The Wii U’s Video on Demand service won’t be available when the system launches.
We’re in the final countdown until Nintendo kicks off the next console generation. There are two days to go until the Wii U arrives in stores in North America, bringing with it a slew of new games and accessories. One thing that won’t be available on November 18, however, is Nintendo TVii, a service that allows users to browse all of their television content while interacting with friends through social networks and the Miiverse. Though it won’t be present at launch, Wii U owners won’t have long to wait: Nintendo TVii is coming in December.
“In December… Nintendo TVii comes with Wii U at no additional charge and requires no additional equipment,” Nintendo said in a press release. “It works with existing cable and satellite channels. Viewers can engage with others in a variety of ways, such as commenting on moments as they happen on live TV, and then sharing those thoughts via Miiverse, Facebook, and Twitter. Users can also discover more about what they’re watching, as information from a variety of sources is automatically linked to the program they are watching, including sports data.”
The Wii U’s Video on Demand service, which lets subscribers of Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, and Neflix stream content to their televisions through the console, will also become available “in the coming weeks.” These services can also be accessed through Nintendo TVii, making the GamePad a universal remote for streaming and television services.
Nintendo TVii sounds like it could be one of the Wii U’s most interesting and distinctive features, so it’s a shame that it won’t be available right away when the console launches. With 29 launch games, which the publisher is calling the “largest launch lineup in Nintendo history,” there will be no shortage of things for new Wii U owners to do while waiting for Nintendo TVii and Video on Demand to become available.
