Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

Wii U Features Backwards Compatibility

Wii U Features Backwards Compatibility

None

Nintendo has chosen E3 2012 to finally clarify a number of hardware questions about the Wii U. Of particular interest to gamers is that the Wii U is fully backwards-compatible with the Wii, and will directly play Wii discs. At this time, it doesn’t appear that the Wii U is compatible with Gamecube discs or games.



Nintendo also hasn’t forgotten about the extensive Virtual Console libraries that many Wii owners have collected. According to a Nintendo interview with ABC News, Virtual Console game libraries will be transferable from the Wii to the Wii U. With the advent of the Nintendo Network on the Wii U, gamers will receive their own permanent accounts, which will make transferring games to new systems easier from now on. If members of the same household decide to make their own individual accounts, however, they will likely have to decide which account “owns” old Virtual Console content.

More information on backwards compatibility, Virtual Console game transfers, and Nintendo Network accounts will become available as the Wii U nears launch. First, of course, Nintendo has to actually announce a release date for the new console.

By Becky Cunningham

To top