The Wii U is about to lose its TV guide service, Nintendo TVii, on Aug. 11, Nintendo confirmed on Friday.
Nintendo TVii was Nintendo's attempt at deepening the Wii U's presence in living rooms and legitimizing the screens on the console's gamepads. The gamepads could be used to surf channels and the service's TV guide, but Nintendo TVii just never took off.
"After almost three years of finding, watching and engaging with Nintendo TVii, we will be ending the service on August 11, 2015," said Nintendo.
The company expressed appreciation for the "engagement and excitement" experienced by gamers throughout the existence of the service.
Nintendo TVii will go dark at 12 p.m. PT on Aug. 11 and the service's icon will disappear from the Wii U's menu shortly after. Though TVii is being switched off, Nintendo reminds everyone that they can still access all of their other video apps—although it's likely little will change with regard to how Wii U owners consume media.
"Even though the interactive, second screen experience of Nintendo TVii will be winding down, you can continue to watch your favorite shows and movies through the multiple Video on Demand applications on the Wii U console," Nintendo stated.
For those stunned by the decision to shut down the seldom used service, Nintendo offered a short statement.
"Every service has a life cycle, and it is time to focus our resources on other projects," said Nintendo.
While TVii didn't validate the utility of the Wii U's controller, the gamepad's gyro sensor is turning out to be the tool of choice for players of Nintedo's latest hit. About 70 to 80 percent of Splatoon players opt to use the Wii U's gyro sensors to target the opponents in the shooter game, Splatoon co-director Tsubasa Sakaguchi revealed.
Nintendo thinks the gyro controls are the best way to play the game, Sakaguchi added.
"There are two main movements you need for a shooter," Sakaguchi said. "One is moving the body, the other is aiming where you're shooting. In that sense, we think for Splatoon the gyro gives that subtle movement and more precise actions to be able to really experience the game in a much better way."
