The latest Wii U firmware update is a minor one. According to Nintendo’s update page, the update only makes “further improvements to overall system stability and software compatibility.”

The update follows the massive spring update from last month, which added standby downloads, booting in Wii Mode and data transfer improvements.

Source: Nintendo.com

A demo for Banpresto and Monolith Soft’s Namco/Capcom/SEGA 3DS crossover RPG is coming to Europe’s eShop this Thursday.

Despite the game coming out in North America sooner than in Europe, 3DS owners stateside won’t be getting the demo just yet. According to a Namco Bandai representative speaking to Siliconera, “We will not be releasing the demo here this week. Once I have a solid date for the North American release, I’ll be happy to share that with you.”

Project X Zone comes out in North America on June 25 and in Europe on July 5.

Source: Siliconera

WayForward’s Game Boy Color classic Shantae is coming to the 3DS eShop on June 20.

Unlike the original, which only launched in North America, the Virtual Console release will also come to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Source: WayForward

In the Iwata Asks for Game & Wario, the project’s director Goro Abe revealed that the before the game became a WarioWare title, it was originally designed to be a game that came pre-installed with the Wii U.

Iwata: When development started, you didn’t aim to create what’s now completed as the final product, did you?

Abe: No, we didn’t. The original plan was that the game would come pre-installed on the Wii U console, so it wasn’t actually conceived of as being part of the WarioWare series. E3 was approaching, and we began working on something that we could present and which would be easy for people to pick up and play.

Because it wasn’t originally part of the WarioWare series, the team felt they had to hold back on using quirkier game ideas.

Abe: Well, as it would come pre-installed on the Wii U console, we didn’t want to make it overly quirky. We didn’t want something that would only appeal to a certain section of our customers. Our basic premise was that this should be a game that everyone could enjoy. The WarioWare team have always had free reign to come up with all kinds of zany ideas, but we now found that we had to restrain ourselves…

Iwata: So you knew that you had to apply the mental brakes, so to speak.

Abe: That’s right. As this was to be a pre-installed game, our overriding priority was to demonstrate the features of the system in the clearest, most elegant way.

Abe: We’d come up with the prototype for ‘PIRATES’, and we were really pleased with the results. But we felt that we had already come up with too many ideas for a game that was going to be pre-installed.

Sonic’s Wii U/3DS outing is dated for fall 2013, according to SEGA of Japan’s official facebook page.

Rough translation of the company’s message:

“Sonic The latest series of [Pick Up SEGA] long-awaited announcement at last!

At last!
The latest of “Sonic” series – I was presented

As for the name ”
Sonic Lost World “!
♪ It is expected to release in the fall of 2013 in two models of Nintendo 3DS/Wii U

Although you can not tell only about this just yet …
Please look forward to the follow-up to be worried about ☆”

SEGA hasn’t stated whether the date is just for the Japanese release. Until one is announced, it is assumed that it only applies to Japan.

Source: facebook

Sparing me from having to use more movie sequel titles are some new games this week and even a couple of unconventional Friday releases: Sniper Elite V2 for the Wii U and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D on the 3DS.

But looking ahead, prepare for “TWIG 2: Back in the Habit (of Not Releasing Anything).”

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During yesterday’s Nintendo Direct, company president Satoru Iwata announced that they would be partnering with SEGA to bring new Sonic games to Nintendo systems.

According to a press release sent out by SEGA, the partnership is a three-game deal.

“Sonic the Hedgehog has performed incredibly well on Nintendo platforms and this exclusive partnership is a natural fit for the next evolution of Sonic games” commented Jurgen Post COO SEGA Europe Ltd.  “The Wii U and Nintendo 3DS are ideal platforms to showcase Sonic and we are looking forward to working with Nintendo on these three exciting adventures.”

Kotaku got ahold of a SEGA representative who says that the game announced during the Nintendo Direct stream – a new Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games and Sonic: Lost World — make up for two of the games in the deal.

Rumors are buzzing that the third game may be a possible Mario Kart/Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing crossover after Steve Lycett, executive producer at All-Stars Racing developer Sumo Digital, posted a series of messages on Twitter.

Having a beer, thinking of how we’d follow All-Stars Transformed…

— Steve Lycett (@S0LSUM0) April 26, 2013

@imranzomg the thought had crossed my mind ;)

— Steve Lycett (@S0LSUM0) April 26, 2013

Source: SEGA Blog, Kotaku

A representative for EA has revealed that the company has decided to not release FIFA Soccer 14 on the Wii U, citing “disappointing” sales of FIFA Soccer 13.

“Six months ago FIFA 13 was a launch title on Wii U,” the representative told Eurogamer. “Although the game featured FIFA’s award-winning HD gameplay and innovative new ways to play, the commercial results were disappointing. We have decided not to develop FIFA 14 on Wii U.”

The decision comes not long after the company announced they would not be bringing the 25th anniversary release of Madden NFL to the Wii U for similar reasons.

Despite EA stating that they have a “strong partnership” with Nintendo, the company currently has zero titles in development for the Wii U.

Source: Eurogamer [via Polygon]

#IwataSays We will discuss new Smash Bros., 3D Mario game, Mario Kart and other Wii U titles in our #NintendoDirectNA before the start of E3

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 17, 2013

After today’s Nintendo Direct, some of you may be asking, “Where’s Smash Bros./Mario Kart/that new 3D Mario game?”

Well, Nintendo hasn’t forgotten, but rather than talk about them now, the company has decided to wait until the pre-E3 Nintendo Direct to go into details.

Source: @NintendoAmerica