Wii U Firmware 3.0 Update Now Live – Go Get Downloading

Nintendo’s long awaited ‘Spring’ update to the Wii U has now rolled out across the world. The update’s primary improvement is the time it takes to return to the Wii U menu after leaving a game or app. It has has been significantly improved as demonstrated by Nintendo a couple of weeks back.

However there has snuck in a couple more nice new features into this update as well including the ability to move downloaded content between different hard drives, the ability for the Wii U to automatically download software updates without needing prompting from a user, and the ability to install these updates seamlessly even while you are playing a game on the system. Games and other data can also be downloaded and installed while the system is in standby, similar to the 3DS.

You can now boot straight to Wii mode by holding down the B button on the GamePad when the system launches.

The most exciting part though is that ‘the day after’ the update Nintendo has said the Wii U Virtual Console will go live. We’ll let you know when that is exactly.

Wii U System Update Details

Version 3.0.0 U
Released: April 25, 2013

New Features:

• A standby function to download and install software while the system is powered off
• Software purchased from the Nintendo eShop will automatically install in the background once the download is complete
• Holding down the B Button while the Wii U logo is displayed during startup will load the Wii Menu*¹
• The Wii U will continue downloading and installing software even if the system is turned off.
• Disc drive no longer spins when playing downloaded games/applications.

Changes to System Settings

• An option to transfer and/or copy between two USB storage devices in “Data Management”
• The ability to select multiple software titles when transferring, copying, or deleting data in “Data Management”
• The option to adjust screen size is now available under “TV”*²
• “Auto Power-Down” has been renamed “Power Settings”

*1 User selection may be necessary.
*2 A similar option has been removed from Nintendo eShop, Miiverse, and the Internet Browser

Changes to Miiverse:

• Added support for the Wii Remote, Wii U Pro Controller, and Classic Controller
• Handwritten posts will now also display on the TV screen during creation
• “Undo” and “Redo” buttons are now available when creating a handwritten post
• Removed screen size setting. This option can now be adjusted from System Settings

Changes to Nintendo eShop:

• Software downloaded from the Nintendo eShop will include released updates and will no longer need to be updated after installation
• Removed screen size setting. This option can now be adjusted from System Settings

Changes to the Internet Browser:

• Added support for the Wii Remote and Wii U Pro Controller
• Added the option to change search engines when performing a keyword search
• Added the option to return to the start page from the bookmark menu
• Removed screen size setting. This option can now be adjusted from System Settings

Changes to Download Management:

• Added the option to change the priority of downloads

Random Bits

• Further improvements to overall system stability and other minor adjustments have been made to enhance the user experience.
• The Wii U Virtual Console will be added the day after the update.

List of updates via serplux from NeoGAF