Nintendo says no DVD-playing Wii for Japan this year

It's been a while since we heard anything about the DVD-playing Wii NIntendo had promised for Japan this year, and it now looks like that may have been for good reason, as the company has just let out word that the upgraded system won't make it out in 2007 after all. That bit of informations comes from a quiet update to the Q&A section of Nintendo's Japanese website, which cites the need to maintain production of the current model as one of the reasons for the delay (as well as "higher than expected" DVD licensing fees). As IGN points out, however, Nintendo's response doesn't say that the system has been canceled, which seems to suggest that the DVD-playin' system should be making its way out the door out sooner or later -- in Japan, at least.

[Via IGN]

[Victor @ Nov 8th 2007 12:44PM]

When a decent DVD player is only 30-50 dollars, does it really matter?

[m-p{3} @ Nov 8th 2007 12:50PM]

If it's possible to have only one device that does everything under my TV, I wouldn't mind a WiiVD player. (I know, it sounds cheesy)

[JohnTitor @ Nov 8th 2007 1:24PM]

do you know how hot it would be to use a Wii Remote for DVDs?
more like PC-Mouse wise drag fast forwarding or clicked chapter selection
but it's even cooler pointing to a screen

[pixelator @ Nov 8th 2007 11:07PM]

Yeah, it makes you wonder why Nintendo didn't include that '10 year old' '$30.00' DVD player in the Wii, doesn't it?

Cue Nintendo fanatics tearing my head off for daring second guess the Holy N.

[Andreas @ Nov 8th 2007 1:21PM]

I think it's reasonable to assume that it would be technically possible to purchase a DVD software on the Wii Shop, that plays DVD's on the Wii. This would be the most consumer friendly way to make ANY Wii play DVD. This way it'd be totally up to the consumer to pay the DVD licensing fee, and it would perhaps make for the world's first legal multi-region approach. I mean, just buy all the regions you're interested in. It's just sad to see that Nintendo are unwilling to go that way.

[Arc|Angel @ Nov 8th 2007 11:51PM]

Agreed. Come on Nintendo. We already know our current generation Wii will play DVD's so just pass the licensing buck. If I can buy a DVD player for $20 at the store how much could it possibly cost for just the license?

[prateeko @ Nov 8th 2007 1:26PM]

I cannot believe this is even an issue. I mean, is Nintendo really hung up on providing a decade old feature on it's consoles? You have GOT to be kidding me. If the debate centered on Blu-ray or HD-DVD then I could understand, but really, the DVD? Even my toaster plays those.

[xucaen @ Nov 8th 2007 3:13PM]

Wow, which model toaster is that?

[fistpittingnork @ Nov 8th 2007 3:21PM]

xucaen

One so advanced it doesn't even make toast anymore.

[Chuckles McGee @ Nov 8th 2007 4:20PM]

xucaen

It's more of an optical bread-writing unit than a real toaster.

[Chuckles McGee @ Nov 8th 2007 4:20PM]

xucaen

It's more of an optical bread-writing unit than a real toaster.

[Alexander @ Nov 8th 2007 4:47PM]

You realize that one of the main features of the Wii is the ability to play two-decade old videogames, right?

[Mac Lender @ Nov 8th 2007 2:03PM]

Does the current Wii even have a DVD drive? or is it currently CD?

[pikkoz @ Nov 8th 2007 2:08PM]

Awww c'mon Nintendo, just let us to buy a firmware upgrade/ dvd player sw on your Wii Shop for..5-10$? look ...you'll even make money with this because i don't think licensing fees would be that pricey and with this move you kill two bird with a stone, you make us happy when you still rip off us.

[Jason @ Nov 8th 2007 2:20PM]

Apparently, the Wii canno handle MPEG2 decoding..

[stitifier @ Nov 8th 2007 2:29PM]

Nintendo, I'm okay without a DVD player for my Wii as long as you start giving me some quality games-- like, say, some real RPGs besides Zelda, some real FPSs besides Metroid, some real action platformers besides Mario. I wouldn't be able to care less about DVD playback if I was able to use my Wii to, you know, actually play games I like with it. Otherwise, since right now it's sitting there waiting for Super Smash Bros. Brawl to come out, my Wii is kinda useless, and maybe that DVD playback would be nice.

[Aztec @ Nov 8th 2007 2:39PM]

I'm just getting Toshiba's Nintendo Wii HD-DVD add-on.

[OpenSource @ Nov 8th 2007 3:35PM]

And this is why people should fight for open software, rather than just put up with patented dvd decoding software.

[Chuckles McGee @ Nov 8th 2007 4:28PM]

Oh god forbid, only Zelda, Mario and Metroid. Nintendo is certainly depriving you of quality games!

[Ricardo @ Nov 8th 2007 5:05PM]

Why not just release the DVD player as a Wiiware add-on, so whoever wants it can pay and be happy? Yes, it can play DVD, basically anything with a processor these days can play DVD. My cellphone could play DVD if it had a slot for it. The biggest proof is that there are third-party DVD players for Wii, but they require swapping disks and modchips.

[Jeff Foster @ Nov 8th 2007 7:54PM]

I could hardly care less.

I'm just wondering when the hell my Denon DVD player will be able to play Wii games. :P

I already have a nice DVD/DVDA/SACD/CD player that upscales and hooks up through HDMI... do i really need my Wii to play DVDs? no.

Besides, half-step convergence is meaningless to me. unless a device is going to do EVERYTHING, and do it well, (IE: play HD DVD, BluRay, DVD, DVDA, SACD, CD, stream from my iTunes, plays Youtube, Joost, is an HD DVR, and makes a sandwich for me after my backrub...) then i really don't need yet another mediocre DVD player.

My Wii does what it was designed to do, which is play games. My DVD player, my AppleTV, an HDDVR, those things do what they do best. I don't need my AppleTV to play games, I don't need my DVD player to stream from iTunes, and i certainly don't need my gaming machine playing DVDs.

[pikkoz @ Nov 12th 2007 7:58AM]

Awww c'mon Nintendo, just let us to buy a firmware upgrade/ dvd player sw on your Wii Shop for..5-10$? look ...you'll even make money with this because i don't think licensing fees would be that pricey and with this move you kill two bird with a stone, you make us happy when you still rip off us.