Can I Download Wii U Games?

You can download Wii U games directly from the Nintendo eShop, but as of March 27, 2023, it is no longer possible to make purchases in the Nintendo eShop for the Wii U system. The Nintendo eShop for Wii U has been permanently closed, but you can still redownload games and DLC that you have previously purchased, as well as download updates for games.

Related FAQs

General Information

1. Can I still download from Wii U eShop?: As of March 27, 2023, it is no longer possible to make purchases in Nintendo eShop for the Wii U system and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, but you can still redownload games and DLC that you have previously purchased.
2. Are Wii U games still downloadable?: You can still redownload games you’ve already purchased and transfer to a Wii U after January 2019, but you can’t purchase new games using any Wii points you have.
3. Can I download Wii games on the Wii U eShop?: Yes, you can download Wii games on the Wii U eShop, which utilize the backward compatibility of Wii U with Wii games.

Downloading and Storage

4. Can you put Wii U games on an SD card?: The SD card isn’t really usable for storing Wii U games, but if you hack your system, you can load games from the SD card using Loadiine.
5. How do I download Wii games to my SD card?: You can download Wii games to your SD card by accessing the Wii Shop Channel, finding a WiiWare title or Virtual Console game, selecting the desired game, and then choosing SD Card as the download location.
6. Can you download Wii U games on USB?: Yes, games and other content downloaded from Nintendo eShop on Wii U can be saved directly to a USB storage device.

Compatibility and Transfer

7. Can I download my Wii U games to Switch?: No, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games purchased through Nintendo eShop do not carry over to Nintendo Switch, as the Nintendo Switch is an all-new way to play and does not include backwards compatibility with digital or physical games designed for other systems.
8. Is it possible to download Wii games?: Yes, you can download Wii games directly from the Nintendo eShop, but you need to select the desired game and then select Download or Redownload.

Updates and Online Play

9. Do Wii U games still update?: Yes, even after March 27, 2023, it will still be possible to redownload games and DLC, receive software updates, and enjoy online play on Wii U consoles and Nintendo 3DS systems.
10. Why is my Wii U download so slow?: If your download speeds are lower than expected, contact your Internet service provider for further assistance, as wireless interference may be causing your Wii U console’s Internet connection to slow down or time out.

Homebrew and Emulation

11. What is homebrew Wii U?: Homebrew applications are custom, user-made software that hasn’t been authorized by Nintendo, which can include save editing tools, games, emulators, and more.
12. Is it illegal to emulate Wii games?: Emulators are not illegal, but ROMs downloaded from websites are considered piracy, which is illegal.
13. Is it illegal to pirate Wii games?: Yes, digital piracy is the act of downloading and or distributing copyrighted material and intellectual property without paying for it, which is an illegal act.

Troubleshooting

14. Why won’t my SD card work in my Wii?: If your SD card isn’t working, try re-inserting it into the SD card slot on the Wii console, or check if the SD card is locked or compatible with the Wii.
15. Why is my SD card not compatible with Wii?: SD Cards with a capacity higher than 2 GB and SDHC Cards with a capacity higher than 32 GB may not work with the Wii console, as the Wii has limited storage capacity.