Nintendo Switch 2 remains in its infancy, making it hard to believe that the Nintendo Wii U was released more than ten years ago. The Wii U holds the distinction of being Nintendo’s least enduring console — launching in 2012 and ceasing production in 2017. By contrast, the Nintendo Switch will be celebrating nine years of existence in March 2026, and it continues to thrive. The Wii U’s operational period is almost half that of the Switch.
If you’re among the Wii U’s owners feeling let down by the limited usage of your console, there are various things you can do that don’t require accessing Nintendo’s now-obsolete exclusive online features. One option is to install custom firmware and take advantage of homebrew applications, or you could find new purposes for the hardware by utilizing it on different platforms. Regardless of the path you choose for your Wii U, your old Nintendo console still has potential — so before you toss it or give it away, think about a few alternative options.