When did Wii end?
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The Nintendo Wii was discontinued on October 21, 2013, although the Wii Mini was still in production until November 13, 2017, marking the end of an era for this seventh-generation console. The discontinuation was a result of the console’s generation coming to an end and the release of its successor, the Wii U, which offered high-definition graphics and the ability to play Wii games in HDMI quality.
About the Wii Discontinuation
The Wii received positive reviews and was a commercial success, selling over 101 million units worldwide, making it Nintendo’s second-highest-selling home console. The decision to discontinue the Wii was likely due to the company’s desire to focus on its newer consoles, such as the Wii U and later the Nintendo Switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- Why did they discontinue Wii?: The Wii was discontinued because its generation had ended, and Nintendo had released its successor, the Wii U.
- Is Nintendo shutting down the Wii?: Although the Wii is no longer supported, Nintendo has not completely shut it down, and users can still play games and use some features.
- Will my Wii stop working in 2023?: No, there is no truth to the rumor that Wii consoles will self-destruct in 2023.
Wii U and Nintendo Switch
- What replaced Wii?: The Wii U replaced the Wii as Nintendo’s next-generation console, offering high-definition graphics and new features.
- Can you still use an old Wii?: Yes, users can still play games and use some features on their old Wii, although some online services may no longer be available.
- Does Wii still exist?: Although the Wii is discontinued, users can still purchase used or refurbished consoles, and Nintendo still supports some Wii features.
Online Services and Games
- When did the Wii go offline?: The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service was discontinued on May 20th, 2014, ending online play and other features for Wii and DS games.
- How much is a Wii U worth in 2023?: The Wii U price starts at $161 and averages $164 as of October 2023, with prices expected to decrease over time.
- Has Wii stopped making games?: The last Wii games were released in 2020, and Nintendo has shifted its focus to developing games for newer consoles like the Switch.
Nintendo and Gaming
- Are they discontinuing Mario?: No, Mario is not being discontinued, but Nintendo has ended sales of some Mario games and merchandise.
- Are Wii U servers still up?: Nintendo is shutting down online servers for Wii U games in early April 2024, with some exceptions like Pokémon Bank.
- Why is the Wii still expensive?: The Wii remains expensive due to its collectibility, scarcity, and the fact that some people still use it for streaming services like Netflix.
Streaming Services and Internet
- Did Wii get rid of Netflix?: Yes, Nintendo shut down video streaming services, including Netflix, for the Wii in January 2019.
- How many Wii were sold?: Over 101 million Wii consoles were sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling consoles of all time.
- When did Netflix Wii shut down?: Netflix support for the Wii ended on January 30, 2019, as Nintendo suspended all video streaming services for the console.