Editing Wii U

{{Real world}}
{{Infobox platform
|title           = Wii U
|logo            = Wii U logo.svg
|image           = Nintendo Wii U.png
|caption         = The Wii U
|type            = Video game console
|manufacturer    =
*[[Nintendo]] {{C|developer}}
*Foxconn
*Mitsumi
|first_available = 18 November 2012
|discontinued    = 31 January 2017
|units_sold      = 13.56 million (as of October 2023)
|cpu             = Tri-Core IBM PowerPC "Espresso" 1.24GHz
|ram             = 2GB DDR3
|sound           = 
*5.1 Linear PCM
*Analog stereo
|precursor       = [[Wii]]
|successor       = [[Nintendo Switch]]
}}
The '''Wii U''' (officially stylized as '''Wiiᵁ''') is a home video game console developed by [[Nintendo]] and is the successor to the [[Wii]]. It competed with [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]]'s [[PlayStation 4]] and [[Microsoft]]'s [[Xbox One]] as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles. The Wii U was Nintendo's first console to support high-definition graphics.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBE-IxjCm0Y</ref>

The Wii U GamePad is the primary controller for the console, featuring an embedded touchscreen that can either supplement gameplay on the main screen, or be used to play the games directly on the GamePad independently of the television. There are two versions of the Wii U: the "Basic White" with 8GB of storage and the "Deluxe Black" with 32GB.

The Wii U is backward compatible with Wii software and accessories, and as such all [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' games]] released on the Wii are also playable on the Wii U, although the system does not support [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] controllers. The Wii U also offers an online service called the [[wikipedia:Nintendo Network|Nintendo Network]] and previously featured an integrated social networking service called [[wikipedia:Miiverse|Miiverse]] (that has been shut down on 7 November 2017). The Wii U was plagued with slow consumer adoption, a lack of strong launch titles, and bad marketing and third party support. It has been considered to be one of Nintendo's worst selling game consoles.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gilbert|first=Ben|title=Nintendo's Wii U is a tremendous flop, as explained in one chart from Nintendo|http://www.techinsider.io/nintendos-wii-u-is-a-major-flop-2016-1|publisher=Tech Insider|date=21 January 2016}}</ref>

Nintendo officially ended the Wii U's production in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/02/wii-u-production-has-officially-ended-for-japan/|title=Wii U Production Has Officially Ended For Japan|first=Brian|last=Ashcraft|publisher Kotaku|date=1 February 2017|accessdate=22 April 2017}}</ref> with the eShop closing on 27 March 2023.<ref name="eShop closed">{{Cite web |title=Wii U & Nintendo 3DS eShop Discontinuation Q&A
|url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-%26-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation-q%26a |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |accessdate=6 April 2023}}</ref>

== Controllers==
===Wii U GamePad===
[[File:Wii U controller illustration.png|thumb|The Wii U GamePad.]]
The '''Wii U GamePad''' is the primary controller for the Wii U. It features a built-in touchscreen, which can either supplement or replicate the gameplay shown on the main display and can function as a standalone screen without the use of a television screen.

===Wii Remote===
Aside from the console's backward compatibility with Wii games, the Wii Remote and its peripheral extensions (Nunchuk, Classic Controller, etc.) are also supported in most Wii U games.

===Wii U Pro Controller===
[[File:Wii U Pro controllers.png|thumb|left|The Wii U Pro Controller.]]
The '''Wii U Pro Controller''' is the second controller released for the console, available separately.<ref>http://kotaku.com/5915318/nintendo-unveils-hardcore-wii-u-controller</ref> Like more traditional controllers, it features standard control sticks, buttons, and triggers. Many video game journalists have noted the similarities between this controller and Microsoft's [[Xbox 360]] Controller.<ref name="Joystiq">http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/03/wii-u-pro-controller-unveiled-looks-awfully-familiar/</ref><ref name="Eurogamer">http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-06-03-nintendo-reveals-evolved-wii-u-gamepad-xbox-like-pro-controller</ref> However, Nintendo claims that the design of the Pro Controller is an “enhanced version” of the Wii Classic Controller and "offers a richer experience".<ref>http://www.gamezone.com/news/2012/06/12/nintendo-defends-wii-u-pro-controller-design</ref>

The Wii U Pro Controller is compatible with most supported Wii U games but is incompatible with Wii games.

===Nintendo GameCube controller===
[[Nintendo GameCube]] controllers can be used with the Wii U via a USB accessory, although it is only compatible with ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' and cannot be used for any other software.

===Amiibo===
{{Main|Sonic (amiibo)}}
[[File:SSB4 Amiibo Sonic.png|thumb|100px|The ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros.]]'' [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] amiibo.]]
As of 21 November 2014, the Wii U began supporting [[wikipedia:Amiibo|amiibo]], a series of figurines which uses [[wikipedia:Near field communication|near field communication]] to add special features to compatible software.

A [[Sonic the Hedgehog]] amiibo figure was unveiled on 10 November 2014 as part of the ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros.]]'' amiibo series and was later released on 10 February 2015. It is primarily compatible with ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', ''[[w:c:mariowiki:Yoshi's Woolly World|Yoshi's Woolly World]]'', ''[[w:c:mariowiki:Mario Kart 8|Mario Kart 8]]'', ''[[w:c:mariowiki:Super Mario Maker|Super Mario Maker]]'', and ''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]''. The Sonic amiibo can still be used in a handful of titles without rewards or references pertaining to the ''Sonic'' series; in [[wikipedia:The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild|''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild'']], scanning any non-''Zelda'' amiibo - including the Sonic amiibo - will spawn a chest containing an assortment of materials.

==''Sonic'' games==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|[[File:DRGPT.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed]]'' (2012)
|[[File:SARTBE WIIU PACK-FRONT 2.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed]]''<br />''Bonus Edition'' (2012)
|[[File:SLW US.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic Lost World]]'' (2013)
|[[File:Lost World Deadly Six Bonus Edition Art.png|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic Lost World]]''<br />''Deadly Six Bonus Edition'' (2013)
|[[File:SB Rise of Lyric NA Box Art.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric]]'' (2014)
|}

==Other Wii U games==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|[[File:M&S2014 Wii U Boxart.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games]]'' (2013)
|[[File:SSB Wii U.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' (2014)
|[[File:Oie transparent-16.png|100px]]<br />''[[Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games]]'' (2016)
|}

== Nintendo Selects==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|[[File:SaASRT Wii U Nintendo Selects.png|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed]]'' (2017)
|}

==Virtual Console==
Similarly to the [[Wii]], the Wii U also features a Virtual Console section in the Nintendo eShop where past video games, most of which were previously released on past Nintendo consoles, can be downloaded and played on the Wii U. Only three ''Sonic'' games for the [[Game Boy Advance]] were included on this service in Japan. The Virtual Console titles are all unavailable for purchase due to the Wii U eShop's discontinuation on 27 March 2023.<ref name="eShop closed" />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|[[File:Advance_JP_Wii_U_Virtual_Console.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic Advance]]'' {{C|JP}}
|[[File:Advance_2_JP_Wii_U_Virtual_Console.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic Advance 2]]'' {{C|JP}}
|[[File:Advance_3_JP_Wii_U_Virtual_Console.jpg|100px]]<br />''[[Sonic Advance 3]]'' {{C|JP}}
|}

==Characters Introduced==

*[[Deadly Six]]
**[[Zavok]]
**[[Zazz]]
**[[Zomom]]
**[[Master Zik]]
**[[Zeena]]
**[[Zor]]
*[[Sticks the Badger]]
*[[Lyric the Last Ancient]]

==Trivia==
*The Wii U is the only eighth-generation console to have complete backwards compatibility with its [[Wii|immediate predecessor]].
*The Wii U is the first home console with no native 4:3 support for any of its ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog series|Sonic]]'' games; some [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]] ''Sonic'' titles supported it (i.e. ''[[Sonic Unleashed]]'' and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I]]'' and ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II|Episode II]]''), and all Wii ''Sonic'' titles supported both 4:3 and 16:9. If the Wii U is set to 4:3, all Wii U ''Sonic'' titles will be displayed in letterboxed widescreen on 4:3 displays. The Wii ''Sonic'' titles, on the other hand, can still be played in 4:3 on the Wii U as long as the system itself is set to 4:3.
*This is the final home console to have analog video support.
*The Wii U is [[Nintendo]]'s final home console since the [[Wikipedia:Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] to have a budget label; as of November 2022, no [[Nintendo Switch]] titles (including ''Sonic'' titles) have been re-released under the [[Wikipedia:Nintendo Selects|Nintendo Selects]] label.
*The Wii U would be Nintendo's final home console to include region locking for both physical and digital titles, whereas its successor, the Nintendo Switch, supports physical titles from other regions and allows for digital titles to be downloaded from other regions.
**Much like the [[Nintendo 3DS]], the Wii U eShop's region will always correspond to the region of the system, regardless of where it is used; if a North American user gets ahold of a European Wii U, they will still only have access to the European eShop.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{WP link|Wii U}}
{{Video game platforms}}
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[[Category:Nintendo platforms]]
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