Nintendo Wii U (2012-2017)

Wii U 

The Nintendo Wii U, launched in November 2012, was Nintendo's first foray into high-definition gaming and remains one of the most unique "asymmetric" experiments in console history. Its centerpiece was the Wii U GamePad, a tablet-like controller featuring a 6.2-inch resistive touchscreen that allowed for "Off-TV Play" or provided supplementary information like maps and inventories without interrupting the main action on the television. Despite its confusing marketing, which led some consumers to believe the GamePad was merely an accessory for the original Wii, the console was a brand-new system powered by a tri-core IBM "Espresso" CPU and featured full backward compatibility with almost all Wii software and peripherals. It introduced the Miiverse, a quirky, integrated social network where players could share handwritten tips and sketches, and it served as the original home for several modern masterpieces, including Mario Kart 8, Splatoon, and Super Mario Maker. Although it struggled commercially compared to its predecessor, the Wii U’s innovation of a second-screen experience and its eventual swan song, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, provided the vital conceptual foundation for the hybrid design of the Nintendo Switch.

Sourced from: Retro Games Plus