If you’re experiencing disc read errors with your Wii U, Nintendo now has a lens cleaning kit in their online store for $10.

According to the product description, when used regularly, the kit should “keep your disc reader lens free of dust, dirt, or other contaminates, which can cause disc read errors.” However, they do warn that the product does not work for the Wii.

Source: Nintendo.com, Anandtech

Last week, EA spokesperson Jeff Brown’s told the press, “we have no games in development for the Wii U currently.” But at the Stifel Nicolaus 2013 Internet, Media and Communications Conference, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen spoke up to refute Brown’s statment.

According to Jorgensen, EA does have projects in development for the Wii U, but just not as many as for the PS4 or Xbox One. No titles were specifically mentioned, but with Madden and FIFA both out of the picture, it’s anyone’s guess as to what they’re working on.

Source: Polygon

The HD port of Resident Evil Revelations hits North America today and Capcom already has an update out for the game.

The update adds support for www.residentevil.net, which keeps track of your progress in the main campaign and Raid Mode. Additional features include: setting up “buddies” in-game, using accumulated points to buy items that can be transferred over to the game and keeping track of special game-related events.

As a gift for registering with the site, Capcom is giving away a free gun to use in Raid Mode. Once you’re account is set up, you can pick up another Raid Mode gun from Capcom. Just enter the code “parker” on the site. But you should hurry because the code expires tomorrow, May 22 at 10 a.m. PST.

Source: Nintendo Life

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

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