In the olden days of home videogames, fixing a Nintendo problem reading discs meant blowing into the cartridge and plugging it back into the NES. How times have changed. Now if you have a Wii U problem reading discs, that’s probably the least of your worries. That’s the finding of a new study by Fixya, which explains the top 5 Nintendo Wii U problems and technical issues — and how to fix three of them.
Nintendo’s Wii U is a year older than Sony’s PS4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One, giving the company an additional year to iron out bugs. This becomes a particularly sticky subject when you consider that some gamers would say the Wii U is less complex than the two newer next-gen consoles, thus making it seemingly simpler to run.
But the top 5 Wii U problems as reported by Fixya indicate just how complex Nintendo’s newest home console actually is. With a 12-month head start on Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo could have established a strong base of Wii U owners from gamers who didn’t want to wait for the PS4 or Xbox One. Those sales never materialized, and while we won’t fully speculate as to why in this article, one reason could be the new GamePad controller.
Built like a tablet, the Wii U GamePad is a clever device. But with “clever” comes “complexity,” and in fact, issues with the GamePad itself is one of the top 5 Wii U problems reported by Fixya users. It’s not the top reason, however. That dubious distinction belongs to the dreaded “Wii U freezing” complaint.
According to Fixya’s survey, 35% of polled consumers reported Wii U problems with freezing. That held a narrow lead over GamePad problems, which were reported by 30% of Wii U owners polled by Fixya. From there the Wii U problems dropped notably in number, with Internet Connection (15%), Audio/Video (10%) and “Other” (10%) rounding out the list of top five Nintendo Wii U problems.
One school of thought is to say the problems are isolated two just two areas, indicating a well-built home console. The other school of thought is that the Wii U’s primary differentiator, the GamePad, is causing one of Wii U owners’ biggest hassles, which is never good for a unique selling proposition. Likewise, “freezing” is a misunderstood, almost inexplicable but always frustrating problem. To have such an irksome technical issue listed as the top Wii U problem isn’t a good sign.
Fortunately, Fixya accompanied its Top 5 list with fixes for three of the top issues. Here’s their recap:
“Freezing – Reports of the Wii U freezing have been common since its launch in 2012, and while it appears Nintendo has addressed some of these issues over the course of the last year, there remains a segment of users who are having difficulties with their console freezing on them while in the course of using the system. Issues with devices freezing is not a brand new problem in the field of electronics, but the depth of queries on Fixya with this issue makes it one of the more concerning issues for Nintendo and their ability to compete directly with Sony and Microsoft’s consoles.”
If calling Nintendo customer service isn’t your thing, Fixya offered-up the following four ideas for how to fix the Wii U freezing problem:
- Download any patches and updates for your Wii U by booting up your system, going into your system settings, and choosing the option to update your system.
- One of the associated issues with a console freezing is that the Wii U has become “bricked” (i.e. unable to be used anymore). After your device freezes, wait a few minutes before restarting it. If the console does not boot up properly after waiting a few minutes before restarting, immediately contact Nintendo customer service as your console may need to be replaced.
- Reset your Nintendo Wii U by turning off the console for two minutes, unplugging all of the cords associated with the device, and then plugging it back in.
- Make sure your Wii U is not overheating in any way. In order to reduce, put your system in a more open area with proper ventilation, place a fan next to the system in order to reduce heat, and ensure that the internal fan is running properly. If your console is overheating, make sure to let it rest for at least two hours before trying to boot it up again.
Number 2 on the Top 5 Nintendo Wii U problems list was the GamePad itself. According to Fixya’s report, there are a variety of issues with the Wii U GamePad, from not being able to calibrate it properly or losing its connection when playing a game, to the sensor not picking up movements or a lagging sensor when taking it through movements. In some cases, the Wii U GamePad microphone won’t recognize voice commands.
To resolve these issues, Fixya recommends the following five fixes:
- When calibrating your Gamepad ensure that is located close to the console sensor and that it is lying on a flat surface.
- Go into settings and ensure that your Gamepad’s settings are supporting what you are attempting to do with your Gamepad. If you have a third-party Gamepad there is the potential for more issues with your device working properly, so ensure your settings are updated and reflect your needs.
- Make sure that there’s not too much distance between your Gamepad and your console sensor when you are playing your games.
- Ensure that between your Gamepad and your console there are no objects that could potentially be causing issues with the sensor picking up your Gamepad’s movements.
- Download any patches and updates for your Wii U by booting up your system, going into your system settings, and choosing the option to update your system.
As for Wii U Internet connection problems, which were reported by 15% of the people polled by Fixya, the website recommends the following steps to fix issues connecting to the Internet with the Wii U:
- Reset your Nintendo Wii U by turning off the console for two minutes, unplugging all of the cords associated with the device, and then plugging it back in.
- Unplug your modem and router; leave them off for one minute, and plug them back in. After waiting for the modem and router to reconnect to the Internet, boot up your Wii U and attempt to access the Internet.
- Move your modem and router closer to where you have your Wii U set up. Oftentimes moving your modem and router into the room where your Wii U is located not only allows for internet access but will also the improve the performance of your online needs.
- Turn off your router’s firewall to ensure that any online gaming or media consumption can proceed unblocked. Oftentimes a firewall on your router will kick you out of online games against other players.
Have you encountered any of these Wii U problems? Or have you experienced one not listed above that you’d like to see Nintendo address? Let us know in the comments, and with any luck the DailyGame community will be able to help resolve your issue.