Nintendo announced on its official website that games from the Nintendo 64 console will soon be available on the Wii U Virtual Console.
There has previously been a long silence on when Nintendo will be offering Nintendo 64 games on the Wii U Virtual Console, which previously only showcased games from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) consoles.
When the Wii U Virtual Console was launched about a year and a half ago, Nintendo said that it planned to transfer games from the company's previous consoles to the online gaming platform. Gamers that are waiting for Nintendo to upload Nintendo 64 games may not have to wait much longer.
"Check back regularly for the latest releases, including the future addition of titles from the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64 systems," stated in Nintendo's official website.
Nintendo also said that classic titles downloaded from the Nintendo eShop for the Wii U Virtual Console will have new features that will capitalize on the Wii U console's hardware, meaning that old games might get a fresh look and gameplay. Each classic will also have an official Miiverse community where users can discuss the game.
In addition to the new features, games for the Wii U Virtual Console may also use customized controller buttons. Gamers will also have the ability to save their game at any point while playing and then come back to right where they left off through Restore Points.
Wii U Virtual Console titles can be played on the Wii U GamePad controller. However, for a bigger experience, the games can be played on the user's TV.
Purchased games from the Nintendo eShop for the Wii U Virtual Console can be played right away. Wii owners that have Wii Virtual Console downloads may choose to transfer the games to their Wii U consoles for free, to be played using the special Wii Mode.
These games from the Wii Virtual Console may also be upgraded to their Wii U counterpart with a special discount, so that the game can use the improved specifications of the Wii U. Upgraded NES games from the Wii Virtual Console will cost $1.00 instead of the usual $4.99 to $5.99, while upgraded SNES games will cost $1.50 instead of $7.99 to $8.99.
There is no news yet whether Nintendo also has plans to bring games from the GameCube to the Wii U Virtual Console. Games from the Nintendo Wii can be played on the Wii U using the console's special Wii Mode.
