Nintendo boss offers apologies for Wii U day one firmware update
Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata has apologised for the fact that the Wii U requires a day one firmware update in order for owners to access its full suite of online features.
Those looking to get the optimum online experience from Nintendo’s new tablet controller-packing console were confronted with a 1GB firmware update straight out of the box, with some users reporting download waits of upwards of an hour.
“Personally I think that users should be able to use all the functions of a console video game machine as soon as they open the box,” Satoru told IGN.
“So I feel very sorry for the fact that purchasers of Wii U have to experience a network update which takes such a long time, and that there are the services which were not available at the hardware’s launch.”
Services including the TVii streaming channel were missing at launch, as were Hulu Plus and YouTube in the US.
Iwata still championed Nintendo’s approach to online gaming and its associated Mii-based commuity, saying it stands aside from what’s on offer from the Xbox 360 and PS3, something that gamers will appreciate:
“We have not thought that offering the same features that already exist within other online communities would be the best proposal for very experienced game players,” he said.
The Wii U goes on sale from midnight tonight, with late-night store openings and promotions set to accompany the launch.
