It's about damn time, no?

As far as many folks are concerned, online multiplayer gaming might as well not exist on the Wii, since its needlessly convoluted Friend Code system -- designed with the intent to keep kids safe from the perils of Internet denizens -- makes life so much more difficult than the username-based setup on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Apparently, Nintendo has heard the hardcore's cries, and for the Wii U, is replacing Friend Codes with system that supports one specific username for each person, instead of a sixteen-digit numeric sequence for each console and a separate twelve-digit number for each game.

The news comes from a demo of the Wii U version of Ghost Recon Online that Ubisoft gave to MTV Multiplayer, who pressed producer Adrian Blunt for multiplayer details. "Rather than a machine having an account, each individual user has an account," he explained, saying that the system is "exactly" equivalent to, say, Gamertags on Xbox Live. Blunt also said that the Wii U offers "a much easier way" to connect players than Friend Codes. But he didn't confirm whether the Wii U also features a console-wide system resembling Achievements/Trophies, saying, "I... can't answer that at the moment."

I'll take that for now, though. The Wii U's online infrastructure remains a major question mark standing in the way of the console's adoption among core gamers, so this is certainly very encouraging news.

Wii U Ditching Friend Codes For Unified Gamertag, Friends List [MTV Multiplayer]

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

TysonOfTime

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...
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YES! GOD YES! THIS!!!

If it has a good online than I will buy it first day hands down.

No, Scratch that. I'll break into Nintendo headquarters and get it the day before.

IT'S THAT DAMN SERIOUS.

Wolfy-Boey

Praise da lawd!

Namodacranks

Yessss!!!!! :D

Namodacranks

Now the 3DS!! Make it happen, Nintendo!!

Aaron Mxy Yost

Welcome to 2002, Nintendo!

akumasaint

THERE IS A GOD!

unreeler

thank god.

Gorescream

SayWord

I will be getting this forsure but only for the exclusives.

Mr Andy Dixon

Headline should have read, "Nintendo enters 21st Century".

Very nice!

Scissors

Now I need to think of two random words and numbers to add to the end to create my username

TortillaFetish89
WetLemon917
AbductedBaby59

Epic-Kx

Praaaaise Jeeesush

GoofierBrute

Thank you Nintendo, you have made me a happy man!

....took you long enough.

killias2

Mhmmm, tortilla fetish.

Faux Furry

Everybody remember not to add anyone with Lulz in their screen name to your friend's list unless you want the lulz to be had on you.

dtomek

I'm actually intrigued by this console.

SWE3tMadness

Hey never saw this announcement coming. Sounds great though.

Operative20

Thank goodness.

therealrider

about frickin time

CelicaCrazed

LUUUUUUUUUU!! *looks away from hockey game* Awesome!! WOOOOOOOO!!

PlanetPanton

falsenipple

This is great news.

llort het

It's finally happening. Nintendo might finally freaking be taking online seriously. it's been decades, but it could happen.

Dbpogas251

im like 4ft 6.

Corduroy Turtle

Bad news: You only get 8 characters.



NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

LReiviN

welcome to 2005!

If Wii U doesn't have No More Heroes 3 I'll stick with the other current gen machines.

No more heroes and monster hunter decides wich console i will buy, not me.

Nelson Gutierrez Martinez

IM SO HARD AT THIS RIGHT NOW
WAY TO GO NINTENDO

UltorOscariot

Welcome to 10 years ago, Nintendo!

Master Snake

WHAT?! NO FRIEND CODES?!

*Catches the Holy Ghost*

FPS Baby Jesus

Only Nintendo can make ppl cum in their pants over a feature that was around last console generation. That code shit was stupid as hell. Maybe they will get online right this time.

Onyx Leo

That made me lol Master Snake, thank you...

Seph N

MY GOD!?

Their learning, quick someone stop them, next thing you know they will announce a pokemon MMO

Alex Celeski

Look at the bodies of those Mii's! looks like if you don't play as a Mii you can play as Wario and Waluigi. Yes!

slbr

BETTER LATE THEN NEVER.
CONGRATULATIONS NINTENDO, YOU DIDN'T TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS DUKE NUKEM FOREVER.

pedrovay2003

God, finally. :P

nekobun

It is about damn time Nintendo's online approach made any goddamn sense. Next you're going to tell me they're implementing an achievement system and that gameplay won't lag like a sumbitch.

Skyy

@Master Snake LMAO

Gorescream

@Seph N

Called it

Mr No

Isn't that just goddamned revolutionary.

TheNephilym

WiiUMarryMii?

PlanetPanton

@Mr No, LMAO I love that comment XD

Also, tight avatar!

DuckedUpOnQuack

Nintendo is playing catch-up, to be sure, but I can't help but feel they'll exceed their competitors when the console is released. The build-up to Wii U's release will be intriguing to watch unfold.

Butternine

Good to hear!

Welcome to the party, Nintendo. :)

CombustingFetus

I'm fairly certain this isn't true.

PhunkyPhazon

Thank. God. They're actually TRYING to make a decent online platform.

Excel-2011

They shoulda said that yesterday. Maybe then their stocks wouldn't have taken such a dive. But what about 3DS codes?

It always amazes me how people get excited about things they finally get after having it withheld from them for an extended period of time.

Namodacranks

They should call this console the Nintendo Revolution.

TheNephilym

@Excel-2011

Lol. Good point. I can't wait to see the fan fare that comes with PS3 finally getting cross game chat after all these years. Sony fanboy heads will explode.

KingSigy

I don't give two shits if achievements come into play. I like a user name, though.

Gee-Man

Seriously, why the hell didn't they mention this yesterday? All the best news I've heard about the Wii U so far have been AFTER the presentation. It's as if Nintendo loves to falsely disappoint people. Next you'll hear that Xenoblade and The Last Story got licensed this whole time and that they just forgot to mention it.

(Please let that last sentence turn out to be true)