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139-587: Callie and Marie were created for and first appeared in Splatoon for the Wii U in 2015. They were part of a pop duo known as the Squid Sisters, where they were the hosts of Inkopolis. Their role was to provide updates and map rotations to the player whenever they booted up the game, while being the singers behind some of the games soundtrack, such as "Calamari Inkantation". The names Callie and Marie may come from

278-563: A Wii Party U Wii U Basic Pack bundle in Europe. It features a white Wii U console with 8 GB of storage, a white Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote Plus controllers, a Sensor Bar, and disc versions of both Wii Party U and Nintendo Land . On November 15, Nintendo also released a Skylanders: Swap Force Wii U Basic Set bundle in North America. It contains white Wii U with 8 GB of storage, Activision 's Skylanders Swap Force game,

417-427: A homebrew application for Wii Mode exists that enables GameCube hardware and GameCube controller support. A USB GameCube controller adapter with four ports was released exclusively for use with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and does not support any other Wii or Wii U games. The Nintendo Web Framework, unveiled in 2013, is a toolset that uses modern web technology ( WebKit , HTML5 , and JavaScript ) to simplify

556-595: A "Latte" graphics chip (GPU), as well as a SEEPROM memory chip. The Espresso CPU, designed by IBM, consists of a PowerPC 750 -based tri-core processor with 3 MB of shared L2 cache memory and clocked at approximately 1.24 GHz. Despite being based on the PowerPC 750, the Espresso also shares some architectural concepts with the POWER7 architecture, such as the use of eDRAM cache and being manufactured at

695-502: A "Splatfest" event was held in which players could choose one of two teams, usually based on common debates such as heroes versus villains and pancakes versus waffles. In addition, there were two collaborations during these Splatfests: Nickelodeon 's Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate . Splatfest themes were usually announced two weeks in advance, and players were given

834-494: A 45 nm node. The Latte graphics chip contains both a "GX2" GPGPU, which runs Wii U applications, and a "GX" GPU, which enables backward compatibility with Wii games. The GX2, designed by AMD, is based on the Radeon R600 / R700 architecture and is clocked at approximately 550 MHz. Its theoretical peak performance is 352 GFLOPS . It contains 32 MB of eDRAM cache memory, which can also act as L3 cache for

973-687: A 75% sales increase. The company also predicted that the Wii U would be more popular than its competition, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One , among children during the holiday season. Following the release of Wii Party U on October 31 in Japan, weekly Wii U sales spiked to 38,802 units sold. On November 29, 2013, Nintendo of France deputy general manager Philippe Lavoué announced that the Wii U had sold approximately 175,000 units in France since launch. During

1112-454: A December 2013 article, Chris Suellentrop of The New York Times argued that the Wii U was the only new console with a video game worth playing— Super Mario 3D World —which he described as being "the best Mario game in years". Despite the praise, he noted that "one great game won't save a console", and although other games exist on the Wii U, he admitted that its original lineup "was still pretty thin". Time writer Matt Peckham said that

1251-458: A European launch was cancelled. TVii was discontinued in North America on August 11, 2015 and was discontinued in Japan on November 8, 2017. The Netflix app was discontinued on July 1, 2021. The YouTube app was delisted from the Nintendo eShop on April 27, 2022, and discontinued on October 27, 2022. Wii Street U was an app that used Google Maps and released as a digital download on

1390-552: A Portal of Power, three Skylanders figures, a collector poster, trading cards and sticker sheets, and a Nintendo Land game disc. The bundle was released in Australia and New Zealand on November 21. On November 26, 2013, the Wii U was released in Brazil. However, the system is only available in the black Deluxe Set in the region. On January 10, 2015, Nintendo announced that it would cease selling consoles and games in Brazil due to

1529-478: A black or white Wii U console with 32 GB of storage, a black or white Wii U GamePad, New Super Mario Bros. U and Wii Party U preloaded, a black or white Wii Remote , a Wii Sensor Bar , and a 30-day trial of the Wii Karaoke U service. The second bundle included all of the previous one's contents, additionally preloaded with Wii Fit U and including Nintendo's official Fit Meter pedometer (with

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1668-560: A dissolving friendship or relationship". The influence the events had on Splatoon 2 were praised by Connor Sheridan of GamesRadar+ , describing it as a "fresh idea" and a "pleasant surprise", while also saying "I don't know if my heart could stand a war between the Squid Sisters". Fan speculation of the Squid Sisters Stories was abundant, with the creation of fanart and different theories, going as far as speculation on whether or not Callie had died. The stories and usage of

1807-445: A divine power. Several elements of their design were intended to reference their "squid" nature, such as the splay of their fingers, and their pupils which resemble those of a squid. The dark makeup around their eyes on the other hand was intended to reference makeup used by punk rock groups. Several outfit designs were considered, with military or casual themes suggested, though the development team focused on differentiating them from

1946-447: A final trio of figures of Octoling Girl, Boy and Octopus designs were released in Japan and Europe on November 9, 2018, and in North America on December 7, 2018. Like the previous game, Splatoon 2 was continually updated post-release with free content. From launch, at least one new weapon was added to the game almost every week, while new stages and game modes were added at irregular intervals. In late April 2018, this changed to having

2085-441: A large group of weapons added every month instead, with new stages continuing to be added until October 2018. While these regular updates were originally due to continue for around a year after the game's launch, with monthly regional Splatfest events being held for around two years, the regular updates were later extended to last until the end of 2018. An expansion pack for the game's single-player mode, titled Octo Expansion ,

2224-482: A limited edition Lego City Undercover Wii U Premium Pack bundle. Both European bundles featured a 7-day trial of the Wii Karaoke U service. Nintendo did not cut the price of the Wii U in Australia or New Zealand nor did it release any of the previous bundles in the regions. On October 31, 2013, Nintendo introduced two new Wii U Premium Pack bundles in Japan, called the Family Set. The first included either

2363-445: A limited edition The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Wii U Deluxe Set bundle. The bundle included a black Wii U console with 32 GB of storage, a black Wii U GamePad decorated with a golden Triforce and other thematic symbols, a download code for the game and, in North America, a digital copy of The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia , a collector's book about The Legend of Zelda series. In Europe, Nintendo also released

2502-419: A line was out of character for one of the girls. In early drafts of the game, they were originally shrine maidens , who received messages from "God". These "messages" would have actually been sound waves that traveled from present day conversations to another planet and back to Splatoon ' s version of Earth, which was set 12,000 years in the future. The duo receive these, and misinterpret them as coming from

2641-961: A maximum bandwidth of 12.8 GB/s. This is 20 times the amount found in the Wii . Of this, 1 GB is reserved for the operating system and is unavailable to games. The memory architecture allows the CPU and GPU to access both the main DDR3 memory pool and the eDRAM cache memory pool on the GPU, removing the need for separate, dedicated memory pools. The console includes either an 8 GB (Basic) or 32 GB (Deluxe (NA) / Premium (WW) ) internal eMMC flash memory , expandable via SD memory cards up to 32 GB and USB external hard disk drives up to 2 TB. The Nintendo Wii U can also use DVD-RAM for extended storage over USB. The Wii U features 802.11 b/g /n wireless network connectivity and support for Fast Ethernet with an accessory, Bluetooth 4.0 ,

2780-481: A pre-recorded video, the possibility of a new Super Smash Bros. game was teased, and Electronic Arts ' then-CEO John Riccitiello appeared on-stage to discuss the company's prospective plans for products on the Wii U. Prototype hardware and a series of tech demos were available to attendees, showcasing gameplay concepts and the technological capabilities of the console—including a The Legend of Zelda -themed graphics demo, and New Super Mario Bros. Mii . In

2919-704: A single weapon to beat all of the Hero Mode levels grants the player a Hero Weapon Replica (identical to the campaign weapon) to use in multiplayer matches. Players can also play multiplayer online through an internet connection or play locally, although local play requires multiple consoles and copies of the game. The game also features LAN support with an adapter accessory for local private tournaments. The game supports amiibo figures, which allow players to store their character's custom look and unlock additional content. Free post-release updates and events are ongoing. Splatoon 2 takes place approximately two years after

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3058-425: A single-player campaign, all featuring combat based around ink. An expansion pack for the single-player mode titled Octo Expansion was subsequently released as downloadable content (DLC) on June 16, 2018. The game received generally positive reviews upon release, with critics stating that Splatoon 2 retained what was great about its predecessor while adding new features to keep the game fresh, while criticizing

3197-477: A small screen to provide game feedback and status messages to players (similar to the VMU for Sega 's Dreamcast ). Much later in development, this was expanded to a full screen that could display the game being played in its entirety, a concept that was suggested but not financially viable earlier in the project. Public rumors surrounding the console began to appear in 2008, with speculation of an upcoming revision of

3336-401: A study on music artist projections and holograms from PUCRS . Wii U The Wii U ( / ˌ w iː ˈ j uː / WEE YOO ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii . Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft 's Xbox One and Sony 's PlayStation 4 . The Wii U is

3475-752: A total of four USB 2.0 ports, and an SD/ SDHC memory card slot. An additional power port is also included to power the Wii Sensor Bar , an auxiliary infrared emitter used by Wii Remote peripherals for motion tracking. Video output options include 1080p , 1080i , 720p , 576i , 480p and 480i , through HDMI 1.4 and component video ( YP B P R , D-Terminal and RGB SCART ) or 576i, 480i anamorphic widescreen through composite video ( S-Video , SCART and D-Terminal) . Audio output options include six-channel 5.1 linear PCM surround sound and analog stereo . The console also supports stereoscopic (3D) images and video. The Wii U GamePad

3614-416: A two pack. The amiibo were released on July 8, 2016. The amiibo were rereleased for the launch of Splatoon 3 in 2022. During the final Splatfest, Nintendo released printable alternate cover art for Splatoon as a celebration and way for players to further show their support to their side. Callie and Marie have been subject to a large amount of praise from fans and critics, and the two have been considered

3753-636: A white version of the Premium Pack in Japan, as well as an official battery pack and charger dock for the Wii Remote. The battery pack is capable of about 3 hours of gameplay before needing to be recharged. On July 25, the company released an improved battery pack for the Wii U GamePad. In contrast to the standard 1500mAh battery bundled with the console, the new 2550mAh battery pack increases longevity to between five and eight hours before needing to be recharged. On August 28, 2013, Nintendo announced that

3892-549: 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

4031-648: Is a third-person shooter in which players control characters, known as Inklings and Octolings (Octolings being a new addition to Splatoon 2) , and use colored ink as ammunition. Ink is also used to cover the ground, or any paintable surface, in order to swim or refill their ink tanks. Inklings and Octolings can morph between humanoid, or kid form, where they switch from walking and shooting, into squid form where they can quickly swim through ink of their own color, and replenish their ink supply, as well as return to full health. The sequel adds new main, sub and special weapons, including dual-wield pistols called Dualies that allow

4170-574: Is compatible with all Wii games and Wii accessories such as the Wii Remote ( Plus ), Wii Nunchuk , and the Wii Balance Board . It is possible to migrate most downloaded software and save files from a Wii to a Wii U. Although Wii games can be displayed on the GamePad's screen, they can only be controlled using a Wii controller, and not the GamePad's controller. The Wii U is not compatible with GameCube discs or accessories, although

4309-406: Is not supported by Wii games. The Wii U is compatible with existing Wii Remote and Wii Remote Plus controllers, along with their Nunchuk and Classic Controller attachments. A combination of up to four Wii Remotes or Pro Controllers can be used simultaneously, and the console can theoretically support up to two GamePads. Most software requires a Wii Sensor Bar in order to use Wii Remotes with

Callie and Marie - Misplaced Pages Continue

4448-415: Is one of the first applications to use it. Wii U games could be downloaded digitally through Nintendo eShop , or at retail on physical media. Retail copies of Wii U games are distributed on Wii U Optical Disc , a proprietary high-density optical disc format co-developed with Panasonic . The format is similar in design and specifications to a Blu-ray , with a capacity of 25  GB per layer, but

4587-527: Is primarily focused on gameplay. In October 2009, Miyamoto said that Nintendo had no concrete plans about its next console, but thought that the new system would continue to feature motion controls and also expected its interface to be "more compact" and cheaper. Iwata also mentioned that the Wii's successor might be 3D-compatible but concluded that the adoption rates of 3D televisions should increase to at least 30% first. In 2010, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé commented that he felt "confident

4726-407: Is the console's primary controller : its main feature is a built-in 6.2 inch (15.7 cm) resistive touchscreen , which can be used as a companion to games being played on a television, or as a means of playing games on the GamePad itself without a television. The GamePad is designed to enable a concept referred to by Nintendo as " asymmetric gaming": in multiplayer games, a player using

4865-627: Is unlocked when players reach level ten, while also adding a new Clam Blitz mode. League Battles allow players to form teams with friends playing the same modes as in Ranked Battles, however, they removed tri-squad as a possible team option, making it so players can only create teams of two or four and for ranked battles the time limit is five minutes instead of three. A new mode, Salmon Run, allows up to four players to team up cooperatively to tackle waves of enemies called Salmonids and collect Boss Salmonids' eggs. Once per month until July 2019,

5004-460: Is voiced by Mari Kikuma. The pair had not met each other prior to their audition, and weren't aware the characters were a duo, only knowing at the time it would be a Nintendo game. During the audition, they were handed text they didn't understand, meant to represent the Squid's native language. The text was accompanied with musical notes, and the pair were told to recognize what they could. After getting

5143-475: The GameCube and 90% less than the Wii during equivalent time periods. During the month, total worldwide sales of the PlayStation 4 surpassed those of the Wii U. During the first quarter of 2014, Nintendo reported that 310,000 consoles and 2.91 million software units were shipped worldwide. During an annual investors' meeting, Satoru Iwata revealed Nintendo's projection of 3.6 million Wii U unit sales during

5282-518: The Italian word calamari . Callie in particular was meant to invoke the image of a "Western" singer when they sang, while Marie was meant to sound like a "Folk" musician, who "put her fists into the song". When designing the characters, the development team was not aiming for typical Japanese idols, but an "edgy" idol more typically seen in Western countries. Artist Seita Inoue also wanted to capture

5421-499: The Nintendo eShop . The software allows players to use Google Street View using the GamePad. Upon initial release, the software was available for free until October 31, 2013, and the software was ended altogether on January 29, 2016, when it was announced that service for Wii Street U would be discontinued effectively on March 31, 2016. Wii Street U was announced in 2013 as part of Nintendo 's Nintendo Web Framework , and

5560-408: The Wii , such as the general public's perception that the system catered primarily to a casual audience. With the Wii U, Nintendo wished to bring back core gamers . Game designer Shigeru Miyamoto admitted that the lack of HD and limited network infrastructure for Wii also contributed to the system being regarded in a separate class to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 , the Wii's competitors. It

5699-471: The Wii Balance Board available separately). On November 1, 2013, Nintendo released a Mario & Luigi Deluxe Set in North America with the intention of replacing the original Wii U Deluxe Set, which included a copy of Nintendo Land . The Mario & Luigi bundle contains both New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U packaged as a "2 in 1" disc alongside a black Wii U console with 32 GB of storage and black Wii U GamePad controller. The bundle

Callie and Marie - Misplaced Pages Continue

5838-449: The high cost of doing business in the country . On May 30, 2014, Nintendo released a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (U.S.) / Premium (WW) Set bundle in Europe and North America. It features a black Wii U console with 32 GB of storage, a black Wii U GamePad, a copy of Mario Kart 8 , a Sensor Bar, and special edition red Wii Wheel (North America only). Additionally, registering the game on Club Nintendo before July 31, 2014, presents

5977-564: The supergroup Now Or Never Seven to perform a new song in honor of the celebration. The Squid Sisters appear as an assist trophy and Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate , where they sing one of two songs and zoom in the camera, making it easier for fighters to die. Later in the game's life, purchasable Mii costumes based on the duo were introduced in 2020. In-game costumes for the duo were added to Super Mario Maker on July 8, 2016, alongside an in-game event. Characters based on

6116-465: The "homemade feel" of upcoming idol presentations on radio programs and late-night shows, illustrating them as characters whose popularity had not quite exploded. The designs for them were originally conceived by one of the developers who created the generic non-playable characters for the title, with Inoue drawing their art afterward. When writing the pair, the development team were very particular in how they would speak, with some speaking up if they felt

6255-461: The CPU. The GX, originally designed by ArtX , contains a 1 MB and a 2 MB bank of eSRAM cache memory. The Latte chip also includes a secondary custom ARM9 processor with 96 KB of SRAM memory that handles system tasks in the background during gameplay or while the system is in sleep mode , and dedicated hardware audio DSP module. The console contains 2  GB of DDR3 system memory consisting of four 512 MB DRAM chips with

6394-493: The Deluxe (U.S.) / Premium (WW) 32 GB model would drop in price from US$ 349.99 to US$ 299.99 in North America. The price drop took effect on September 20, 2013. In Europe, Nintendo did not confirm a formal price cut since individual retailers set their own prices. However, starting October 4, 2013, the company reduced the wholesale price of the system to retailers. Coinciding with the system's price cut, Nintendo released

6533-485: The Deluxe (U.S.) / Premium (WW) bundle. The Basic bundle contains a white Wii U with 8 GB of storage, a white Wii U GamePad , stylus and an HDMI cable, while the Deluxe (U.S.) / Premium (WW) contains a black Wii U with 32 GB of storage, a black GamePad and stylus, an HDMI cable, and adds a Nintendo Network Premium subscription, the Nintendo Land game (except Japan), as well as stands for

6672-457: The GamePad displays a home screen consisting of a grid with shortcuts to games and apps, while the television screen displays a lobby (WaraWara Plaza) populated by other users' Miis . The two displays can be switched between the television screen and GamePad. Pressing the controller's "Home" button suspends the current game or app and opens the Home Menu: it shows basic information (such as

6811-510: The GamePad may have a different gameplay objective and experience than other players. The GamePad's display contents are rendered on the Wii U itself, and streamed wirelessly as video to the GamePad. The GamePad also supports near field communications ; cards and specially-designed figurines, such as Nintendo's Amiibo line, can be used with the GamePad to interact with games. In Japan, it can also be used for contactless payments from eShop with Suica cards. A new Wii U Pro Controller

6950-592: The Great Zapfish safely returned to Inkopolis and DJ Octavio defeated, the Squid Sisters happily reunite and resume their music career. A limited-time global multiplayer demo for the game, known as the " Splatoon 2 Global Testfire", was released in March 2017. A special edition of Nintendo Treehouse Live was streamed during the first session, in which members of the Nintendo Treehouse participated in

7089-767: The Hook and Deep Cut, the idols of Splatoon 2 and 3 respectively. The concerts would eventually feature guest star K.K. Slider from the Animal Crossing series as a DJ. Official plushies of Callie and Marie created by San-Ei were revealed at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2015 alongside two other Inkling plushies. The plushies were officially released in December of that year. In April 2016, Amiibo figures of Callie and Marie were announced to come in

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7228-553: The Hot Albums chart. Similarly to the first game, a series of real-life virtual concerts featuring the game's signature band Off the Hook have been performed in various locations. Their first concert was held at Tokaigi 2018 in Japan on February 10, 2018, a second was performed at Polymanga in Switzerland on March 31, 2018, a third concert which featured a new song, "Nasty Majesty" from Splatoon 2 ' s Octo Expansion ,

7367-463: The Nintendo console, but not anywhere near as many as we are for PlayStation or Xbox". At E3 2013 , Ubisoft revealed that it was not going to make any more exclusives for the Wii U until sales of the console improved, though it stated shortly thereafter that it was still a "big supporter" of the Wii U, and planned to release as many Wii U games in 2013 as it did in 2012. In July 2013, Bethesda Softworks announced that it had no games in development for

7506-550: The Octarians' machines. They discover that Callie herself has sided with the Octarians after being brainwashed by their leader, DJ Octavio, who has escaped his imprisonment after his defeat in the first games story and once more is using the Great Zapfish to power his brand new DJ stage, the Octobot King II. Marie arrives with Sheldon and frees Callie from her mind control, allowing them to help Agent 4 defeat Octavio. With

7645-469: The Q2 period, reaching 5.27 million units, a 400% jump on the previous quarter. Nintendo credited the software growth to key first-party releases like Pikmin 3 and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD . During the third quarter of 2013, Nintendo reported that 300,000 consoles and 5.27 million software units were shipped worldwide. In October 2013, online retailer Play.com announced that its Wii U sales saw

7784-491: The Squid Sisters in the lead up for Splatoon 2 were considered very effective viral marketing . As a result of the concerts, the Squid Sisters have been described as and compared to vocaloids like Hatsune Miku , with Shacknews saying that the Squid Sisters were superior and were "totally killing it". Other publications, such as Kotaku , wrote that the Squid Sisters made great virtual idols, and they are recognized as pop icons by Polygon . The Squid Sisters were used in

7923-612: The US. By comparison, the original Wii sold 435,000 in January 2007, also two months after launch. Initial sales numbers in the U.S. and other territories were lower than expected, resulting in Nintendo cutting sales projections for fiscal year 2013 by 17%, from 5.5 million to 4 million; the system actually ended up selling 3.5 million units. During the first quarter of 2013, Nintendo reported that 390,000 consoles and 1.73 million software units were shipped worldwide. From March to June 2013,

8062-765: The United States, Nintendo sold its entire allotment of over 400,000 units and sold a total of 425,000 units for the month of November, according to the NPD Group . It also sold over 40,000 consoles in the UK in its first weekend. In Japan, over 600,000 Wii U units were sold during December 2012. Nearly 890,000 Wii U units were sold in the United States after 41 days on the market. From the Wii U's launch till December 31, 2012, Nintendo reported that 3.06 million consoles and 11.69 million software units had been shipped worldwide. In January 2013, Nintendo sold 57,000 Wii U units in

8201-479: The United States, when comparing the month of June 2013 to the same month in 2014, Wii U software sales were up 373% and console sales were up 233%. The record would be surpassed in November 2014 by Super Smash Bros. for Wii U , which sold 490,000 copies in the United States during its first three days of availability. According to Nintendo of America, December 2014 was Wii U's biggest month in terms of sales in

8340-539: The United States. Hardware sales increased 29%, and software sales increased 75% in comparison to December 2013. Splatoon 2 Splatoon 2 is a 2017 third-person shooter game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch . It was released on July 21, 2017, as a direct sequel to Splatoon . As with the previous installment, Splatoon 2 consists of online multiplayer ( player versus player and player versus environment ) alongside

8479-438: The United States; both figures are the lowest for any Nintendo console. A total of 103.53 million Wii U games have been sold worldwide since September 30, 2022 , with ten games surpassing the million-unit mark. The highest selling game is Mario Kart 8 at 8.46 million units, followed by Super Mario 3D World at 5.88 million units, and New Super Mario Bros. U at 5.82 million units. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

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8618-447: The Wii U a compelling video game system which lacks focus, citing Nintendo Land as "ideas act[ing] in service of the technology". Ben Gilbert of Engadget states that Nintendo delivers on its promise of releasing "a modern HD gaming console" but notes that "there are also some major missteps and half-baked ideas: a befuddling Friends List/Miiverse connection, a complete lack of many system-wide console standards (group chat, achievements,

8757-457: The Wii U had focused too much on the GamePad, to the extent that some consumers mistook the device as an accessory for the existing Wii rather than a component of an entirely new platform. Trinen ensured that future promotional material for the console, including its packaging, would emphasize both the Wii U console and GamePad. The Wii U was originally released in two bundles: the Basic bundle and

8896-435: The Wii U to be an eighth-generation console, with many citing the hardware's processing speed. However, Fils-Aimé has noted that similar comments were made in 2006 when the Wii first launched. Following the launch of other eighth-generation consoles, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One , in November 2013, some critics suggested that the Wii U would continue to struggle as it lacked the third-party support of its rivals. In

9035-437: 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. It had low sales , primarily credited to a weak lineup of launch games , limited third-party support, and poor marketing including

9174-709: The Wii U was the system of choice to pick up during that Christmas season, praising the console's game lineup, affordable price, Off-TV Play, the absence of subscription fees for its online services, backward compatibility and media features. However, he noted that the system still needs a price cut and an improved first and third-party software lineup. CNET also noted that the Wii U had a better lineup of games and lower price in comparison to its competitors, mainly due to its one-year head start. By December 2019, Nintendo reported life-time sales of 13.56 million Wii U console units and by September 2022 103.53 million software units worldwide. During its first week of release in

9313-531: The Wii U would launch in Japan on December 8, 2012. Later that day, Nintendo announced that the North American launch date would be November 18, 2012. Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo Australia also announced that the Wii U would be released in both regions on November 30, 2012. In an interview with GameSpot the next day, Nintendo of America's Senior Product Marketing Manager Bill Trinen admitted that Nintendo's pre-launch marketing and presentations of

9452-491: The Wii U's long-term viability had been called into question. In February 2014, Nintendo revealed that the Wii U had improved about 180% in year-over-year sales in the United States due to the launch of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze , which sold 130,000 copies. By February 26, Wii U sales had surpassed those of the Xbox 360 in Japan. In March 2014, Nintendo sold just over 70,000 Wii U units, tracking it down 50% less than

9591-401: The Wii U, with Bethesda VP of PR and marketing Pete Hines explaining: "It depends on the games that we are making and how we think it aligns with that console, and how the hardware aligns with the other stuff we are making". This explanation was later refined to being largely due to the hardware. Contrarily, Activision has stated that it will "do everything they can" to support the system. At

9730-494: The Wii home entertainment console has a very long life in front of it" and declared that a successor would not be launched in the near future. After its E3 2010 presentation, Iwata revealed to the BBC that Nintendo would begin announcing a new console once it ran "out of ideas with the current hardware and cannot give users any more meaningful surprises with the technology". Later, at an investor's meeting, he disclosed that Nintendo

9869-410: The Wii scheduled for 2011 known as the "Wii HD", that would support high definition video and have a Blu-ray drive. However, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata later stated that he saw "no significant reason" to include HD into the Wii and that such an addition would be better suited for a successor. Miyamoto also expressed Nintendo's interest in working with HD graphics, but clarified that the company

10008-437: The Wii successor would "offer something new for home game systems." He also confirmed that the device would not launch in fiscal year 2012, meaning that it would release after April 2012. In early June, Nikkei issued a report confirming earlier rumors that the new console would feature a controller with a 6-inch touchscreen that would give tablet-like controls to games, as well as a rechargeable battery and camera. Project Café

10147-539: The ability to choose their team in the game's lobby. Themes were usually region-specific and happen at different times of the month. The only mode available in a Splatfest was Turf War, but players could choose between normal and pro modes. Winning battles awarded 'clout' to the winning team, and at the end of the Splatfest, the winning side was decided by evaluating popularity and clout earned in both battle modes. All players who participate earn rare rewards, but players on

10286-467: The ability to play non-game disc-based media) and a game controller that lasts only 3.5 hours", and stated that he could not give a complete assessment of the console with online components such as Nintendo TVii missing at launch. Similarly, TechRadar praised the system's GamePad functionality and HD graphics, but criticized the limited battery power on the GamePad, and the insufficient number of top-tier launch games. Some industry figures do not consider

10425-433: The ability to use the GamePad's infrared functionality to tune a set-top box to a particular program. The app also provided integration with IMDb , Rotten Tomatoes , and Misplaced Pages to provide additional information, and social connectivity through Facebook , Twitter , or Miiverse. TVii was made available with the Wii U's release in Japan on December 8, 2012, and in North America on December 20, 2012. Following delays,

10564-477: The already unique shooter" but pointed out that using a mobile app for voice communication made multiplayer more complicated than it needed to be. Game Revolution and GamesRadar both praised the colorful artstyle and depth of the multiplayer combat. IGN gave the game a score of 8.3/10—higher than the initial score of the original game but lower than its re-review—praising the "addicting" Salmon Run mode and improved graphics, while making similar complaints about

10703-445: The buyer a free Wii U game from a selection of four in North America and ten in Europe. The bundle was released in Australia and New Zealand on May 31. In June 2015, the basic Wii U was discontinued in Japan, and replaced by a 32 GB "Premium" set that includes white hardware and a Wii Remote Plus. Nintendo had planned to diminish production of the Wii U ahead of the release of the Nintendo Switch . Nintendo formally announced

10842-598: The campaign of Splatoon 2 , recruiting the player to try and save the great Zapfish, as well as her cousin Callie, who was reported missing in-between the events of Splatoon 1 and 2. Callie would turn out to be an antagonist under the influence of the villain D.J. Octavio, and would be saved from his influence. In the final Splatfest of Splatoon 2 , Chaos vs. Order, Callie would support Team Chaos, and Marie would support Team Order. Callie and Marie return in Splatoon 3 in

10981-645: The campaign, guiding the player through Alterna. On February 28, 2023, the first wave of downloadable content for Splatoon 3 released, allowing players to return to the original Inkopolis, and with it, Callie and Marie return as its idols- however, they no longer pick a side during the Splatfest, nor do they broadcast their news station. They continue to perform for each Splatfest. For the Grand Festival Splatfest, Callie and Marie collaborated together with Pearl and Marina , known as Off The Hook, and Shiver, Frye, and Big Man, known as Deep Cut, to form

11120-408: The characters that replaced them in Splatoon 2 , Pearl and Marina, were good characters in their own right, "We have to hand it to the originals, though." The Squid Sister Stories prologue was praised by fans and its events were compared to real-world loss. Nadia Oxford of USGamer described the events of the series to be "tragically effective", and a "real heart-punch for anyone who's been part of

11259-650: The console and controller and the Sensor Bar (except Japan). The Wii U launched in North America priced at US$ 299.99 for the Basic Set and US$ 349.99 for the Deluxe Set. The system launched in Europe, Australia and South Africa, with European pricing set by retailers. The system launched in Japan priced at ¥ 26,250 for the Basic Set and ¥ 31,500 for the Premium Set. On July 13, 2013, Nintendo released

11398-401: The current time, controller battery levels, and notifications), and allows access to several "multitasking" functions, including the Nintendo eShop , Miiverse, download manager, a web browser, and the user's friends list. To play Wii games, the user must enter "Wii Mode", a legacy mode that emulates the Wii's system software and Wii Menu interface. Initially, Wii Mode could only be used on

11537-428: The decision to exclude these formats was motivated primarily by patent licensing fees, and the fact that such functionality would be redundant to DVD and Blu-ray players that users may already own. The Nintendo TVii service allowed program listings from a user's television provider to be aggregated with online video on demand services into an electronic program guide with recommendations and search functionality, and

11676-437: The demo. Similarly to the demo of the original game, it was only available to play for a specific time period, across six one-hour play sessions in one weekend. Another demo session demonstrating the game's Splatfest events was held on July 15, 2017. The game was released worldwide on July 21, 2017. In Japan and Europe, neon-green and neon-pink Joy-Con controllers and Splatoon -themed Pro Controllers were released alongside

11815-878: The discs themselves have a soft, rounded rim. Unlike previous Nintendo consoles, game manuals were only available digitally. The console is region locked ; software purchased in a region can be only played on that region's hardware. New games in Nintendo's flagship franchises (including Super Mario , Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda ), as well as several Wii series games (including Wii Sports Club , Wii Fit U and Wii Party U ) have been released, in addition to many original games and third-party-developed games. Nintendo has received third-party support from companies such as Ubisoft , Sega , Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment , Activision Blizzard , and Capcom , and various independent developers such as Two Tribes . As of late July 2016, there have been 39 first-party and 118 third-party Wii U games physically released in

11954-553: The duo were added to Animal Crossing: New Leaf on November 2, 2016. In celebration of sales for Splatoon reaching one million units in less than a year, a live holographic concert of the Squid Sisters was announced by Nintendo in December 2015. The concert took place on January 30, 2016 in Chiba, Japan . More concerts were held worldwide, such as in Paris, France on July 12, 2016, and they continued into 2022, eventually featuring Off

12093-409: The end of July 2013, Asda , the second-largest supermarket chain in the UK, confirmed that it had no plans to stock the Wii U, but would still stock games "on a title by title merit basis". Despite this, many specialist retailers continued to emphasize their support, with Game CEO Martyn Gibbs saying "We fully support all Nintendo products, including Wii U." Following the system's $ 50 price cut and

12232-512: The end of its production on January 31, 2017. The ability to purchase content through the Nintendo eShop was discontinued on March 27, 2023. Online functionality was discontinued at 00:00 UTC on April 9, 2024, with the servers shutting down at 02:00 UTC that same day. The Wii U uses a custom multi-chip module (MCM) developed by AMD , IBM and Renesas in co-operation with Nintendo IRD and Nintendo Technology Development . The MCM combines an " Espresso " central processing unit (CPU) and

12371-474: The evil Octarians are once more involved, Marie takes up her role as Agent 2 of the New Squidbeak Splatoon and recruits an Inkling from Inkopolis Square, the player character, to become Agent 4 and investigate. With assistance from Marie and weapons expert Sheldon, Agent 4 makes their way through Octo Canyon fighting the Octarians and recovering several stolen Zapfish, including ones powering

12510-417: The final Splatfest of Splatoon , in which the pop idol Marie defeated her cousin and fellow Squid Sister, Callie . After having drifted apart in the months following the event, Marie worries that Callie was negatively affected by the result. After leaving Inkopolis to see her parents, Marie returns home to discover that the Great Zapfish that powers the city has gone missing again, as has Callie. Fearing that

12649-433: 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

12788-573: The first two weeks of December, the Wii U was the top performing home console in Japan, with 123,665 units sold. After one year in the market, the Wii U had sold approximately 150,000 units in the United Kingdom. According to the NPD Group , Wii U sales in November increased by 340% over sales in October in North America, selling approximately 220,700 units sold in that month. According to several publications, including NPD Group, December 2013

12927-478: The fiscal year ending March 2015  ( March 2015 ) . On May 22, 2014, Nintendo France announced that sales were 50% higher compared to the last year. With Mario Kart 8 being Nintendo's biggest game launch, Wii U console sales reportedly increased by 666% in the United Kingdom, with the Mario Kart 8 console bundle representing 82% of the region's Wii U console sales for the week. NPD Group reported that in

13066-426: The framework for online multiplayer interactions, add-on content, as well as online distribution of applications and video games. Iwata mentioned that the Wii U GamePad would support NFC , which would allow the system to wirelessly interact with figurines and cards. It would also allow for microtransactions to take place wirelessly using credit cards with NFC support. On September 13, 2012, Nintendo announced that

13205-591: The game and illustrated by Sankichi Hinodeya began serialization in Shogakukan 's CoroCoro Comic magazine in May 2017. It was published in North America by Viz Media in late 2017. A motion comic adaptation of the manga was announced in July 2017 and released on YouTube the following month. Splatune 2 , a two-disc official soundtrack featuring music from the game by Toru Minegishi , Ryo Nagamatsu, and Shiho Fujii,

13344-409: The game had sold 10.71 million copies worldwide, making it the ninth best-selling Switch game worldwide. As of December 31, 2022 , Splatoon 2 had sold over 13.60 million copies worldwide, selling twice as much as its predecessor, and making it one of the best-selling Switch games. On February 17, 2021, during a Nintendo Direct , Nintendo announced a teaser trailer for Splatoon 3 , which

13483-479: The game's matchmaking system. Electronic Gaming Monthly and Nintendo World Report both stated that the game felt "more like Splatoon 1.5 " than a true sequel to the original, but nonetheless complimented the game's new additions. Eurogamer ranked the game 17th on their list of the "Top 50 Games of 2017", while Polygon ranked it 43rd on their list of the 50 best games of 2017. The Verge named Splatoon 2 as one of their 15 Best Games of 2017. The game

13622-569: The game's online matchmaking and how its voice chat is restricted to the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app. As of December 31, 2022 , Splatoon 2 had sold over 13.6 million copies worldwide, selling more than twice as many as its predecessor and making it one of the best-selling Switch games . A sequel, Splatoon 3 , was released on the Nintendo Switch on September 9, 2022. Like its predecessor, Splatoon 2

13761-401: The game. A game card-free version, which features a download code inside a game case instead of a game card, was also released in Japan, as well as a Switch hardware bundle including a download code for the game. A similar bundle was released in the United States as a Walmart exclusive. New Amiibo figures of new Inkling Girl, Boy and Squid designs from Splatoon 2 were released alongside

13900-406: The game. The Squid Sisters were incredibly popular amongst fans, and the final Splatfest was noted to cause an uproar amongst fans for forcing them to choose one over the other, with Polygon describing it as "almost cruel". USGamer ' s staff considered them potentially two of the best Nintendo characters introduced in the 2010s, praising their music and chemistry. While they acknowledged that

14039-487: The game. These figures, alongside previous Splatoon figures, unlock exclusive in-game clothing and music tracks and allow the player to save a loadout of weapons and clothing to the figure so they can be readily accessed at any time. Characters with these saved load-outs can be posed alongside the player for taking screenshots. Amiibo figures of Pearl and Marina from Off the Hook were released on July 13, 2018, and feature similar functionality to those already released, while

14178-568: The granddaughters of Cap’n Craig Cuttlefish, a veteran of a major conflict known as the Great Turf War. The two were born in Calamari County, a rural area hours away from Inkopolis. The two rose to fame after winning a local singing contest in Calamari County, and went on to become the news hosts of Inkopolis. Callie's personality is shown to be energetic and cheerful, while Marie's is more laid back and relaxed. Marie appears as in

14317-537: The lack of distinguishing the unique functionality of the GamePad from just being a tablet device for the Wii. Production of the Wii U ended on January 31, 2017. On March 3, 2017, Nintendo released its successor, the Nintendo Switch , which retained and refined concepts introduced with the Wii U. Most of the Wii U's exclusive games were later ported to the Switch. The system was first conceived in 2008 after Nintendo recognized several limitations and challenges with

14456-477: The media and public over whether or not the footage shown was that from a port of Splatoon or a sequel. It was also presented in the trailer in a way that promoted the game as an eSport , following investments by Nintendo in Splatoon eSport tournaments in late 2016. Splatoon 2 was officially unveiled to the public during the Nintendo Switch reveal presentation held in Tokyo on January 13, 2017, where it

14595-556: The other hand listened to folk songs daily to get a feel for them. Splatoon was the first game in the Splatoon series, and the first to feature Callie and Marie as characters. Callie and Marie appear as the hosts of the game, and news reporters of Inkopolis. The two also appear in the games campaign under the aliases Agent 1 and 2. During each Splatfest, Callie and Marie would each pick a side and represent it, while performing live in Inkopolis during each Splatfest. The final Splatfest

14734-432: The player models. Multiple hair styles were also considered, and while they were being decided, they chose to go with a sleeker look for the characters. The finalized outfits feature patterns on their dresses meant to look like sequins , "simple yet shinny". As an additional detail, Callie was given a beauty mark on her left cheek below her eye, while Marie was given one on her right. Callie is voiced by keity.pop, and Marie

14873-589: The player rescues captured Zapfish across various levels while fighting off evil Octarians. Unlike the previous game's single-player campaign which had a pre-determined weapon set, the player can now earn various weapons, some of which are required when playing levels for the first time. In addition to Sunken Scrolls that unlock artwork and in-game lore, players can collect Power Orbs to upgrade their Hero Mode weapons, and tickets that can be exchanged for temporary reward boosts in multiplayer battles, such as increased experience to level up quicker or more in-game money. Using

15012-463: The player to perform dodge rolls, shotgun-like weapons called Brellas that enable defensive maneuvers with folding shields, and jetpacks known as Inkjets. Like the previous game, it features the standard Turf War mode for Regular Battles, in which two four-player teams have three minutes to cover the most turf with their color of ink. Splatoon 2 also maintains the first game's rotation of Splat Zones, Tower Control and Rainmaker for Ranked Battles, which

15151-423: The primary mascots of the Splatoon games. Initial reception of the characters in the original Splatoon from critics was mixed, however. In the games reviews, Jose Otero of IGN said that the game could "do without the Squid Sisters", criticizing their cutscenes that couldn't be skipped, while on the contrary, Ryan Bates of GameRevolution wrote that the Squid Sisters gave the player the proper introduction to

15290-597: The process of porting games to the Wii U's GamePad and TV. It was designed to make web-based games easier to port to the system than it would to code specifically for the Wii U. Nintendo also released a custom Unity package to allow game developers to quickly make games on Unity for the Wii U. These tools are no longer available on the Nintendo Developer Portal, however users who have these tools downloaded are still able to use them. John Teti of The A.V. Club ' s Gameological Society considers

15429-446: The release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD on September 20, 2013, Wii U sales in North America saw a 200% rise over August. From July to September 2013, the system sold approximately 300,000 units, which was up 87% from the three months prior. Despite only having sold 460,000 consoles since April, Nintendo maintained its 9 million Wii U sales forecast for the fiscal year through March 2014. Wii U software showed improvement in

15568-410: The roles this repeated for subsequent voice overs, with the two working side by side to voice the characters. keity.pop approached the songs in the manner she normally spoke, while Kikuma focused on where she could put the "most excitement" into the melody. To get a better feel for their roles, keity.pop wore makeup akin to "Western" musicians coupled with miniskirts and pink Dr. Martens boots. Kikuma on

15707-408: The screen, while others reported that the controller would be similar to the GameCube controller and feature dual analog sticks, shoulder buttons, and triggers. On April 25, 2011, Nintendo released an official statement announcing a system to succeed the Wii to be released during 2012, and that playable console units would be present at E3 2011. Speaking at an investor's conference, Iwata stated

15846-474: The system sold approximately 160,000 units, which was down 51% from the three months prior. During the second quarter of 2013, Nintendo reported that 160,000 consoles and 1.03 million software units were shipped worldwide. In May 2013, Electronic Arts announced that it was reducing support for the Wii U and had no games in development for it, but then partially reconsidered this decision a few days later, with EA's CFO announcing that "We are building titles for

15985-583: The system's launch date. Key: on launch day In January 2013, Nintendo announced that NES and Super NES games would be made available for the Virtual Console service on the Wii U in April 2013 and would include the option to use Off-TV Play on the GamePad. On March 26, 2014, Game Boy Advance games were confirmed and started to appear on the eShop the following month. Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS games were added in April 2015. The Wii U

16124-456: The system, though some aspects, such as Off-TV Play and the Wii Mode, allow the Wii U GamePad to detect Wii Remotes. The Wii U does not support GameCube controllers – while a USB adapter accessory allows GameCube controllers to be used on the console in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U , it is not compatible with any other software. The Wii U's main menu has two main components: by default,

16263-588: The television screen, but the October 2013 firmware update enables Wii Mode to be used off-TV. Either way, Wii controllers must be used. The Wii U used the Nintendo Network platform for online services (replacing the friend code system of the Wii), enabling online multiplayer, downloading and purchasing games or apps via Nintendo eShop, video chat using the GamePad's camera and the Wii U Chat service, and other services. Up to twelve accounts can be created per console. A social networking service known as Miiverse

16402-476: The third biggest launch of a Switch game in that country. In Japan, Splatoon 2 sold roughly 648,000 copies at retail within the first few days of its launch. Including download copies, the game had sold over two million in Japan by early 2018, making it the first home console game to do so in the country since 2010's Wii Party . The game shipped 1.56 million copies in Japan and 3.61 million copies worldwide in its first fiscal quarter on sale. By June 30, 2020,

16541-433: The two days following the unveiling of the Wii U, Nintendo's stock fell nearly 10% to levels not seen since 2006. Some analysts expressed skepticism in regards to the addition of a touch-screen, expressing concern that the controller would be less affordable and less innovative than the original Wii Remote. When asked about whether or not the Wii U was going to support stereographic 3D via 3D televisions , Iwata stated that it

16680-416: The winning team receive a slightly higher cut. In July 2019, Nintendo announced that the final regular Splatfest would be held that month. However, bonus rematches of previous Splatfests were held in May 2020, August 2020, and October 2020. A Splatfest celebrating the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. was held in January 2021. The game features a single-player campaign called Hero Mode, in which

16819-451: Was "not the area we are focusing on." On January 26, 2012, Iwata announced that the Wii U would be launched by the end of the 2012 shopping season in all major regions and that its final specifications would be revealed at E3 2012 . He also stated that the console would feature a unified online system known as Nintendo Network , which would feature user account support as opposed to the use of friend codes. Nintendo Network would also provide

16958-432: Was "of course studying and developing the next console to Wii", but it was simultaneously keeping its concepts secret because it was "really important for [Nintendo's] business to positively surprise people." Fils-Aimé also stated that Nintendo's next home console would likely not feature stereoscopic 3D , based on the 3D technology Nintendo had experimented with. In April 2011, an uncredited source indicated that Nintendo

17097-416: Was Callie vs. Marie, and players were forced to choose one. Marie would win the final Splatfest. After the final Splatfest, Callie and Marie began going their separate ways. Marie would travel to the countryside to visit her parents, and upon returning, Marie would learn that Callie had been reported missing. Despite the duo being referred to as the Squid Sisters, Callie and Marie are actually cousins, and are

17236-474: Was added in a later update), no split-screen play, and the Salmon Run mode only being playable online at certain times—but praised the new weapons and gameplay. The Verge blamed the lack of a built-in voice chat feature and ease of viewing the map for taking away from the multiplayer experience, yet still calling the game an improvement over the original. GameSpot cited Splatoon 2 as "a fresh take on

17375-838: Was announced for release in Q2/Q3 2017. The reveal was accompanied by a trailer featuring the game's new maps and weapons, and an on-stage appearance of producer Hisashi Nogami in-character as a scientist from the Squid Research Lab, a fictional scientific group from the game, which appeared in various promotional material for the original Splatoon . Similarly to the first game, Splatoon 2 features Splatfest events that include crossovers with other brands, both from other Nintendo properties such as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and third-party franchises including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , McDonald's , Uniqlo , Nike , Sanrio , Meiji , and Pocky . A manga series based on

17514-474: Was clear that a new console would have to be developed to accommodate significant structural changes, but ideas on which direction to take for the new console led to a lot of debate within the company, and the project started over from scratch on several occasions. The concept of a touchscreen embedded within the controller was originally inspired by the blue light on the Wii disc slot that illuminates to indicate new messages. Miyamoto and his team wanted to include

17653-458: Was great about the original game while adding new features to keep the game fresh, though the game's online matchmaking and its voice chat being restricted to the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app were criticized. Nintendo Life praised the improved single-player campaign. Destructoid and Game Informer criticised the accessibility within the game's multiplayer modes—weapons couldn't be changed between matches at that time (though this

17792-493: Was integrated into the Wii U's system software; it allowed players to interact and share content in game-specific communities using their Mii as an avatar. Miiverse allowed users to share accomplishments, screenshots, drawings and hand-written notes. Select games are integrated with Miiverse, where social interactions can also occur within the game, or appear within their content (such as in Splatoon , where drawn posts can appear as graffiti on walls in its settings). Miiverse

17931-447: Was later released in Europe on November 8. On November 14, Nintendo released a Just Dance 2014 Basic Pack bundle in Australia and New Zealand. It contains a white Wii U console with 8 GB of storage, a white Wii U GamePad and Wii Remote Plus controllers, a Sensor Bar, and disc versions of both Ubisoft 's Just Dance 2014 and Nintendo Land . The bundle was later released in Europe on November 22. On November 15, Nintendo released

18070-518: Was moderated through software filtering as well as a human resource team in order to ensure that the content shared by users is appropriate and that no spoilers are shared. In order to facilitate this, it was initially stated that comments posted could take up to 30 minutes to appear on Miiverse. The Wii U supported online video services through apps, such as Amazon Video , Crunchyroll , Hulu , Netflix , and YouTube . The Wii U does not support playback of DVDs or Blu-rays ; Iwata explained that

18209-463: Was nominated for "Best Switch Game" in both Destructoid ' s Game of the Year Awards 2017 and IGN 's Best of 2017 Awards, the latter of which also nominated it for "Best Shooter" and "Best Multiplayer". Splatoon 2 debuted second on the UK software sales chart in its launch week, behind Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy . It had 59% better first week sales than Splatoon and became

18348-454: Was officially unveiled as the Wii U during Nintendo's press conference at E3 2011 by Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé ; he explained that the Wii U would be "a system we will all enjoy together, but also one that's tailor-made for you". The rumored tablet controller was also shown at this time. No first-party games for the Wii U were announced during the presentation, but several major third-party studios announced games for Wii U in

18487-665: Was performed at NicoNico Chokaigi in Japan on April 28, 2018, a fourth concert was performed at Tokaigi Game Party 2019 in Japan on January 26, 2019, which featured more songs from the Octo Expansion , and was the first concert to only feature Pearl and Marina, and a two-day concert featuring both the Squid Sisters and Off The Hook was performed at Nintendo Live 2019 on October 13–14, 2019, which featured performances based on previous concerts. Splatoon 2 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic . Critics stated that Splatoon 2 retained what

18626-417: Was planning to unveil a successor to the Wii known as "Project Café" at its E3 2011 presentation. Café was claimed to be a high definition console, and to also have backward compatibility with Wii software. Conflicting reports also surrounded the console's new controller, with reports suggesting a tablet -like device with an embedded touchscreen and the ability to stream games from the console directly to

18765-402: Was published by Enterbrain in Japan on November 29, 2017, debuting at number eight on Billboard Japan 's Hot Albums chart. A second soundtrack album, Octotune, was released in Japan on July 18, 2018. This album features tracks added in the game's Octo Expansion DLC and other post-release updates, as well as a recording of the game's first live concert. It peaked at number five on

18904-435: Was released alongside the Wii U. The Wii U Pro Controller is an updated version of the Wii's Classic Controller that is designed to appeal to " hardcore " players, with a more traditional GamePad design that resembles those used by the PlayStation and Xbox lines (and in particular, the Xbox 360 's controller ), and a claimed 80-hour battery life. The Wii U Pro Controller is compatible with supported Wii U games, but

19043-455: Was released on June 13, 2018. The game's content update in December 2018 was announced as the final one, albeit with balancing patches and Splatfest events due to continue into Summer 2019, but it was later revealed that more smaller updates would release until July 2019. Prior to Splatoon 2 ' s reveal, clips of the game were featured in the announcement trailer for the Nintendo Switch. Its unanticipated appearance led to speculation by

19182-570: Was the best-selling Wii U month in the US since its launch, selling around 481,000 units. Independent estimates put the number of Wii U consoles sold by the end of 2013 between 4.5 and 5.2 million. During the fourth quarter of 2013, Nintendo reported that 1.95 million consoles and 9.96 million software units were shipped worldwide. In January 2014, citing lower-than-expected sales during the 2013 holiday season, Nintendo announced that Wii U sales forecasts for fiscal year 2014 had been cut from 9 million units to 2.8 million. In light of this announcement,

19321-412: Was the fastest selling Wii U game as of November 25, 2014 . The Wii U was launched with 29 games in North America, 26 games in Europe, 25 games in Australia, and 11 games in Japan. Some download-only games were also available on launch day for the Wii U via Nintendo eShop . An additional 30 games were announced for release during the system's launch window, which included the three months after

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