![Wii U](images/consoles/wiiu.png)
Wii U
- Release date
- NA: November 18, 2012
- PAL: November 30, 2012
- JP: December 8, 2012
- Introductory price
- $299 / $349
- ¥26,250 / ¥31,500
(Basic/Premium Set)
- Units sold
- Worldwide: 13.56 million
- Generation
- Eighth generation
- Lifespan
- 2012–2017
- Best-selling games
- Mario Kart 8 (8.45 million)
- Super Mario 3D World (5.87 million)
- New Super Mario Bros. U 5.81 million)
The Wii U is Nintendo’s 6th home console, released worldwide in 2012 and was the first console to enter the eighth-generation. It is their first console to support HD graphics but the console’s most iconic feature was the Wii U GamePad. It features the standard buttons found on modern video game controllers with the addition of a 6.2 inch touchscreen. The Wii U is fully backwards compatible with Wii games and the Wii Remote which enabled users to play games in more than one way. The console did not sell as well as anticipated with one of the reasons thought to have been because of the console’s design resembles to the Wii. It has a similar shape and colour which led to a general confusion if it was a new console or an upgrade to the Wii. Even though the game library would never become very extensive, the Wii U got mixed reviews by critics, with many praising games for being innovative with its use of the GamePad but also criticised for poor battery life. It also lost support of many major video game developers and publisher because of poor sales which didn’t help the future of the console.
![Wii U Controller](images/controllers/wiiumote.png)
Notable Games
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Super Mario Maker
- Mario Kart 8
- Super Mario 3D World
- Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
- Minecraft Wii U
- Shovel Knight
- Pikmin 3
- Splatoon
- Bayonetta 2
- NES Remix
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii U