Wii U

The Nintendo Wii U, unveiled in 2012 as the successor to the original Wii, set itself apart with the innovative Wii U GamePad—a tablet‑like controller featuring a 6.2‑inch touchscreen, motion controls, and a built‑in speaker that could display the main game screen independently or act as a secondary display for companion content. It kept the Wii’s motion‑based gameplay while adding HD graphics (up to 1080p), a more powerful IBM “Espresso” CPU, and support for online services like the Nintendo eShop, Miiverse social networking, and downloadable titles. Though its library boasted strong first‑party franchises—Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and Splatoon—the console struggled commercially due to a high price, limited third‑party support, and confusion over the GamePad’s purpose, ultimately selling fewer units than its predecessor and paving the way for the Switch.