Wii U Gets Unexpected Update ... In 2019

The Wii U has been a dormant part of the Nintendo hardware lineup, in favor of the newer and much more successful Nintendo Switch. But it isn't entirely dead and gone yet, as the company still issues occasional firmware updates. Like one this week, in the year 2019.

The Nintendo Support site doesn't list the update yet, but Nintendo Everything reports that the firmware update brings the system up to version 5.5.4. The update doesn't mention what exactly it does, but it likely adds "improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience." That has been the trend for Wii U updates since the last major feature addition in 2014. The last system update came in September 2018.

It's unsurprising that Nintendo hasn't paid much attention to the Wii U since the Nintendo Switch launched. Two years into the Switch, the newer system has already almost tripled the hardware sales of the Wii U, and nearly doubled its software sales. Nintendo has made a habit of re-releasing overlooked Wii U games on the Nintendo Switch, like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

Third parties have moved on as well. Though curiously, the still-massive 100-million install base for the Wii means it still gets some attention where the Wii U doesn't. Ubisoft's Just Dance 2020, for example, is slated for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Wii.