon be unavailable digitally...
Friday9th Oct 2020
News Kemco Discounts Six RPGs Across Switch, Wii U And 3DS For A Limited Time
With up to 50% off
Kemco has kickstarted an October sale across Nintendo Switch, 3DS and Wii U, slashing the price of six of its RPGs for a limited time. We have a full list of the games included for you below. Discounts range from 40-50% off, with each Nintendo system being treated to two deals each. Have a look through and make sure to jump on...
Thursday10th Sep 2020
Anniversary Super Mario Maker Turns 5 Years Old Today
Mamma mia!
The original Super Mario Maker is celebrating its fifth anniversary today, after originally launching for the Wii U in Japan on 10th September, 2015. Also appearing in Europe and North America on the following day, Super Mario Maker flipped the Mario platforming franchise on its head by giving players access to a full suite of level...
Friday4th Sep 2020
News Nintendo Reinstates Pikmin 3 On The Wii U eShop Ahead Of The Switch Release
Update: And it's back
Update: The game has apparently now reappeared for digital purchase on the Wii U eShop. So, if you haven't played Pikmin 3 before, this means you still have the option to buy and experience the game in its non-Deluxe, vanilla (and much cheaper) form on the hardware it was originally designed for. Here at Nintendo Life, that's...
Tuesday25th Aug 2020
Random Nintendo Changed The Name Of Pikmin 3's Scaly Custard In The West, Thank Goodness
It has a very different flavour in Japan
The announcement of Pikmin 3 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch may well have whetted our collective appetites for another round of this juicy, adorable real-time strategy game, but did you know about this curious translation from the original on Wii U? One of the many pieces of fruit that you can find in the game...
Sunday16th Aug 2020
News Shakedown: Hawaii For Wii U Arrives Next Week
No, seriously!
Vblank Entertainment has finally locked in a release date for Shakedown: Hawaii on the Wii U. It'll be made available on 20th August on the Vblank store and the North American Wii U eShop. The standard editio
Monday10th Aug 2020
News Nintendo Details Switch, Wii U And 3DS Network Maintenance Across August And September
Some times for your eShop browsing diary
Nintendo has updated its network maintenance schedule with details of upcoming work that will affect its services across Switch, Wii U and 3DS. Several maintenance sessions are planned between now and mid-September, all of which have the potential to - or will definitely - impact Nintendo's network...
Friday7th Aug 2020
Video The Switch Is A Wii U Port Machine, And That's A Good Thing
53 million Switch owners haven't played Pikmin 3
It's no secret that the Wii U was a bit of a commercial flop. Why that happened is a topic for another time, but the fact remains that there was a whole mess of great games for the system, and due to it only selling a disappointing 13.5 million units a lot of people missed out on some seriously spicy...
Saturday1st Aug 2020
News PlatinumGames Has No Idea If Star Fox Zero Will Be Ported To Switch
"no conversations have come our way"
One of the few major Wii U releases that could still potentially be ported across to the Nintendo Switch is the Platinum-developed title, Star Fox Zero. Although the controls would need a massive overhaul, many Star Fox fans are still wondering what the chances are of it happening. In a recent interview with the...
Monday27th Jul 2020
Random Bloober Team's Mind-Bending The Medium Was Intended For The Wii U Almost A Decade Ago
"Do you know about Medium? If not, you will"
During Microsoft's recent Xbox showcase, Bloober Team – the studio behind Observer, Layers of Fear and Blair Witch – revealed its next project, called The Medium. This uni
Wednesday1st Jul 2020
News YouTube Doesn't Seem To Work In The Wii U Browser Anymore
Fortunately, the app still works
Another nail has seemingly been driven into the Wii U's coffin. According to multiple sources, YouTube no longer supports the system's internet browser. For many users, this was the preferred way to view YouTube videos on the system. Now, if you attempt to load a video on YouTube within the Wii U browser, you'll be...
Friday26th Jun 2020
News No, Seriously, The Wii And Wii U Are Getting Physical Versions Of Shakedown: Hawaii This Year
We kid you not
Vblank Entertainment is bringing physical versions of Shakedown: Hawaii to the Wii and Wii U this summer. Yes, you read that correctly. Originally released on the 3DS and Switch, the game will include all of the latest updates, including The Mogul Update, the Full Tank Update and "many other little tweaks, improvements and...
News Switch eShop Exploit Encourages Fake 'Leaks' Of Wii U And 3DS Game Rereleases
Don't believe everything you see
We've all seen some pretty convincing Photoshop efforts in our time, trying to trick us into believing that certain sought-after games are headed to Switch, but this newly-discovered eShop exploit will make fake rumours look even more believable. Or at least, it would have done if you hadn't read this article...
Tuesday16th Jun 2020
News Game Originally Planned For Wii U, Then Switch, Winds Up As A PS5 Timed-Exclusive
It's having quite the journey
Last week, Sony gave us our first look at the PlayStation 5, showing off a decent number of upcoming titles and inspiring an even larger number of excellent memes. What you might not know, however, is that one of the games featured was actually once confirmed for release on Wii U. Of course, the g
Friday29th May 2020
News Splatoon Players Celebrate The Series' Fifth Anniversary With Lovely Fan Art
Stay fresh!
Five years ago (well, five years and a day ago, actually) the original Splatoon inked its way onto the Wii U. It was an exciting and fresh take on the online shooter and a completely new venture for Nintendo - and boy are we happy that it was released. Splatoon and its sequel, Splatoon 2, have arguably been two of the most important...
Thursday14th May 2020
News Pixelheart Delays Upcoming Switch And Wii U Physical Editions, New Dates Revealed
Four games have been pushed back
With the coronavirus pandemic causing havoc across the entire industry, it comes as no surprise to hear that some physical game releases are being pushed back. Indie publisher Pixelheart is the latest to reveal a new release schedule for its upcoming games. The publisher has decided to postpone each game in its...
Thursday7th May 2020
News The Top Ten Best-Selling Games For Wii U, 3DS, Wii And DS (As Of March 2020)
Did someone say Mario Kart?
We've already received an updated list of the top ten best-selling Nintendo Switch games today, but how about the 3DS, the Wii U, and even the Wii and DS? Well, as it happens, Nintendo has also provided updated lists for each of these consoles, and while the standings below have seen very little change over the past few...
Tuesday28th Apr 2020
News Nintendo To Shutdown "Limited" Wii U And 3DS eShops In Select Countries
By 31st July 2020
Nintendo has announced it will shutdown the limited eShops for the Wii U and 3DS family of systems in certain Latin American and Caribbean countries by 31st July 2020. The brief summary on the Nintendo Support page explains how users in affected regions will no longer be able to redeem codes, redownload software, or update...
