Nintendo Wii U pictures

By Molly McHugh June 7, 2011

Nintendo has finally debuted the much-anticipated next-gen Wii console, the Wii U. If you expecting a simple refresh for the motion-gaming system that started them all you were wrong: The Wii sports a similarly compact yet more traditional look and feel of your classic consoles – deviating from this, of course, with the addition of a 6.2-inch touchscreen-tablet controller. The device also functions as the remote and comes complete with front-facing camera, stand-alone games, photo viewing, video chat, Web browsing, and more.

But don’t worry, Nintendo won’t forgo all familiarity. In addition to allowing up to four Wii Remote or Remote Plus controllers to connect at once, it is also compatible with all original Wii controllers and input devices.

Check out Nintendo Wii U: What you need to know for more.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…

Gaming

How to connect your Nintendo Switch to a TV

Released in 2017, Nintendo Switch is still as popular today as it was years ago. The hybrid handheld console has seen dozens of high-profile game throughout its lifespan, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Part of what makes the device so compelling is the ability to play in both handheld or docked mode — allowing you to project your game onto the big screen when you get home from work or school.

Gaming

Mother 3 is finally on Nintendo Switch … but only in Japan

Clause standing b y a bench in Mother 3.

Mother 3, the highly requested cult-classic RPG for the Game Boy Advance, is set to appear today on the Nintendo Switch Online service. But there's a catch: It's only available in Japan.

North Americans were first introduced to the Mother series under the name Earthbound on the SNES in 1995. As was common at the time, the game was renamed for the West in an attempt to avoid confusion. In 2006, a third entry was released in Japan for the GBA simply called Mother 3, but it has never had an official translation for Western audiences. Both Mother 2, aka Earthbound, and the original Mother, renamed Earthbound Beginnings, have been added to Nintendo Switch Online, but there has never been any indication that the third game would receive the same treatment.

Gaming

Nintendo fans can dive into Endless Ocean Luminous this spring

A scuba diver swims beside a giant whale in Endless Ocean Luminous.

A new entry in the Endless Ocean series, Endless Ocean Luminous, was revealed at the February Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. It will be available on Nintendo Switch on May 2, 2024.

The final game highlighted in Nintendo's Partner Showcase was the latest entry in the deep-sea exploration series, titled Endless Ocean Luminous. The trailer invites players to dive deep into an underwater landscape never before seen by humans called the Veiled Sea. Perhaps borrowing some rogue-lite elements, the area is said to be unique on each dive the player makes. While what can change between dives was not explicitly stated, we do see various underwater temples, shipwrecks, undersea biomes, and over 500 species of marine life that are elements most likely to be randomized.