Wii U Will Have Day One Update

"Wii U has arrived in the IGN offices. We'll break down what you can expect in the coming days and weeks (for example, expect a full unboxing tomorrow, November 7 at 10am PT), but many have asked us for our thoughts on Miiverse and the console's online experience. We can't tell you about those for one simple reason - the system needs an update to add that functionality. And so will you when the console launches in less than two weeks.", writes IGN.

[chukamachine]

I think nintendo should do a do over.

[jay2]

PMSL, so the Wii U's will ship with an incomplete, broken OS? and I thought Windows Vista was a load of poo.......

[Neonridr]

who said it was broken? How many games ship with a day one update, some even to work properly.

The fact of the matter is, Nintendo is still tweaking the OS and setup right up to launch day. The launch units are boxed and sitting in some warehouse right now ready to be shipped to the respective destinations. Are you saying Nintendo should just stop adding to the functionality of the Wii U and just leave it as it is? I have updates for my Xbox everytime I turn it on, that's nothing new. I think I had an OS update for my iPod touch when I first got it.

It's kind of normal nowadays to have to update something as soon as you get it.

[SaffronCurse]

Those are games, this is hardware we're talking about, a day 1 "Patch" for something related to hardware is quite pathetic.

[yavorsv]

Maybe there are some safety reasons behind this ? I don't think that they are not ready. This is Nintendo. They almost never patch or do things the last minute. I see this like some sort of unlocking for the system.. :)

[Venoxn4g]

@Jay2 wow, some people like you can still amaze :)

[BitbyDeath]

PS3 has encountered many day 1 game updates, i'm sure most systems do.

This appears to just be how things are now.

[rainslacker]

If they just started shipping these out last week to distributors, stores, and the press, then these things were probably boxed up 1-2 months ago. Operating systems are complex, and I'd rather they issue updates to make it work than leave it as is with a broken system. Wii U's OS seems to be pretty hefty in terms of features so it's to be expected that they'd continue to keep working on it.

Or perhaps you'd prefer they leave it as is, even with possible security issues, laggy interface issues, or leave out features that just weren't quite ready when they had to pack it up and get them ready to ship.

[AO1JMM]

Adding features on day 1 does not mean the OS is broken. You should actually read the article next time.

[RFornillos4]

there's a difference between a day-one-update, and a day-one-patch...

there are reasons why the day-one-update... one example is, they usually send out in advance consoles to reviewers; so they want to avoid pre-empting any announcement or reveals of console features such as Miiverse by these reviewers. imagine what would have happened if all features of Miiverse are included in the package, and IGN who already received the console, starts publishing everything they know about it, even before the Nintendo Direct announcement today?

[Messor]

Welcome to the age of patches and firmware updates, Nintendo.

[ShaunCameron]

The Wii had firmware updates. They just came infrequently.

[RFornillos4]

updates is not equal to patches.

[GraveLord]

Goes to show what Nintendo's priorities were with the Wii U if these essential features were just last-minute additions.

[Deku-Johnny]

The features mentioned were being worked on before the console was announced last year. They're still working on making the features better, the update is so users get the latest versions of them.

[PopRocks359]

Look at all the people who didn't bother reading the actual article.

The day one update is for Miiverse, Nintendo TVii and other such programs so that the media can't try it before Nintendo gives more information to the public.

[omarzy]

Nobody reads articles on this site. You could quote one sentence from an entire interview and people will make up a 2 year profit prediction based on that.

[FinalomegaS]

yup~
been like that for years.

[YoungPlex]

"We don't know much more about this update, only that it will add Miiverse, Wii U Chat (the system's 'real time communication' application), Nintendo TVii and the system's eShop."

YES! Real-time communication application! So, all these people looking at this from a negative prospective, should hate their PS3 and 360 (not so much 360), but nonetheless, they both have had many, many, MANY, updates that have improved the functionality of their respective OS. Microsoft planned for this more than Sony, as they were always drastically changing and adding new features lighting fast; whereas PS3 had monthly firmware updates that marginally changed things and took forever. Hopefully the Wii U's updates are fast or faster than the 360...

[1upgamer99]

My Wii Had an update day one as well...so No big deal. I doubt it will even come close to the RING OF DEATH.

[TemplarDante]

RING OF DEATH? Whats that? That sounds like a Steven Segal or Jean Claude Van Dam movie.

[1upgamer99]

LOL Microsoft, Xbox360 Ring Of Death. When 360 was released, for about the first year, you could be playing your brand new 360 and out of blue the glowing ring would turn red indicating, total system crash. The only fix was a new 360.

[TemplarDante]

Apparently, the update is for a video that plays upon the next start up of the console. Its a video of Shigeru Miyamoto reassuring you 3 optimized wii cores will suffice for next gen. Then he is joined on the screen by Mario that reaffirms this.
Would they.. lie to me? Surely not..

[Gen0ne]

Oh well, so I have to wait a little. This would be a good time to break out the directions and get amped for my new sh!t.

[nypifisel]

It's not a patch for petes sake, it adds the online features.
What's the problem? Really? Anyone fancy giving me a reason to why this is a practical problem for anyone? If you don't want to go online you wont need any of the features anyway.. Jeez, why are people so childish? *sigh*

[omarzy]

People complain about no Miiverse day one, we get Miiverse day one with this update. We get Nintendo Tvii with this update. Wii U chat etc.. It is all here in this update. Where are ppl getting this idea that the OS is broken?

[nypifisel]

They honestly gotta troll cause no one would out themselves as being that stupid.. oh wait..

[Deku-Johnny]

Some people take any chance they can to attack Nintendo.

[Schawk]

this isent a problem then, your still getting what you are promised

[Nevers0ft]

This makes total sense to me - I even expected it, it's quite a good idea if you break it down.

1. Get the base OS ready so you can drop it onto consoles during production.
2. Start production.
3. Continue working on the online features right up until release.
4. Release update on release day to enable the online stuff.

The alternative would have presumably delayed the console or given us a gimped OS. The only drawback really is if the download is huge - although it looks like the Wii U can download and install in the background so even that might not be an issue.