As per usual, Nintendo loves to be random and by the time you read this a the Wii U firmware update 4.0 will be live. This latest firmware update is making the leap from three to four which means you can expect to see some major additions or tweaks to the core operation system.
The big new feature is the ability to display Wii mode on the GamePad meaning all your Wii games in addition to your old Virtual Console downloads now support off-screen play to an extent. You won’t be able to play them directly via the GamePad so you’ll have to set that up somewhere on a table and bust out your Wii remotes, classics controllers Wii wheels and so forth.
I decided to test this new feature to see how it works and I’m happy to report it works fine with no signs of lag. You can play Super Mario Galaxy whilst the girlfriend watches X-Factor which is a major life saver. Don’t forget, the little camera on your GamePad acts as a sensor bar so you can setup the GamePad anywhere in the room.
New Features:
- A feature to output video and sound to the Wii U GamePad when using Wii Mode.
- Users can choose to output to the TV and GamePad, or just the TV.
- A feature to automatically receive recommended software and demo titles from Nintendo using SpotPass.
- Support for USB keyboards.
- An option to disable use of a Nintendo Network ID on non-Nintendo hardware, such as PCs and smartphones.
- Support for Dolby® Pro Logic® II Surround Sound when playing Wii software.
Changes to Wii U Menu:
- Added a friend list icon to the Wii U Menu for easier access to the Friend List.
Changes to System Settings:
- An option to automatically receive recommended software is now available under “Internet”.
- A setting to select which cable outputs sound is available through “TV”.
- Users can choose to output sound through an HDMI cable, non-HDMI cable, or both cables at the same time. Click here for instructions.
- A setting to adjust the hourly interval in which standby functions are performed is available under “Power Settings” when Standby Functions are enabled.
Changes to Wii U Chat:
- Added the option to view a friend’s profile on Miiverse when sending or receiving a chat request.
- Users can now chat using a headset connected to the Wii U GamePad.
Changes to Internet Browser:
- Pressing the R or L Buttons on the Wii U GamePad will skip video playback forward/back a small amount of time.
- Holding the R Button will speed up video playback.
- Ability to save username and passwords for websites that require login.
- Ability to launch the Internet Browser during gameplay and upload screenshots.
- Added support for viewing PDF files.
- Added features intended for website developers that allow the user to enable developer tools and set user agent.
Improvements to system stability and usability:
Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience
- Wii software displayed on the Wii U GamePad cannot be controlled by the GamePad. This feature only allows Wii software to be displayed on the GamePad. A Wii Remote Plus or Wii Remote is required to play Wii software titles.
- Users can delete saved usernames and passwords from the Internet Browser settings.
- Sometimes data may not be displayed correctly depending on the size and format of the PDF file. PDF files cannot be saved.
