Nintendo’s promised Wii U spring update has arrived and aims to improve the usability and performance of the next generation console.
One of the biggest complaints about Wii U since it launched last November is the unusually long wait times between menus, applications, software and Miiverse. Nintendo has improved this sluggish performance of all transitions between interfaces with this update. You will be seeing a lot less of the “Please Wait…” icon parked on your television screen and GamePad.
The update also offers a new shortcut during boot up where users can hold down the B button on the GamePad and skip the Wii U logo screen to jump directly to the main menu.
Other improvements included in the update are as follows:
- Users can install games and applications from the Nintendo eShop in the background while other software is being used.
- When powering off during a download, Wii U will go into a standby mode, then power off when all downloads and installations are complete.
- Users can transfer and copy data between two USB storage devices in Data Management. This allows users the opportunity to upgrade or replace a current USB storage device that is connected to the Wii U Console.
- Users can control the priority of their downloads when downloading multiple items at once.
- Improved account selection when powering on the system now displays Nintendo Network IDs to clearly distinguish accounts.
- TV screen size output can now be adjusted in the System Settings.
- An Undo/Redo button was added to the Miiverse drawing input screen.
As a reminder, the Wii U firmware upgrade is absolutely free and available to download and install now.
Nintendo has also promised a second major update for Wii U later this year, most likely in the fall.
