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    The Nintendo Wii U, the follow-up to the monstrously popular Nintendo Wii console, launched in North America on November 18th 2012.

    Wii U Won't Support DVDs or Blu-rays

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    alex

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    Edited By alex
    How am I supposed to watch this imaginary Blu-ray release of Super Mario Bros. that absolutely doesn't, and should never, ever exist?
    How am I supposed to watch this imaginary Blu-ray release of Super Mario Bros. that absolutely doesn't, and should never, ever exist?

    In attempting to merge the hardcore and casual audiences with its new console, Nintendo apparently has little interest in appeasing the movie-watching segments of either of those audiences.

    Speaking to investors at E3, Satoru Iwata was asked about the Wii U's capabilities as a playback device for Sony's Blu-ray format, as well as standard DVDs. Iwata's answer left little room for interpretation, as he flatly stated that the Wii U would not support either format.

    Iwata's reasoning was that Nintendo believes most people already have relevant players for the favored movie format. Licensing the necessary technology patents to support either format would have ultimately proved too costly.

    In this regard, Iwata is probably correct. You can buy a DVD player for less than a tank of gas these days, and while Blu-ray players are a bit less common, it seems unlikely Nintendo would leap at the opportunity to pay a direct competitor licensing fees for what will ultimately amount to ancillary technology for the console. If nothing else, this does appear to signal that Nintendo is looking for ways to ensure its console remains cost-friendly to consumers, even if that means taking some potentially sexy bullet points off the box.

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    alex

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    #1  Edited By alex
    How am I supposed to watch this imaginary Blu-ray release of Super Mario Bros. that absolutely doesn't, and should never, ever exist?
    How am I supposed to watch this imaginary Blu-ray release of Super Mario Bros. that absolutely doesn't, and should never, ever exist?

    In attempting to merge the hardcore and casual audiences with its new console, Nintendo apparently has little interest in appeasing the movie-watching segments of either of those audiences.

    Speaking to investors at E3, Satoru Iwata was asked about the Wii U's capabilities as a playback device for Sony's Blu-ray format, as well as standard DVDs. Iwata's answer left little room for interpretation, as he flatly stated that the Wii U would not support either format.

    Iwata's reasoning was that Nintendo believes most people already have relevant players for the favored movie format. Licensing the necessary technology patents to support either format would have ultimately proved too costly.

    In this regard, Iwata is probably correct. You can buy a DVD player for less than a tank of gas these days, and while Blu-ray players are a bit less common, it seems unlikely Nintendo would leap at the opportunity to pay a direct competitor licensing fees for what will ultimately amount to ancillary technology for the console. If nothing else, this does appear to signal that Nintendo is looking for ways to ensure its console remains cost-friendly to consumers, even if that means taking some potentially sexy bullet points off the box.

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    Chummy8

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    #2  Edited By Chummy8

    Way to BE, Wii. 
     
     
    Also, FINALLY!

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    RobotHamster

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    #3  Edited By RobotHamster

    I'm actually not surprised...

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    MysteriousBob

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    #4  Edited By MysteriousBob

    I don't get it. The Wii CAN play DVDs with homebrew software. I... why not include it as a standard feature? Its baffling.

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    lockwoodx

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    #5  Edited By lockwoodx

    People still use physical media?

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    shadyspace

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    #6  Edited By shadyspace
    Nintendo apparently has little interest in appeasing the movie-watching segments of either of those audiences.

    Really, Alex? I guess HD Netflix is no longer a thing. I don't even know anyone with a Blu-Ray player besides those with a PS3 (and they barely own any discs, at that). You know as well as I do that film consumption is increasingly going to the cloud, if the majority of such isn't already there.

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    niall_sg1

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    #7  Edited By niall_sg1

    Well it makes sense. I have something like 12 machines in my house that can play DVD's and two that can play Blu-Ray. I'm fine with the Wii U not having a DVD/Blu-Ray player. Though it doesn't mean I'm getting a Wii U. 

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    nintendoeats

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    #8  Edited By nintendoeats

    Ok, that makes sense. I'm alright with it.

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    Wuddel

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    #9  Edited By Wuddel

    Baffling. Consider that you know rather developed places like "Europe", still do not have widespread streaming services like Netflix. Physical media still matter!

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    Dany

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    #11  Edited By Dany

    Iwata's reasoning was that Nintendo believes most people already have relevant players for the favored movie format. Licensing the necessary technology patents to support either format would have ultimately proved too costly.

    too costly? gah, nintendo clearly doesn't have any desires to topple Xbox or Playstation or even come on par.

    Lighting won't strike twice, i guarantee it.

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    drthepunisher

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    #12  Edited By drthepunisher

    I was going to say that was a terrible decision. But I didn't remember that BluRay is Sony's tech. I wouldn't want to pay Sony anything either if I'm competing with them.

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    NekuCTR

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    #13  Edited By NekuCTR

    Spend millions of dollars on stupid looking controllers that you are bound to have to sell at a loss, and this is what you get.

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    caryrabbit

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    #14  Edited By caryrabbit
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    valrog

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    #15  Edited By valrog

    "Well, whoopie whoop."

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    Dalai

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    #16  Edited By Dalai

    Netflix has been confirmed for Wii U so it's not a big deal. Of course I didn't think it was a big deal when the Wii had no DVD playback way back when.

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    ExplodingTuba

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    #17  Edited By ExplodingTuba

    Not surprised in the slightest.

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    Oginam

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    #18  Edited By Oginam

    Nintendo is still Nintendo.

    And I just don't care anymore.

    Less controller "innovation" (duct taping shit together) and more quality games/new franchises please.

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    Kjellm87

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    #19  Edited By Kjellm87

    Not a problem.

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    waypoetic

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    #20  Edited By waypoetic

    In 3... 2... 1... Here come's Klepeck with his Nintendo love! Backing up all that bullshit Nintendo puts out since forever. 

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    prencher

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    #21  Edited By prencher

    @MysteriousBob: Licensing fees.

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    sensory

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    #22  Edited By sensory

    It's not only about being able to play Blu-ray MOVIES, but having a Blu-ray drive would allow larger games to fit on one disc instead of two or three. I already own a current-gen system (Xbox 360) and if I were to even consider forking out money for this "new" (5 year old) system that I can't play my old current-gen games on, the least it would have to have is a Blu-ray drive.
     
    What's the word on online capabilities?

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    cbirdsong

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    #23  Edited By cbirdsong

    @caryrabbit: @MysteriousBob: It could be physically able to play DVDs/Blurays, but not have the license to do so. This is how it is with the Wii. That DVD drive does not include the license to play DVD videos, just read DVD discs.

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    Bgrngod

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    #24  Edited By Bgrngod

    Seems like a no brainer to not have it.  Why have the added cost for something that is virtually pointless?

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    IIChristian89II

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    #25  Edited By IIChristian89II

    im not getting a wii u but i can see why this would be a bother to some people. I generally use hard drives or streaming to watch movies and stuff. Id only then by the hard copy if i really enjoyed it it so i could keep watching.

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    demonbear

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    #26  Edited By demonbear

    I'm ok with that. Last time was worse. They said dvd playback would be patched in the Wii after launch and to my knowledge, that did not happen. At least this time its all upfront, loud and clear.

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    Cameron

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    #27  Edited By Cameron

    @shadyspace:

    You have to keep in mind that Netflix is pretty much a US only thing. Sure, it exists in Canada, but due to licensing restrictions it is an empty shell of the US service. That leaves all of Europe and Japan, their other two major markets, without Netflix.

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    deactivated-5a1a3d3c6820c

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    @Dalai said:

    Netflix has been confirmed for Wii U so it's not a big deal. Of course I didn't think it was a big deal when the Wii had no DVD playback way back when.

    Netflix isn't available in most countries, FYI.

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    Krakn3Dfx

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    #29  Edited By Krakn3Dfx

    It'll totally play your copy of Jack Black's King Kong on HD-DVD though.

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    Colin

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    #30  Edited By Colin
    @Dalai said:

    Netflix has been confirmed for Wii U so it's not a big deal. Of course I didn't think it was a big deal when the Wii had no DVD playback way back when.

    What about the rest of the world that doesn't have Netflix? :\
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    DeF

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    #31  Edited By DeF

    @Dalai said:

    Netflix has been confirmed for Wii U so it's not a big deal. Of course I didn't think it was a big deal when the Wii had no DVD playback way back when.

    yup, Netflix has been confirmed and from what I hear on podcasts, that's what people mostly use in the US anyway. Since everybody already has a 360, PS3, DVD Player or even a PS2 sitting around, there should be plenty opportunity to watch DVDs.

    In Europe, there is no Netflix so that's a bit different for us. However, I don't think we have any more trouble finding a playback devide for DVD/BD than people elsewhere.

    The one thing that would've been cool though was that if someone was watching TV, you could've put a DVD/BD in your Wii U and watch it on the controller screen (suitable for something like comedies or TV shows). I hope it supports local streaming though.

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    rmanthorp

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    #32  Edited By rmanthorp  Moderator

    Don't care tbh

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    bonbolapti

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    #33  Edited By bonbolapti

    Look it makes fucking sense, If you don't have a DVD/BLUERAY player by now, why the fuck are you buying a Wii U for it?

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    Claude

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    #34  Edited By Claude

    I like to play video games.

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    Kjellm87

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    #35  Edited By Kjellm87
    @Claude said:

    I like to play video games.

    This, I never understood why it have to be a media-machine, when I buy a console I want to to play goddam games.
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    CyleMoore

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    #36  Edited By CyleMoore

    I know it shouldn't matter but for some reason it kind of bothers me.  Oh well I'll get over it.

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    Sekoku

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    #37  Edited By Sekoku

    And the Wii 2 failtrain continues. Who honestly is hyped for this after the numerous screw-ups Nintendo has done through the ages. They don't "get it" when it comes to what most people want out of the console.
     
    Shame, really. As they do have some interesting tech, but after the lackluster games on the original one, I'm not buying a 2.

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    Beaudacious

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    #38  Edited By Beaudacious

    This is a really bad call on nintendo's side, to have this console widely accepted they need to sweeten the pot on every angle. To get ps3 users on a wii u, bluray could of been a bullet point that would justify a purchase it if people already have bluray collections. Microsoft also is starting to understand the up side of addressing multiple markets, stealing apple tv, or boxee users for xbox 360. Who in turn then have a a much larger chance of joining the Microsoft gaming market now. Gaming systems aren't only gaming machines anymore they're multimedia hubs now, if Nintendo wants to narrow its mid-cycle market even further then power to them. Why would i buy a wii u when i can play all the games that will be ported to it earlier, and also watch dvd's or bluray's when that occasion would arise on one device? Physical media is still going to be around for a long time, downloading 25gb games on a ps3, or even just 8gb on an xbox isn't rocketing off till internet infrastructure is heavily overhauled in north America.

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    Romination

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    #39  Edited By Romination

    This might hurt the Wii U a lot. Set top boxes, people, and if the Wii U can't be one, there's almost no way it'll really succeed.

    and while I agree with Iwata, it might be a bit hurty for the sales.

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    rustyspoon

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    #40  Edited By rustyspoon

    What's that? A gaming console that only plays games? Oh, the humanity!

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    Nocall

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    #41  Edited By Nocall

    Makes sense to me.

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    Vexxan

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    #42  Edited By Vexxan

    Oh Nintendo...

    Guess it's not too much to be upset about, haven't bought a DVD or Blu-ray disc for years...

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    zor

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    #43  Edited By zor

    Damn, i would have liked it to have the ability to play dvds... meh, i still have like 5 other things that do, but yeah, it would have been nice if the Wii U could be include in that list.

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    penguindust

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    #44  Edited By penguindust

    A new DVD player costs less than a single trip to the movies for a family of four (or one couple seeing a film in 3D).  Not a loss as far as I am concerned, although I would have liked a back-up Blu-ray in case my PS3 conks out.

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    Skooky

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    #45  Edited By Skooky

    Let's all pretend this matters.

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    JazGalaxy

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    #46  Edited By JazGalaxy
    @Romination said:

    This might hurt the Wii U a lot. Set top boxes, people, and if the Wii U can't be one, there's almost no way it'll really succeed.

    and while I agree with Iwata, it might be a bit hurty for the sales.

    Set Top Boxes were never a technology that made any sense. The Xbox is the closest we'll ever get to that technology. Now more than ever, people are going to do that kind of thing with tablets.
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    Little_Socrates

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    #47  Edited By Little_Socrates

    Not exactly a dealbreaker.

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    ThePhantomnaut

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    #48  Edited By ThePhantomnaut

    HD-DVD. ^^

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    Ub3rSlug

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    #49  Edited By Ub3rSlug

    I wonder how much of this is a response (if at all) to piracy on the Wii.

    If the WIi U uses a proprietary disc format, it'll be hard for someone to rip discs to put up on the internet and even harder for someone looking to burn it onto a blank Wii U disc, which probably wont even be sold to the public.

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    Jiquk

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    #50  Edited By Jiquk

    Wow, A games console set to be released in 2012 that doesn't support Blu-ray or even DVD films. Poor show Nintendo. Poor show indeed.

    This edit will also create new pages on Giant Bomb for:

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