Nintendo to Shut Down Video Streaming Services on Nintendo Wii

Bad news for Nintendo Wii console owners who use the gaming system to stream their Netflix content. They’ll want to find a new way to watch their shows. The gaming company announced to all their customers who use the system, they are shutting down the Netflix app for the original Wii console come early 2019.

A post of the email customers received containing the bad news found its way to a Reddit forum. It reads,

“Unfortunately, Nintendo will suspend all video streaming services on Wii—including the Netflix Channel. We hope you’ll soon enjoy an even better Netflix experience with additional features on a supported device. Please visit netflix.com/wii for our device list.”

It’s been nearly 12 years since the Nintendo Company released the Wii console on November 19^th. Could this be the first sign fans will get to download the Netflix app on their Switch soon? The company’s newest system already made a deal with streaming service Hulu in 2017. Then YouTube launched on the console earlier in November of 2018. They have not released any details on whether they’ll announce Netflix for the Switch anytime in the near future.

Streaming service Netflix posted the announcement on their website as well with a short statement reading,

“Wii is no longer supported- including the Netflix Channel – after January 30, 2019.”

The site goes on to list the rest of the devices and consoles available to consumers to watch streaming services on. For the next few months, the handheld Nintendo 3DS and the Wii are the only two Nintendo game consoles Netflix is available on.

Those who own a Nintendo Wii have until the end of next January to enjoy streaming Netflix content on their system. Come January 31st, they’ll have to find a new way to stream Netflix movies and television shows from the Wii to their screen.

Scott Roepel

Scott’s been gaming since he could hold a controller in his hands. He’s a journalist who loves Dungeons and Dragons, video games, tabletop RPGs, and comic books. He has an intelligence of 6, he knows what he’s doing.