WiiWare facts for kids
WiiWare was a special online shop for your Wii console. It let you download new video games right to your Wii using something called Wii Points. Think of it like an app store just for your Wii!
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| Developer | Nintendo |
|---|---|
| Type | Online market |
| Launch date | Wii March 25, 2008 Wii U November 18, 2012 |
| Discontinued | January 30, 2019 |
| Platform(s) | Wii, Wii U |
| Status | Discontinued |
WiiWare was created by Nintendo and was a big deal because it allowed smaller game makers, often called "indie developers," to release their games. These games were usually shorter and very creative, offering unique experiences you might not find in bigger, store-bought games.
How WiiWare Worked
To get games from WiiWare, you needed Wii Points. You could buy these points with real money, and then use them like digital currency in the WiiWare shop. Once you bought a game, it would download directly to your Wii console. This made it easy to try out new and different games without needing to buy a physical disc.
History and Release
WiiWare first launched in Japan on March 25, 2008. Soon after, it came to North America on May 12, 2008. Players in Europe and Australia could access WiiWare starting May 19, 2008. It was a new way for people to discover games and for developers to share their creations.
End of Service
After many years, Nintendo decided to stop the WiiWare service. You could no longer buy new Wii Points for the Wii Shop Channel, which included WiiWare, after March 26, 2018. The ability to redownload games you already owned ended on January 30, 2019. This meant that WiiWare, like many older online services, eventually closed down.
See also
In Spanish: WiiWare para niños
