Amazon Instant and Hulu launches on Wii U

A week after Nintendo unintentionally announced a delay to it’s TVii service for the Wii U, two major OTT giants have surprised many by launching apps for the new console.

Hulu and Amazon Instant have added their services to the Nintendo eShop, offering owners the access to tens of thousands of TV shows and films.

The Wii U, Nintendo’s next generation HD console, was released in the US last Sunday (18 November) and was expected to go without some supplementary features, such as the OTT service, until a major update in December.

Users will be able to use the 6.2-inch touch screen on the GamePad to search and browse for titles, and even playback video on the GamePad screen. The gaming giant’s latest innovative controller allows users to switch the action from the main screen to the GamePad and view films in other rooms in the house.

Dave Herman, living room product lead at Hulu, described it as “a brand new way to watch your favourite current season TV shows on the biggest screen in the house while using a fully integrated second screen experience.

“Nintendo’s Wii U offers developers like us an exciting opportunity to build an innovative second screen experience for you through the versatile Wii U GamePad controller.

“The Hulu Plus integration with the Wii U GamePad is one of my favorite features — it allows you to quickly discover more information about your favorite shows while simultaneously watching them on your big screen at home. The console’s second screen controller also enables you to take the TV viewing experience with you to another room in the house with just the click of a button.”

The Wii U will be released in Europe on 30 November. OTT services have not yet been confirmed.