Despite being 9 years old and superseded by the Switch, Nintendo has issued a new Wii U update this week.
As with other updates to the system over the past few years, the latest (last?) Wii U update delivers “Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.” This is the first Wii U system update in over two years, since September 2018 when version 5.5.3 was issued. Don’t ask where 5.5.4 went.
While considered a failure in popular terms, the Wii U remains a compelling console with a selection of top games. The Wii U sells for around £100 on eBay – meanwhile, Wii U games sell for £10 to £30 depending on condition. Not bad for a system that was effectively retired in 2017.
For system longevity this is of course a welcome move. However, it may prove a problem to anyone planning to jailbreak their console to install homebrew software.
From a more practical point of view, however, very little changes. Most of the Wii U media apps still won’t work, long-running old games that remain popular such as Minecraft will creak along as an older version while the real world races ahead, and my son will still cancel the Wii U update midway through because “it’s taking too long.”
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
