The Player

The beloved Wii is coming to the end of its pioneering run, writes CIARA O'BRIEN

IT'S BEEN credited with opening up gaming to a whole new audience, but at last it seems the Nintendo Wii is ready to hang up its hat. Nintendo has confirmed that it will bring out an updated console next year, consigning the original Wii to history. It's been a successful venture for Nintendo. At the last count, it had sold more than 86 million units worldwide since its 2006 launch. It has spawned a whole market in accessories, from the Wii Fit balance board to sports equipment for the "wiimote".

But things have changed since the Wii first exploded on to the gaming scene five years ago and it's not difficult to see why Nintendo needs to move on. Sales have been falling and the once innovative games system is now looking a little dated.

In the past few years it has gone from being the only motion-enabled console to almost bottom of the pile, as Microsoft and Sony both introduced motion-sensitive controllers, Kinect and Move.

In addition, both consoles have offered more potential to gamers than the Wii, with better graphics and it seems that the Wii is suffering for it.

With the Nintendo 3DS launched last month, the way has now been cleared for the games firm to concentrate on its new console.

Nintendo was brief on the details. A playable model is to be shown at E3 in LA in June, but until then, we'll have to content ourselves with speculation. And the web has plenty of that.

High-definition seems to be a given, with IGN recently reporting that the new console would support up to 1080p. It's unlikely that 3D will be a major feature of the console; Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata told Bloomberg that 3D televisions have not yet obtained wide acceptance, and the company has been critical of the need to wear 3D glasses. If the rumours are true, we'll be seeing a touch-screen controller, following the Wii's precedent for innovative peripherals and consumers' current love of all things touch-sensitive.

But regardless of the Wii 2's features, it may be more difficult for Nintendo to make as big a splash on the market this time around, although you can be sure they will try.

The console may try to retain some of the family- friendly image of the Wii, but it will also have to work hard to win over gamers.

It also has competition in the form of smartphones, particularly Apple's iPhone and iPad devices, which have created a new category of casual gaming at a cheaper price.

Nintendo has a hard slog ahead of it, it seems.

* theplayer@irishtimes.com