Nintendo Reminds Wii U Owners That It's a New Console

By Jane McEntegart
published

Just in case you were confused.

Nintendo has sent out a notification to owners of its new Wii U console assuring them that the Wii U is a completely new console. It seems Nintendo is worried that owners of the Wii U might think the console they're just bought is an upgrade. As such, Engadget reports that the company sent out a message to internet connected Wii consoles explaining that you can use all your Wii games and controllers with the all new home console from Nintendo.

"Wii U is the all-new home console from Nintendo. It's not just an upgrade -- it's an entirely new system that will change the way you and your family experience games and entertainment," said Nintendo's note.

Nintendo shipped just under 350,000 Wii U units in the first quarter of 2013. The system was released in November of last year, just in time for the holiday season, and costs between $300 and $350, depending on the version you want.

Check out Nintendo's full note to Wii users below:

Play your Wii games and accessories on Wii UDid you know that you can play nearly all your existing Wii games on Wii U? Your Wii controllers and many Wii accessories can also be used with a new Wii U console -- along with any downloaded games, save data, and other info stored in your existing Wii console.It's time to discover Wii UWii U is the all-new home console from Nintendo. It's not just an upgrade -- it's an entirely new system that will change the way you and your family experience games and entertainment.The second screen on the included Wii U GamePad controller enables never-before-seen ways to play games and enjoy TV. And for the first time ever, you can see Mario and your favorite Nintendo franchises in glorious HD.

Jane McEntegart
32 Comments Comment from the forums
  • eklipz330
    the title should say "nintendo is sad that wii u doesn't print money like wii"
    with things like tablets and cheaper computers, consoles are becoming more irrelevant... sony and microsoft have to be bringing a lot to the table or they will suffer the same fate
    Reply
  • de5_Roy
    meanwhile, real life reminds nintendo that wii u's hardware is so weak that people think that it is an old console in a new box.
    Reply
  • kanoobie
    Your average person cares less about specs and more about features/functionality. I think this is more of an advertisement/product development fail on Nintendo's part.
    Reply
  • DRosencraft
    You know where might have been a good place to do this? At some kind of big conference where there is tons of media and lots of gamers paying attention, preferably in the early summer... say, June. If only there was a way they could go to something like that and hold like, I don't know, and hour to hour and half long press conference all about whatever they felt like talking about. Too bad that doesn't exist. #sarcasm
    Reply
  • mousseng
    So wait. This "Wii U" thing here - it does everything the Wii did, but with some new features and games? That sounds very much like an upgrade to me.
    Reply
  • dark_lord69
    And even cheaper if you buy it on eBay...
    cause nobody wants one...
    Reply
  • matt_b
    Consumers should remind Nintendo that not only is the hardware outdated and weak, but the number of quality game releases lacks as much as it did for the Wii. They absolutely blew it with the Wii; so many consoles, so many quality-title-deprived Wii owners, and yet here we are again, except no one is buying the new console.
    Reply
  • ubercake
    When the crap that runs on the console only looks like a slight upgrade, people are going to think they are dealing with an upgrade.
    Wii U seems like Wii XL or something. Ever notice how there are very few screenshots along with descriptions for Wii U titles?
    Reply
  • bison88
    How can something that is hardly an improvement from the N64 (Wii and Wii-U) be next-generation? The thing can barely call itself "NEW" without facing false advertisement lawsuits.
    Reply
  • bigshootr8
    I don't want excuses if I owned this console. The reason that this console isn't successful is partially due to the remote the interface the games and the lack of graphics within the console sure games may be okay now but imagine time goes by and new games are made for the console how will they compare to ps4 or xbox 720.
    Reply