If you were hoping to watch DVDs or Blu-Rays on your Wii U, you're out of luck: According to Nintendo, the next-generation console will not have DVD or Blu-ray playback capabilities.
Nintendo feels that you already have enough ways to play discs in your living room. Here's the quote, from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata in an investor Q&A:
"We feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray, such that it didn't warrant the cost involved to build that functionality into the Wii U console because of the patents related to those technologies."
While it hasn't been confirmed yet, you have to figure you'll be able to download and/or stream movies to your Wii U. In an ideal world, you'll also be able to watch said streaming movies from either your TV or the Wii U's unique controller-with-a-screen.
Iwata also discussed the competition Nintendo faces from mobile devices. According to Iwata, Nintendo has got this.
Personally, I don't feel that there is competition or threat from mobile games for our video game business from the sense that, even before mobile games appeared, it's always been the nature of our job to continue to offer new experiences that players can't have on other devices, and that, as long as we can continue to do that, the consumer will want to play our games, but what we are sensitive to is the notion of the sense of value and what consumers are willing to pay for games.
Read the rest of the Q&A right here.
Comments are Closed
Comments
Displaying 21–36 of 36
112
TheBRADLeyB
I guess I understand the reason as to why not to include DVD and BluRay tech... I mean if you want a DVD player it's super cheap these days and aside from having to change the input channel (or rewire the inputs) it's easy to switch between a game and DVD.
But Nintendo needs to focus on what they ARE bringing to the table because so far I see NOTHING that makes this (Euuuuuuu) WiiU (I look just like Buddy Holly) anything worth getting.
In fact I'm not even convinced that this 'console' isn't just a poorly disguised Gaming Handheld... I guess that'll be known in time though if Nintendo releases a WiiU Lite, WiiU XL, WiiU DS, WiiU DSi Lite, WiiU DSi Like XL, WiiU 3DSi XL Lite, WiiU 3DSi XL, WiiU 3DSi Lite
SPE825
There seem to be plenty of things that this "new" console won't do any better than the current Wii. I cannot see how the new peripheral (i.e. the new controller) will make anyone buy a new Wii. Nintendo has to realize the level of penetration that they already have in the homes of America, and that most of these casual-gaming owners of the Wii are not going to purchase a new system just for what they will see as only a new type of controller.
neotokyo
Tbh this is a wise decision, means the console in itself will be cheaper
BONERJAM
It would be nice if it did have those features but I already own a PS3, 360 and a dvd player, I don't really need another dvd player.
Antonio_r
Maybe sony and microsoft will do the same next gen to keep the cost down...! i have tons of dvd players and my ps3 for blueray its not that hard to change the channel when i want to watch a movie or use netflixs or something
crocodilius
Sound logic; i have 4-5 different things to play DvDs and a PS3 for bluray.
Also, mobile games are generally crap (not to be confused with portable games which are markedly better).
If some dude gets off playing that angry birds or whatever, good on 'em, I'll stick to games that remain grandiose.
thejman85
dumb dumb nintendo is stuck in the past when will they do dvd or blue ray i ues my xbox and ps3 as players
Prax150
Nintendo's logic here is basically that everyone's already got a bluray or DVD player. Well, Nintendo, I already have a system that can play third party games, why should I get a Wii U?
JustTheBeginning
I hope the next xbox or playstation at least plays DVD's because if they dont and I switch out my current consoles for new ones, I will suddenly be without a DVD player, and I am definitely not buying a standalone one.
titanrage83
I cant wait to see this system fail so bad. Its retarted looking and sounding. What a waste of money. but some rich dumb ass parent will buy for there spoiled ass kid
Blue_Vortex
To be honest all Nintendo needs to do is support a digital download provider and netflicks and they'll be fine.
Besides lets be honest here digital downloads + cloud service is going to be how the future of media is handled. Steam and Amazon have showed me how this is a great thing we should embrace
Phoenixxx1974
i am personally ok with it not having a DVD/blu-ray i already have a DVD player on my laptop, PC, xbox 360, PS3 and play blu-rays on my stand-alone player in the living room and my PS3 so it is smart to keep the cost down and to not include it.
Plus if they went with Holodiscs, like i read a while ago that they were looking into, it's smart since the drives are not commercially available which makers it harder to pirate them. Plus holodiscs can hold A LOT more than blu-ray so it's future proof.
I for one am excited for the WiiU (i'll admit it's a stupid name, but at least no one will forget it :-p) it has tons of potential and everyone laughs at it now but when it takes off everyone will want to copy it.
WhatGuy
What?
One of the reasons why i own a PS3 is because of the Blu Ray, i have a huge Blu Ray collection of great and amazing movies,
i hope Sony and Microsoft don't follow Nintendo in this path, because Net Flix is fine and all, but Blu Ray and DVD has special features, like Deleted scenes or Commentaries that really helps you immerse yourself into the lore of the movie.
Nintendo is making a bad decision with this, even if it is to lower prices somewhat, same thing they did with the Wii.
Nerdi_Master
I'm not worried about it personally, history has proven that built in DVD players usually suck on consoles anyway. This is just one way to keep the cost of the Wii U low, and this one sacrifice in particular doesn't bother me.
InuYugiHakusho
Like everyone doesn't already have a DVD and/or Blu-ray player.
bigheadzach
"We feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray..."
You mean other game consoles?
Displaying 21–36 of 36
112