Wii Speak being phased out

In late 2008, Nintendo released Wii Speak, a microphone accessory for its Wii console. The peripheral allows for speaker-phone-style voice chat with an entire room, versus the headset-based chat used by other consoles. The device also has its own dedicated channel on the console, letting users chat with one another via their Mii avatars.

However, it appears that the Wii Speak's days are now numbered. Nintendo has confirmed that the peripheral is being phased out and is now available only "at limited retail locations." The company did leave the door open for the add-on, saying "additional shipments can be made if consumer demand increases."

In the meantime, the company suggested consumers also use Performance Designed Products' Headbanger Headset to use voice chat on the Wii. The company said that peripheral will continue to be available for the Wii and will work with such games as Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops and Sega's Conduit 2.

As for the Wii Speak Channel, Nintendo was tight-lipped. "We have nothing to announce regarding the future of this channel, and it currently is being enjoyed by many gamers," a spokesperson said.