[Answered] Can Wii U Play Wii Games or Gamecube Games?

Recently, I have collected some questions from Quora, such as can Wii U play Wii games? Can the Wii U play Gamecube games? Can Wii play Wii U games? Does the Wii play DVDs?

I have collected some answers from Quora and Nintendo. Hope these answers can help you.

Can Wii U play Wii games? YES

Why?

Because Wii U has Wii Menu which allows for backward compatibility with Wii game discs, saved game data, and purchased WiiWare and Virtual Console games on our new Wii U console.

Tip:

1. Wii games cannot be controlled with the Wii U GamePad. Use your existing Wii controllers to play.

2. Wii games will not display in HD on the Wii U console.

How?

First, transfer Wii data to Wii U. By the way, data cannot be transferred from the Wii U console to a Wii console after the process is done.

Second, you can play Wii games on Wii U console as long as you run the Wii Menu application.

Can Wii play Wii U games? NO

1. In theory speaking, Wii U is the next generation of Wii. Just like PS2 can't play PS3′s game disk.

2. In technology speaking, Wii U applied Blu-ray technology in game discs, while the Wii not.

Can the Wii U play Gamecube games? NO

I collected some answers for reference only from other people.

At first, the Wii U is completely backward compatible with GameCube games. But the Wii U can't play GameCube games.

Why? Because the Wii U is using the disc drive from the Wii (not the original Wii, but the Wii revision that eventually removed GameCube disc access on the Wii When it removed mini-dvd hardware capabilities). So, maybe your question is why Nintendo opted to continue with a modern version of the Wii disc drive for the Wii U rather than going with a decades-old disc drive to play discs that were sold decades ago, on a machine that was only owned by 20 million people, when it made more sense to just push GameCube software through downloads?