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Wii U Virtual Console Launching in Spring with NES, SNES and GBA Games

By Landon Robinson | 23 January 2013 | 2 Comments   

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Even though you’re able to transfer your previously-purchased Virtual Console titles to your Wii U from your Wii, Nintendo is already preparing to launch a native version of the service on Wii U, with full support for the Gamepad and more.

The Virtual Console for Wii U will launch alongside a small selection of NES and SNES games that have been re-developed for play on Wii U. You’ll be able to save game progress, access their communities via Miiverse, and play them in their entirety on the Gamepad without a television necessary.

Nintendo also announced that they’re bringing Game Boy Advance titles to Virtual Console, which will also include the features listed above. No launch window was given.

All games will cost the same as they did on the Wii Virtual Console. However, if you already purchased those titles previously (and want the new features), you’ll be able to buy them again at a significantly reduced price. NES games will be $1, whereas SNES titles will be $1.50. No word yet on the support of N64 titles.

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Finally, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Famicom console, Nintendo plans to release a single NES or SNES game on the Virtual Console every month for a mere $0.30. This promo period will run until July, at which time all games previously a part of the sale will return to their regular prices.

Here are the games Nintendo will release by month, leading up to July:

  • January: Balloon Fight
  • February: F-Zero
  • March: Punch Out! Featuring Mr. Dream
  • April: Kirby’s Adventure
  • May: Super Metroid
  • June: Yoshi
  • July: Donkey Kong

The Wii U will have two more system updates before the year is over, one which will launch in the spring alongside the Virtual Console, and one that will arrive later in the summer. In these updates, alongside other features, Nintendo hopes to speed up the time spent on menu screens and switching between applications, an issue the Wii U has struggled with since launch.

Thank goodness they’re working on that. I’m an impatient man. Not as impatient as our own Brian “boy am I impatient” Rubin, mind you, but impatient nonetheless.

2 Comments

  1. Posted by Brian P Rubin on 23 January 13 at 9:33am

    I think it’s great that they’re bringing this stuff to the Wii U as new and improved…but that’s some booty ass crap that they’re making you pay extra money for games you’ve ALREADY BOUGHT. Don’t pretend like charging me a buck or a buck fifty for a game that I already bought on the Wii is a good deal. It’s not. Just make it free of charge to download the upgraded version.

    Nintendo…nickel and diming their customers into oblivion.

  2. Posted by Mugenite on 23 January 13 at 12:09pm

    I wish Sony or MS would do something similar. RE: Revelations for consoles was m biggest wish.

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