YouTube and Crunchyroll Ending Support on Wii U: Another Step Toward Platform's Sunset

Nintendo’s Wii U is approaching its final days as a platform for streaming apps, with both YouTube and Crunchyroll set to end support later in 2022.

This development marks yet another chapter in the gradual sunsetting of Nintendo’s eighth-generation console, which originally launched in November 2012.

The discontinuation underscores the Wii U’s transition out of active service, following its commercial sunset and the previously announced closure date for its eShop. According to communications from Crunchyroll and official statements from Google, the Crunchyroll app on Wii U will be discontinued starting August 29, 2022.

This aligns with notifications sent to users recently, informing them of the impending end of service.

Meanwhile, Google has confirmed that support for the YouTube app on Wii U will continue a bit longer, officially ending in October 2022.

Both companies have encouraged Wii U users to transition to updated platforms to continue accessing their content. The Wii U, once a novel step for Nintendo in the home console market, is rapidly approaching the final phases of its lifecycle.

Major support milestones include Nintendo’s announcement that the Wii U and 3DS eShops will close on March 28, 2023, resulting in the end of new software and content purchases for both platforms.

Furthermore, credit card funding for eShop accounts has already been disabled, signaling to loyal users and collectors alike that it’s time to finalize any last digital purchases. While the move may not come as a shock—given the Wii U’s limited market share compared to its successor, the Nintendo Switch—it is nevertheless significant for dedicated users.

Notably, Crunchyroll’s Wii U application was once favored for its ad-free experience, a unique draw for anime fans on the system.

Thankfully, both YouTube and Crunchyroll remain available on the Nintendo Switch, ensuring continuity for viewers who have migrated to Nintendo’s current flagship console. These changes serve as a clear indicator of the Wii U’s impending retirement from the active Nintendo ecosystem, and another milestone as the company shifts support to its latest hardware and digital storefronts.

The Wii U’s legacy as a transitional system in Nintendo’s hardware history remains, and as support for key streaming apps concludes, users are encouraged to prepare for the complete closure of Wii U services in the coming months.

Nintendo Wii Wii U YouTube Crunchyroll Nintendo Wii Nintendo Wii U