Retro game catalogue Virtual Console coming to Wii U

Nintendo plans to introduce a massive catalogue of retro game downloads to the Wii U, starting with a special offer on cheap classic titles.

The spring software update for the Wii U will add Virtual Console software to Nintendo eShop, with a selection of NES and Super NES games, with GBA games added later.

It won’t launch with the full catalogue found on Wii’s Virtual Console – Nintendo is porting these games over in batches, but adding on GamePad functionality to make them work better with Wii U.

The prices for NES and Super NES Virtual Console games for Wii U will be the same as they were for the Virtual Console on Wii.

But users who own games from the Wii catalogue will have to, perhaps controversially, pay more to access the Wii U version and its added function (although they can transfer the old Wii purchases over and play them, just without the bells and whistles).

If you have already purchased the Wii version of a certain NES or Super NES Virtual Console game and transferred it to your Wii U the enhanced Wii U version of the same game for the reduced price of 0.99 for NES games and 1.49 for Super NES games.