Wii U 50% More Powerful Than PlayStation 3

Nintendo’s next generation console, the Wii U, will be making the jump into the HD era of gaming in a big way come 2012. Just revealed at E3 2011, the console came under some question regarding the power its packing behind its sleek exterior, and flashy control scheme.

Nintendo's next generation console, the Wii U, will be making the jump into the HD era of gaming in a big way come 2012. Just revealed at E3 2011, the console came under some question regarding the power its packing behind its sleek exterior, and flashy control scheme. The console will definitely be supporting 1080p resolution, much like current generation machines, but Nintendo did little to explain any of the other technical specifications behind the Wii U.

Rumor had it that the console would be slightly more powerful than current generation consoles, Xbox 360 and PS3. Recent comments from an industry analyst who spoke with developers working on the console, claim that "slightly more powerful" means about 50% better than the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The company really didn't showcase this extra power, opting to show demo footage which was derived from the machines they were competing with.

Whether developers outside of the first party Nintendo studios will be able to take advantage of this extra power is yet to be seen, and likely won't be for some time as the console isn't due out for almost a year.

Despite the recent developments on the technical specifics of the console, analysts have been chiming in to give their take on what they saw at this year's E3. From a business perspective, it isn't pretty. Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan believes that the Wii U is arriving "two years too late".

"We think that Wii U is arriving two years late, given that the other HD consoles already have peripherals for movement. As Nintendo did not provide any specifics around the new console’s power or pricing (Nintendo used PS3 and Xbox 360 game footage in the Wii U Presentation), we are assuming that the Wii U is unlikely to provide greater power than the current HD consoles," claimed the analyst. "If that is the case, we believe Nintendo has conceded a tremendous first mover advantage to Microsoft and Sony, which launched Kinect and Move control schemes, respectively, in late 2010."

If developers can harness the extra power in the machine, it could wow the consumer, and in turn please the analysts. Nintendo's company stock has seen a precipitous decline since the Wii U was announced last Tuesday.

Source: Industry Gamers

By William Schwartz on June 13, 2011

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Michael

Wait… There’s an actual console?
- John
  
  I also didn’t know there was a console. I thought it was just a controller.
- james
  
  yeah but by the time the ps4 comees out another new wii will be ready
AAAAHHHH!

idiot
Philbrick

If it’s true that it’s 50% more powerful that’s great but I really find it hard to believe that it will be so much better. Think of how much it will cost if the tech is that good. Gonna cost more than a ps3 did on release.
Gman

And when PS4 comes out, it would be 500% more powerful than WiiU, so what’s new?
- feedback
  
  its actually more than 50% powerful than current gen consoles. but the hardware is not final either ( they are trying to get the best gpu for the bargain) besides they are spending a ton of money on the multicore processor alone.
- Allen
  
  @ Feedback,
  
  I call your BS. There are no technical specs on Wii U and I’ve heard both stories.
  
  This artical saying 50% more powerful, and developers that have had a chance with the real deal saying that it’s only a little more powerful.
  
  I love Nintendo, but it doesn’t have a chance to truely beat sony unless they really invest in some good technology.
  
  I mean, the Wii U doesn’t even have blu ray or DVD playback. This will be the 3rd Nintendo console that doesn’t have DVD playback when all it’s competitors do.
Donky Dic

I love Nintendo but I don’t know that Wii U will be nearly as successful as Wii.

First off I say their tablet/controller is at least $100, if not more.

2nd the Wii mote isn’t very accurate and apparently the wii mote will play a big part in Wii U games. If not then maybe the Wii U can go somewhere, Nintendo needs to distance them selves from motion gaming since they are now on the losing side of that battle.

PS3 has the most accurate motion control, 1:1, 3D motion sensing that never lags or misreads commands. Also the blue tooth portion of that is awesome, making wireless great, even with the navigation controller.

Xbox has Kinect, which I personally think sucks ass but it is hands free and will eventually have it’s uses.

Regardless Xbox and PS3 both have a better motion gaming device than Nintendo.
Duke

Wii U will be a fail in the next gen. Also wow, Nintendo’s next gen console is more powerful than a 5-6 year old console, just wait till the 720 and PS4 come out Nintendo.
Brian

I cant really see anybody who has a ps3 xbox or pc buying one of these unless they just got cash to blow. Hardcore gamers already own one of the consoles or a pc… But i guess nintendo still somehow has a loyal fanbase.
DonnyJ

I don’t see how the “Wii-U” can be 50% more powerful than everything packed under the hood of the PS3.

Second, I’d like to see the Wii or Wii-U run half of the games the PS3 and 360 run.

Funny how Nintendo wants to start talking big and acting like they have a true gaming machine now when this whole time they have been catering to the family scene (nothing wrong with that) and 5 year olds.

I’ll keep my PS3 with Metal Gear Solid 4 or the Uncharted series.
NJB

lol, why u lot raging.

So what if the WiiU apparently has 50% more power, Its new tech, will be a while til its at its peak. Plus how much will it cost? and do you seriously think a Casual or family gamer will want it that bad.
Hoppsy

Wii-U will still probably do well. Nintendo has never based its sales on the power of the consoles it sells, its based them on the innovation of the hardwarwe.

I dont see the Wii or the Wii-U in the same conversation as ps3/ps4 and xbox 360/720 I think they are aimed at different markets
Allen

Yeah but Wii U is aiming to take back some of the hardcore market share.

Just like Sony and M$ are trying to take some of the casual market, but I wouldn’t say PS Move is really doing that. I mean Move is a lot more than just casual games.

Killzone 3 proved that to me, along with Mag and SOCOM. Now I want all FPS games to be move compatible.

Anyways of course Nintendo Wii U will be more powerful but this is still just “guessing” from the developers point that have had time to be with the console.

I can’t wait to see actual specs but right off the bat I see a turn off.

No blu ray.
bujeezus

how the hell could it NOT be more powerful than 5 year old systems? good grief that should be common sense. i agree that it’s a little late to be trying to take a stab at the ps3 and 360 market tho.
Bacon

I thought I heard the 3ds was more powerful than the ps3 n when i looked at it and compared both I was like… What were they smoking!!??
- Allen
  
  LMAO, no way the 3DS is more powerful than a console.
  
  There was that rumor about PS Vita being as powerful but that was quickly shot down.
  
  Playstation said that if the PS Vita was as powerful as the PS3, it would catch your pants on fire.
Smackerlacker

I think that both Sony and Microsoft have a real problem on their hands. In order to not be laughed out of the industry, they need to produce $500 consoles again, and provide the same up-step in graphical fidelity that they did last time.
Problem is, last time they dug themselves into a financial hole so big that they just recently got out. In order to compete this time around, they either need systems that are more modest and thus comparable to the Wii U, or they need to wait a few years.
In either case, Nintendo wins, because they understood the importance of improvement without making the Wii too expensive.
The PS3 and XBOX 360 should both have been more similar to the Wii than they were. They raised the bar too high, and now they desperately need to limbo lower.
Allen

Sorry but hell no.

Xbox made money, they scammed everyone.

Sony was way too ambitious I agree and $600 is way too spendy for a console. However it was entirely worth it, but these are gamers here.

Anyways the PS4 will not have a huge amount of hardware difference than the PS3. All I mean by that is PS3 has already made blu ray players cheap. They can use current technology for PS4, motion controls, blu ray, blue tooth, software technology.

All PS4 needs to do is increase ram and graphics. Done deal.

Xbox on the other hand have several problems.

Horrible unreliable hardware
Underpowered
No features
Crappy controllers

XBox could at least create a console that won’t fry up within an hour, put in HDMI and wifi from the get go and most of all they should offer a 1 time fee to become an xbox live membership for life.

Hell even if you paid $300 for xbox live for life it would be worth it. That’s only 5 short years of paying for xbox live.