History Platform / WiiU

As with Nintendo's previous two systems, the Wii U did not support UsefulNotes/{{DVD}} or UsefulNotes/BluRay playback, but Nintendo worked with companies such as Platform/YouTube, {{Creator/Netflix}}, and {{Creator/Hulu}} to provide streaming content.

* Along with being to able use Wii optical disks, the Wii U uses a proprietary UsefulNotes/BluRay-based optical disk format with 25GB per layer. As a side note, the Wii U is also the last system to run games entirely from optical media; Nintendo would use proprietary flash memory cartridges for their subsequent consoles, and while Sony and Microsoft would continue to use discs, games would require HDD and SSD installs.

* UsefulNotes/RegionCoding: The last Nintendo console to have it. Bafflingly, however, this also extends to the ''gamepad'', which will refuse to sync to any console in a different region from the one it was bundled with.

Following the back-to-back successes of the Wii and Platform/NintendoDS, Creator/{{Nintendo}} was confident that they could do no wrong. Since the Wii had more than reversed their fortunes after [[Platform/Nintendo64 two]] [[Platform/NintendoGameCube generations]] of lagging home console sales, hopes were high that their next home console would continue their regained dominance into MediaNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. In fact, they'd be the first to release a new system for that generation, a full year before Microsoft and Sony, potentially giving them an unbeatable lead in much the same way the Platform/Xbox360 benefited by coming out a full year ahead of the Platform/PlayStation3 and Wii in the previous generation. All they'd need to do was keep the Wii brand going to retain the more casual gaming audience and assure more hardcore gamers that the system would be powerful enough to receive the major third-party games that the Wii had missed, and they'd have yet another console that prints money! [[TemptingFate What could possibly go wrong?]] Well, to make a long story short, the Wii U followed up Nintendo's most successful home console... [[GoneHorriblyWrong by being the company's least successful]].[[note]]The only Nintendo console to perform worse is the Platform/VirtualBoy, which was marketed as a portable gaming device and sold only 770,000 worldwide.[[/note]]

* BigNo: The young save sprite's dad during the second half of the data transfer movie, as he slips while carrying his son over and falls to his death.

* NotTheFallThatKillsYou: After the young save sprite's dad's fall in the second half of the data transfer movie, The young save sprite tries to follow the main path of the save sprties, and catches up to him, only for him to wake up.

* ThatsGottaHurt: See Not The Fall That Kills You.

* ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}} Tag Tournament 2''

[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Tagline}} How U Will Play Next]]]]

->''"It's a system '''we''' will all enjoy together, but also one that's tailor-made for '''you'''."''
-->-- '''Reggie Fils-Aimé''', [[UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo E3]] 2011 press conference

** ''Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW!

* ''VideoGame/AdventureTime: Finn & Jake Investigations''

* The Wii U can output 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576i (PAL Only), 480p, 480i, standard 4:3 and 16:9 anamorphic widescreen.

While the Wii U gained praise from media outlets for a time as being an excellent companion console for the other systems of its generation due to a decent amount of high-quality titles (from first-party, to co-developed or simply published by Nintendo, to indie [=eShop=] titles),[[note]]As Creator/TotalBiscuit noted, if you already had a gaming PC, the Wii U probably had the most quality exclusives that you couldn't just get on PC, especially when comparing the consoles dollar-for-dollar[[/note]] sales remained lethargic. And though they did improve as time went on, Nintendo remained a distant third behind Sony and Microsoft. This wasn't helped by a March 2015 conference in which Nintendo president Creator/SatoruIwata, in one of the last public appearances he gave before his death just months later, announced that their next system was deep into development (to prevent speculation that they would leave the console market and become a third-party developer like Creator/{{Sega}}, as he had also announced that the company had entered mobile game development). Sales of the system completely collapsed thereafter, leaving it barely even outselling the largely-abandoned [=PlayStation 3=] for the remaining lifespan of both systems.[[note]]In fact, the Wii U would actually be discontinued ''before'' the [=PlayStation 3=], making it the first major console since the Platform/SegaDreamcast to live its entire lifespan within the lifespan of a previous-generation console (in the Dreamcast's case, both the original [=PlayStation=] and the Platform/Nintendo64).[[/note]]

On January 31, 2017 -- a little over four years after launch -- Nintendo [[http://kotaku.com/wii-u-production-has-officially-ended-for-japan-1791813878 officially announced]] that Wii U production had ended globally, with 13.56 million consoles sold up until that point. The system's successor, the Platform/NintendoSwitch, released worldwide shortly after on March 3, 2017, with the cross-platform title ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' being the Wii U's final first-party game. Having significantly undersold in the end, the Wii U is regarded as one of Nintendo's biggest commercial failures and served as a FranchiseKiller for the Wii brand as a whole, with Miis being DemotedToExtra on the Switch possibly to further distance the system from the tarnished Wii brand. [[RayOfHopeEnding Despite all of this]], the Wii U's DNA lives on in the Switch, with [[http://time.com/4635415/nintendo-switch-online-reggie-fils-amie/ Nintendo themselves]] calling the system a {{necessary fail}}ure. The console's strong first-party library wouldn't go wasted either, as many of its most-acclaimed games would see {{Updated Rerelease}}s in subsequent years for both the New Nintendo 3DS and Switch. On March 27th, 2023, both the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS eShop would shut down.[[note]]Download codes for games could still be redeemed until April 4th.[[/note]] Similar to the Wii Shop Channel before them, any purchased content remains redownloadable, but new purchases are no longer possible, leaving the console's small handful of remaining exclusive titles commercially inaccessible to those who didn't already own them. On October 3rd, 2023, Nintendo announced that it would end all online connectivity services for both the [=3DS=] and the Wii U effective early April 2024. [[note]]Earlier if any "events" occur that would make it difficult to maintain the servers. [[/note]]

** ''Silver Falls Gaiden''

Following the back-to-back successes of the Wii and Platform/NintendoDS, Creator/{{Nintendo}} was confident that they could do no wrong. Since the Wii had more than reversed their fortunes after [[Platform/Nintendo64 two]] [[Platform/NintendoGameCube generations]] of lagging home console sales, hopes were high that their next home console would continue their regained dominance into UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. In fact, they'd be the first to release a new system for that generation, a full year before Microsoft and Sony, potentially giving them an unbeatable lead in much the same way the Platform/Xbox360 benefited by coming out a full year ahead of the Platform/PlayStation3 and Wii in the previous generation. All they'd need to do was keep the Wii brand going to retain the more casual gaming audience and assure more hardcore gamers that the system would be powerful enough to receive the major third-party games that the Wii had missed, and they'd have yet another console that prints money! [[TemptingFate What could possibly go wrong?]] Well, to make a long story short, the Wii U followed up Nintendo's most successful home console... [[GoneHorriblyWrong by being the company's least successful]].[[note]]The only Nintendo console to perform worse is the Platform/VirtualBoy, which was marketed as a portable gaming device and sold only 770,000 worldwide.[[/note]]

As with Nintendo's previous two systems, the Wii U did not support UsefulNotes/{{DVD}} or UsefulNotes/BluRay playback, but Nintendo worked with companies such as Website/YouTube, {{Creator/Netflix}}, and {{Creator/Hulu}} to provide streaming content.

The '''Wii U''' was Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s sixth video game console, released on November 18, 2012 in the US, November 30, 2012 in Europe and Australia, and December 8, 2012 in Japan. It was backward compatible with UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} games (through the "Wii Menu" option), controllers and other accessories.

Following the back-to-back successes of the Wii and UsefulNotes/NintendoDS, Creator/{{Nintendo}} was confident that they could do no wrong. Since the Wii had more than reversed their fortunes after [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 two]] [[UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube generations]] of lagging home console sales, hopes were high that their next home console would continue their regained dominance into UsefulNotes/TheEighthGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames. In fact, they'd be the first to release a new system for that generation, a full year before Microsoft and Sony, potentially giving them an unbeatable lead in much the same way the UsefulNotes/Xbox360 benefited by coming out a full year ahead of the UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 and Wii in the previous generation. All they'd need to do was keep the Wii brand going to retain the more casual gaming audience and assure more hardcore gamers that the system would be powerful enough to receive the major third-party games that the Wii had missed, and they'd have yet another console that prints money! [[TemptingFate What could possibly go wrong?]] Well, to make a long story short, the Wii U followed up Nintendo's most successful home console... [[GoneHorriblyWrong by being the company's least successful]].[[note]]The only Nintendo console to perform worse is the UsefulNotes/VirtualBoy, which was marketed as a portable gaming device and sold only 770,000 worldwide.[[/note]]

Hoping to bring their online functionality up to par with their competitors, Nintendo launched the system with ''Nintendo Network'', which was also available on the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS. In addition to online multiplayer and [[WikiWalk tabbed browsing]], an individual account system was implemented (replacing the universally-reviled friend codes) and the Website/{{Miiverse}} social network was created. Besides acting as a separate forum space, Miiverse was integrated into the Wii U's system UI, showing users' personal Miis and letting them communicate with one another via messaging, screenshots, or simple doodles; this expanded to otherwise single-player or offline-only multiplayer games, and Miiverse's later release on 3DS, PC, and smartphones allowed for cross-platform messaging. Similarly to the 3DS, Miiverse could be brought up at any time, suspending gameplay. In addition, the Wii U also saw Nintendo's first modern online shop -- the eShop -- which it shared with the 3DS.[[note]]Technically. While you could wishlist 3DS games via the Wii U eShop and vice versa, you could never actually initiate a cross-console purchase. The browser version of the eShop did have this functionality, however.[[/note]] While the Wii had its own shop, purchases were mostly regulated to the UsefulNotes/VirtualConsole and smaller [=WiiWare=] titles. With the Wii U, a Nintendo console could finally download full retail games, have them patched, and purchase DLC. The Wii U's own Virtual Console also got some new additions: UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, UsefulNotes/NintendoDS (with the [=GamePad=]'s touchscreen preserving the DS's dual screen gameplay), and even the Wii.

While the Wii U gained praise from media outlets for a time as being an excellent companion console for the other systems of its generation due to a decent amount of high-quality titles (from first-party, to co-developed or simply published by Nintendo, to indie [=eShop=] titles),[[note]]As Creator/TotalBiscuit noted, if you already had a gaming PC, the Wii U probably had the most quality exclusives that you couldn't just get on PC, especially when comparing the consoles dollar-for-dollar[[/note]] sales remained lethargic. And though they did improve as time went on, Nintendo remained a distant third behind Sony and Microsoft. This wasn't helped by a March 2015 conference in which Nintendo president Creator/SatoruIwata, in one of the last public appearances he gave before his death just months later, announced that their next system was deep into development (to prevent speculation that they would leave the console market and become a third-party developer like Creator/{{Sega}}, as he had also announced that the company had entered mobile game development). Sales of the system completely collapsed thereafter, leaving it barely even outselling the largely-abandoned [=PlayStation 3=] for the remaining lifespan of both systems.[[note]]In fact, the Wii U would actually be discontinued ''before'' the [=PlayStation 3=], making it the first major console since the UsefulNotes/SegaDreamcast to live its entire lifespan within the lifespan of a previous-generation console (in the Dreamcast's case, both the original [=PlayStation=] and the UsefulNotes/Nintendo64).[[/note]]

The reasons for the system's failure have been discussed at length in the years since it ceased production. As previously mentioned, Nintendo put the blame on their failure to market the system and provide enticing software, and it isn't too hard to see why they came to such a conclusion. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e3qaPg_keg original reveal trailer]] never once mentioned a "new console", only repeating "new controller" ad nauseum to the point that even gaming enthusiasts and journalists were wondering if it was just an add-on for the original Wii, forcing them to clarify later that same day. Unfortunately, it would become a misconception that would ingrain itself amongst the average consumer despite Nintendo's attempts to correct it throughout the system's life.[[note]]To add insult to injury, Nintendo had ''already'' run into similar issues the previous year with the [=3DS=], whose name caused many potential buyers to assume it was merely another incremental upgrade to the original DS along the lines of the DS Lite and [=DSi=], causing the system to struggle in sales. On that occasion Nintendo were able to turn things around thanks to its Killer Apps -- ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'' and ''VideoGame/MarioKart7'' -- showing up at the right time, and its main competitor, the UsefulNotes/PlaystationVita having an even more troublesome launch. However, history didn't repeat with the Wii U, as while the Xbox One struggled to win customers over due to its high price and forced inclusion of the Kinect add-on, the [=PlayStation=] 4 launched to an extremely positive reception and strong sales, leaving its competitors in the dust.[[/note]] As for the software side of the equation, the release of first-party software was sluggish. Following launch, the next game international audiences had to look forward to was ''VideoGame/GameAndWario'', over seven months later, while its first real KillerApp, ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'', didn't show up until almost exactly a ''year'' after the console itself -- and when it did, it was released in the launch window of the [=PlayStation 4=] and Xbox One, ensuring that it got virtually none of the media hype that would normally accompany the launch of a new main-series ''Super Mario'' game. Combine that with the system's low power[[note]](due to the tablet controller taking up over half of the manufacturing cost, Wii U saved money by being (on paper) only twice as powerful as the [=PlayStation 3=] and Xbox 360; in practice, the powerful GPU couldn't easily make up for the weak CPU unless the developer really knew the hardware, causing even [=PS3/360=] ports to need significant development time)[[/note]] that gave many third-party developers pause in supporting the device, and Nintendo found themselves with a console with barely any games during its first year... resulting in a low install base that scared away that meager third-party support, leaving the job of filling out the release schedule primarily to Nintendo and any indie developer that graced their eShop. Furthermore, much of the software that did exist failed to sell the system's core "second-screen gaming" concept to audiences in the same way ''VideoGame/WiiSports'' sold people on the Wii's motion controls; few games took advantage of the [=GamePad=] in a way that most consumers found entirely necessary, with poor reception to titles like ''VideoGame/StarFoxZero'' outright damning its use [[{{Waggle}} as a forced gimmick]]. And that's without getting into reasons that fans have theorized, such as consumers potentially viewing the concurrent installments of many franchises being released on the much cheaper 3DS handheld to be perfectly serviceable counterparts, reducing the desire for the home console even more.

On January 31, 2017 -- a little over four years after launch -- Nintendo [[http://kotaku.com/wii-u-production-has-officially-ended-for-japan-1791813878 officially announced]] that Wii U production had ended globally, with 13.56 million consoles sold up until that point. The system's successor, the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, released worldwide shortly after on March 3, 2017, with the cross-platform title ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' being the Wii U's final first-party game. Having significantly undersold in the end, the Wii U is regarded as one of Nintendo's biggest commercial failures and served as a FranchiseKiller for the Wii brand as a whole, with Miis being DemotedToExtra on the Switch possibly to further distance the system from the tarnished Wii brand. [[RayOfHopeEnding Despite all of this]], the Wii U's DNA lives on in the Switch, with [[http://time.com/4635415/nintendo-switch-online-reggie-fils-amie/ Nintendo themselves]] calling the system a {{necessary fail}}ure. The console's strong first-party library wouldn't go wasted either, as many of its most-acclaimed games would see {{Updated Rerelease}}s in subsequent years for both the New Nintendo 3DS and Switch. On March 27th, 2023, both the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS eShop would shut down.[[note]]Download codes for games could still be redeemed until April 4th.[[/note]] Similar to the Wii Shop Channel before them, any purchased content remains redownloadable, but new purchases are no longer possible, leaving the console's small handful of remaining exclusive titles commercially inaccessible to those who didn't already own them. On October 3rd, 2023, Nintendo announced that it would end all online connectivity services for both the [=3DS=] and the Wii U effective early April 2024. [[note]]Earlier if any "events" occur that would make it difficult to maintain the servers. [[/note]]

* AV outputs to either HDMI or Nintendo's AV port[[note]]The same one used on the Wii[[/note]]. Notably, it's the last console to support analog video output (including composite, component, and S-Video), as all subsequent consoles including the UsefulNotes/XboxOne, Usefulnotes/PlayStation4, and the Wii U's successor the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch only feature HDMI output.

* BookEnds: For the entire Wii line. The very first and very last Nintendo games released on the Wii and Wii U respectively were ''[[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Zelda]]'' titles. Even more fitting is that they were both [[CrossGenerationVideoGame cross-generation releases]], as ''Twilight Princess'' released simultaneously on the UsefulNotes/GameCube while ''Breath of the Wild'' released simultaneously on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch.

* NecessaryFail: The Wii U finished at 13 million units sold at the end of its life, which made it one of Nintendo's worst selling systems. But even though the system was a failure, Nintendo was able to learn from the mistakes made with it, which in turn lead to the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch Switch]] going on to sell over 130 million units.

* ''VideoGame/FZero''

-->--'''Reggie Fils-Aimé''', [[UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo E3]] 2011 press conference

* NecessaryFail: The Wii U finished at 13 million units sold at the end of its life, which made it one of Nintendo's worst selling systems. But even though the system was a failure, Nintendo was able to learn from the mistakes made with it, which in turn lead to the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch Switch]] going on to sell over 100 million units.

The reasons for the system's failure have been discussed at length in the years since it ceased production. As previously mentioned, Nintendo put the blame on their failure to market the system and provide enticing software, and it isn't too hard to see why they came to such a conclusion. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e3qaPg_keg original reveal trailer]] never once mentioned a "new console", only repeating "new controller" ad nauseum to the point that even gaming enthusiasts and journalists were wondering if it was just an add-on for the original Wii, forcing them to clarify later that same day. Unfortunately, it would become a misconception that would ingrain itself amongst the average consumer despite Nintendo's attempts to correct it throughout the system's life. As for the software side of the equation, the release of first-party software was sluggish. Following launch, the next game international audiences had to look forward to was ''VideoGame/GameAndWario'', over seven months later, while its first real KillerApp, ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'', didn't show up until almost exactly a ''year'' after the console itself -- and when it did, it was released in the launch window of the [=PlayStation 4=] and Xbox One, ensuring that it got virtually none of the media hype that would normally accompany the launch of a new main-series ''Super Mario'' game. Combine that with the system's low power[[note]](due to the tablet controller taking up over half of the manufacturing cost, Wii U saved money by being (on paper) only twice as powerful as the [=PlayStation 3=] and Xbox 360; in practice, the powerful GPU couldn't easily make up for the weak CPU unless the developer really knew the hardware, causing even [=PS3/360=] ports to need significant development time)[[/note]] that gave many third-party developers pause in supporting the device, and Nintendo found themselves with a console with barely any games during its first year... resulting in a low install base that scared away that meager third-party support, leaving the job of filling out the release schedule primarily to Nintendo and any indie developer that graced their eShop. Furthermore, much of the software that did exist failed to sell the system's core "second-screen gaming" concept to audiences in the same way ''VideoGame/WiiSports'' sold people on the Wii's motion controls; few games took advantage of the [=GamePad=] in a way that most consumers found entirely necessary, with poor reception to titles like ''VideoGame/StarFoxZero'' outright damning its use [[{{Waggle}} as a forced gimmick]]. And that's without getting into reasons that fans have theorized, such as consumers potentially viewing the concurrent installments of many franchises being released on the much cheaper 3DS handheld to be perfectly serviceable counterparts, reducing the desire for the home console even more.

On January 31, 2017 -- a little over four years after launch -- Nintendo [[http://kotaku.com/wii-u-production-has-officially-ended-for-japan-1791813878 officially announced]] that Wii U production had ended globally, with 13.56 million consoles sold up until that point. The system's successor, the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, released worldwide shortly after on March 3, 2017, with the cross-platform title ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' being the Wii U's final first-party game. Having significantly undersold in the end, the Wii U is regarded as one of Nintendo's biggest commercial failures and served as a FranchiseKiller for the Wii brand as a whole, with Miis being DemotedToExtra on the Switch possibly to further distance the system from the tarnished Wii brand. [[RayOfHopeEnding Despite all of this]], the Wii U's DNA lives on in the Switch, with [[http://time.com/4635415/nintendo-switch-online-reggie-fils-amie/ Nintendo themselves]] calling the system a {{necessary fail}}ure. The console's strong first-party library wouldn't go wasted either, as many of its most-acclaimed games would see {{Updated Rerelease}}s in subsequent years for both the New Nintendo 3DS and Switch. On March 27th, 2023, both the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS eShop would shut down.[[note]]Download codes for games could still be redeemed until April 4th.[[/note]] Similar to the Wii Shop Channel before them, any purchased content remains redownloadable, but new purchases are no longer possible, leaving the console's small handful of remaining exclusive titles commercially inaccessible to those who didn't already own them. On October 3rd, 2023, Nintendo announced that it would end all online connectivity services for both the [=3DS=] and the Wii U effective early April 2024.

On January 31, 2017 -- a little over four years after launch -- Nintendo [[http://kotaku.com/wii-u-production-has-officially-ended-for-japan-1791813878 officially announced]] that Wii U production had ended globally, with 13.56 million consoles sold up until that point. The system's successor, the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, released worldwide shortly after on March 3, 2017, with the cross-platform title ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' being the Wii U's final first-party game. Having significantly undersold in the end, the Wii U is regarded as one of Nintendo's biggest commercial failures and served as a FranchiseKiller for the Wii brand as a whole, with Miis being DemotedToExtra on the Switch possibly to further distance the system from the tarnished Wii brand. [[RayOfHopeEnding Despite all of this]], the Wii U's DNA lives on in the Switch, with [[http://time.com/4635415/nintendo-switch-online-reggie-fils-amie/ Nintendo themselves]] calling the system a {{necessary fail}}ure. The console's strong first-party library wouldn't go wasted either, as many of its most-acclaimed games would see {{Updated Rerelease}}s in subsequent years for both the New Nintendo 3DS and Switch. On March 27th, 2023, both the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS eShop would shut down.[[note]]Download codes for games could still be redeemed until April 4th.[[/note]] Similar to the Wii Shop Channel before them, any purchased content remains redownloadable, but new purchases are no longer possible, leaving the console's small handful of remaining exclusive titles commercially inaccessible to those who didn't already own them.

* EndOfAnAge: The Wii U is the last Nintendo home console to come with a handheld counterpart (the 3DS). That trend started with the SNES and the Game Boy. The Nintendo Switch ended this trend as it's a successor to both the Wii U (the home console) and the 3DS (the handheld).
** The Wii U was also the last major [[note]]Though a few plug-and-play consoles come with one for nostalgia[[/note]] console with an analog output.

** ''Skylanders: Giants''
** ''Skylanders: Swap Force''
** ''Skylanders: Trap Team''
** ''Skylanders: [=SuperChargers=]''
** ''Skylanders: Imaginators''

* ''[[VideoGame/GameAndWario]]''

* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing'' series:
** ''Animal Crossing amiibo Festival''