Wii U karaoke download game coming this year

No family console is complete without a karaoke game.

And while Wii U already has Sing Party, released back in January, Nintendo has announced a new digital offering for any aspiring popstars.

Wii Karaoke U by Joysound will be made available via the Nintendo eShop as a free download. Players will then be required to purchase tickets that let them use the game for one hour, 24 hours or 30 days.

Users browse the catalogue and create playlists with the Wii U GamePad, which also doubles as a microphone. The previously released Wii U microphone and other compatible USB microphones will also work.

Wii Karaoke U follows on from Karaoke Joysound Wii, a Japan-only game that was released both at retail and via WiiWare by Hudson Soft. It featured the Joysound online song library of Xing, a Japanese karaoke firm.