Wii U

The Wii U (/ˌwiː ˈjuː/ 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 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 is backward compatible with Wii software and accessories. Games can support any combination of the GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Balance Board, or Classic 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 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. Its first-party game library, which included new entries in several of Nintendo's flagship franchises such as the Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart series, was also well-received. However, it received criticism for its user interface, hardware performance, and the GamePad's short battery life.

The Wii U is considered a commercial failure, with 13.56 million units sold worldwide before it was discontinued in January 2017. This was primarily credited to a weak lineup of launch games, limited third-party support, and poor marketing that failed to clearly distinguish the system from its predecessor. On March 3, 2017, Nintendo released the system's 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.