Nintendo has many issues with the Wii U right now. It's only sold four million consoles in a whole year and its competitors are out for less than a month and are already halfway to that point. It's got the same issues with attach rate and third-party titles as every Nintendo console before it, where it seems that people who buy it aren't buying anything but Nintendo games. And another issue is attributeable to the Wii U Gamepad, whose battery life stands at around three and a half hours, leaving gamers forced to charge it up all the time in the middle of gameplay. Fortunately they at least have a fix for that last problem- a new high-capacity battery.
The battery has popped up in Nintendo's store with no fanfare and will run you $32.00 plus shipping. It comes with a screwdriver to open the back of the Wii U Gamepad and instructions on how to do it. This new battery has a capacity of 2550mAh (vs the original's 1,500mAh) and will last a whole eight hours, a nice step up from the original battery.
Now, if only they could do something to entice gamers to pick up the system. The new Zelda and Mario console bundles are certainly enticing, as is the new lower price point of $299 with a game packed in. Super Mario World 3D is undeniably one of the games of the year, exactly the kind of game Nintendo didn't have last year when it so desperately needed a system seller. But is it too late for them to catch up to the Xbox One and PS4 juggernauts? Time will tell, but even as Sony says you can't count them out just yet.
So for those of you already hooked on the system and reuniting with all of your old Nintendo friends you can pick up the new battery at the Nintendo Store here. Check the specs below.
"This battery offers up to 8 hours of use and can be easily installed using a screwdriver and included instructions.
Battery Capacity: 2550mAh / 9.2 Wh (offers up to 8 hours of use, compared to 3-5 hours with standard Wii U GamePad Battery) Battery Voltage: 3.6V
Please note: Battery duration is an approximation. It can vary according to the use of the Wii U GamePad, usage of wireless communications, the ambient temperature, and the brightness setting of the screen."