Nintendo Wii To Add Netflix Streaming Video – A New HD Wii Is Coming Next Year
Though the Nintendo Wii may be the most popular gaming console of them all, the console is now powerful enough to stream video in HD. So when Netflix and Nintendo joined forces to allow video streaming from a $9 a month Netflix account, the Nintento Wii shows its age. The Wii is not powerful enough to handle streaming in HD, so a new console box is in the works for next year.
One news article further stated:
Wii owners will need to receive a free software disc in the mail from Netflix and put it into their console when they want to watch a movie, as on the PS3.
The Wii, unlike the PS3 and Xbox, is not powerful enough to display high-definition streaming video. Some analysts and industry observers expect Nintendo to announce a new Wii HD version of its console next year.
Though it is now more than three years old, the original Wii continues to charm casual gamers with its unique style of game play, which involves physical gestures. Nintendo said it sold three million units in the United States alone over the holidays, outselling both of its rivals, and has sold a total of 26 million in this country.
Once the free disks become available from Netflix, I’ll take the Wii for a spin to see how well it works with streaming video. But I believe Nintendo must come up with not only a Wii that supports HD, but also a unit that supports a wireless connection.
Comments welcome.
6 Comments
Danny Minick
January 13th, 2010
at 12:10pm
Wireless connection? The Wii already has that.
Ben
January 13th, 2010
at 12:14pm
The Wii already has Wi-Fi connectivity.
andrecp
January 13th, 2010
at 12:15pm
“unit that supports a wireless connection.” wii already supports wireless connection…
Ron Schenone
January 13th, 2010
at 2:46pm
Thanks everyone for the correction. My error.
Ryan
January 13th, 2010
at 7:55pm
I think the Wii will do better than the XBOX 360 anyway, due to the 360’s non-existent wifi, you either have to be within ethernet cable range of your router or buy a $100 wifi adapter that costs them about $3 to make.
There’s also more Wiis out there than either competing console, and people are generally happier with them despite the lack of HD due to better games and 1/10th the breakdown rate of 360.
I think the numbers will be higher on the Wii even if the percentage of owners that subscribe is not.
I’m planning on getting it anyway.
(And I sold my XBOX 360 last week after the 9th console came back from repairs for Red Ring of Death.
You might have a whole month of downtime over the year od Netflix on XBOX 360 just because you can’t use it while it’s at the refurbishment center.
Tyson
January 14th, 2010
at 12:23pm
Why does Wii have to be in HD to support NetFlix download, even on Verizon Fios with an XBOX 360 I am not getting a HD stream from NetFlix.