The Wii U is slow. It’s slow to load games, it’s slow to launch applications and utilities, and, as the company’s sales reports have suggested, it’s slow to find an audience. Today, Nintendo launched its new Wii U Spring Update which the company claims will cure the sluggishness of the user interface while also adding a few new convenience features.
Having just spent an hour updating my Wii U – yes, an hour, on an extremely fast broadband connection – I can safely say that it, well, it sorta helps out a little bit. That’s about as strong of an argument as I’m willing to make in its favor, as launching things as basic as the settings menu still takes way longer than it really should. So while you’ll no longer have time to cook a roast while you wait for the system to do its thing, you’ll only have enough time to, say, make a sandwich.
But beyond the promised speed boost that may or may not have actually made a noticeable difference, the update brings a slew of small tweaks and touches that should make using the console a bit more enjoyable. If you own a Wii U, you can update your console by heading to the settings menu and navigating to the System Update tab. The full list of upgrades reads as follows:
New Features:
A standby function to download and install software while the system is powered off
Software purchased from the Nintendo eShop will automatically install in the background once the download is complete
Holding down the B Button while the Wii U logo is displayed during startup will load the Wii Menu *¹Changes to System Settings:
An option to transfer and/or copy between two USB storage devices in “Data Management”
To facilitate this feature, you will now be able to connect two USB storage devices to a single Wii U console*²
The ability to select multiple software titles when transferring, copying, or deleting data in “Data Management”
The option to adjust screen size is now available under “TV” *³
“Auto Power-Down” has been renamed “Power Settings”
Options for the standby function are located within this menuChanges to Miiverse:
Added support for the Wii Remote, Wii U Pro Controller, and Classic Controller
Handwritten posts will now also display on the TV screen during creation
“Undo” and “Redo” buttons are now available when creating a handwritten post
Removed screen size setting. This option can now be adjusted from System SettingsChanges to Nintendo eShop:
Software downloaded from the Nintendo eShop will include released updates and will no longer need to be updated after installation
Removed screen size setting. This option can now be adjusted from System SettingsChanges to the Internet Browser:
Added support for the Wii Remote and Wii U Pro Controller
Added the option to change search engines when performing a keyword search
Added the option to return to the start page from the bookmark menu
Removed screen size setting. This option can now be adjusted from System SettingsChanges to Download Management:
Added the option to change the priority of downloads
Improvements to system stability and usability:Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience
*1 User selection may be necessary
*2 Only one USB storage device can be used during normal use
*3 A similar option has been removed from Nintendo eShop, Miiverse, and the Internet Browser
