Nintendo Wii U to support 3D TVs, won't be a focus

Written by Matt Swider on July 06, 2011

Wii U News: Wii U will include tech to support 3D games, but don't expect Nintendo to make it a priority when its next-gen system releases in 2012.

In addition to bringing next year's Wii U console up to speed with HD graphics, Nintendo is also planning to support 3D televisions, according to a Mercury News interview with President Satoru Iwata. However, the company won't be focusing on developing 3D video games, glasses or glasses-free.

?If you are going to connect Wii U with a home TV capable of displaying 3-D images,? said Iwata, ?Technologically, yes, it is going to be possible, but that's not the area we are focusing on. When it comes to 3-D, we already have the 3DS, and each owner of the Nintendo 3DS is capable of viewing 3-D images. However, when it comes to the home console, it depends upon the availability of 3-D TV sets at home, which, unfortunately, is not expanding enough. And rather than pouring a lot of energy into that kind of area, with the Wii U we'd like to focus more on each Wii U owner being able to have an equal opportunity to enjoy it.?

Nintendo held back with both HD graphics and comprehensive online play when the original Wii launched in 2006. Six years later, the company will catch up on these standard gaming features when the Wii U launches in 2012. However, while the company is holding back on another type of ?emerging? technology, 3D gaming hasn't proven itself yet. 3D HDTVs aren't owned by enough consumers and there has been little encouragement for consumers to buy into the more expensive displays. So if Nintendo is behind the curve on this one, we don't mind.