Netflix native app for Wii available now

by Alexander Sliwinski on Oct 18th 2010 8:37AM

A Netflix app that will allow movie streaming on Nintendo's Wii, without the need for a pesky disc, is available now on the Wii Shop Channel. The Netflix channel is free and streaming comes at no extra charge as part of most Netflix rental plans.

Today also marks the launch of the PS3's Netflix app, which supports 1080p HD output, 5.1-channel surround sound, subtitles and alternative audio tracks. Finally, Xbox 360 owners should receive an update to their Netflix app with the fall update. Isn't it nice to put aside those fanboy squabbles for a change, knowing that everyone can watch hours of television on their video game systems without even touching a disc?

Source: Nintendo

Tags: Netflix, nintendo, streaming, wii

Reader Comments (51)

Oh, Netflix on my tv without a disc? Been doing that for years now.

ON A PC. :D

@thelolotov as have I.....but didn't you know?? that PC Elitist shit doesn't fly here on the 'Stiq...take it elsewhere...not gonna hook a PC up in the kids room onto their TV...thats for certain

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

PC + Kids room =/= a good idea.

@thelolotov

Yeah, but consoles got HD before us anyway, so I don't know what you're bragging about. Also, they have 5.1 sound on PS3, and I'm looking for some films that have alternate audio, as I'd heard that was going to be available on some titles.

Also, the PS3 native version just dropped as well.

@Assmar
actually no. They got advertised HD before we did, but PC gamers had HD for a while but didn't really care or notice. I had a video card that came out around the time Xbox orignial did and it supported 1080p.
Ofcourse it's nice to see everyone having the same features these days.
Also great to post for like a week joystiq wasn't accepting my password.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

Kid's Room HAHA.. Perfect

@JimmyHACK well I'm not gonna watch 480p netflix in the living room when I have a 360 and a PS3 in there that do HD....like watching a DVD movie that I have a Blu-ray version of...all of those duplicates just go in the closet...

@PR0F3TA

Yeah, until little jimmy's downloading cougar porn.

@smoothy

I've never been a fan of mountain lions. Wild goats on the other hand... that's just good quality family entertainment.

Yes

Fanboy squabbles? Like how I don't have to pay money on top of my Netflix subscription to watch it on PS3? Those kinds? :p

@sammo21 yea thats gonna continue on...especially since the 360 app is not as smooth as the Free versions....but we'll see how that update goes....I'm in the Beta testing of the fall update and if netflix was updated in it then its not that much better IMO

Hey Microsoft.....whats that Check you cut 2+ years ago worth it? Did it benefit you at all? I mean its not like it helped you further develop the 360 Netflix app any....I mean clearly the PS3 and even the Wii Netflix apps are better....

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

You question whether or not it benefited Microsoft? It should be plain as day that it did. Netflix was a huge selling point from it's first appearance on 360 arguably until the PS3 disk came out... and even then, the native app had a significant convenience advantage.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

I don't know what your talking about, since having the Xbox be the only system with integrated Netflix without a disc has made it my favorite console out of the three easily this past year.

And they also had it available earlier so even if they paid extra (and they did most likely), it definitely most have had good & positive results for them.

As for myself, I will now use Netflix on my PS3, simply so I don't have to use my 360 as much and give it the rest it deserve to play COD in Nov.

@Edge of Blade in the grand scheme of things tho....at last count the PS3 and 360 were under 8 or 9 million units apart even with a year jump, crazy ass high price point, and a lack of games all on the PS3 the first couple of years....so with that said...did it REALLY do any good? would the gap had been narrowed anymore if they didn't give Netflix that money and the app was released on all 3 consoles at the same time? And since its still part of Gold....will it get any upgrades that make it better than the free version on the other 2 consoles? that Party feature is hardly worth the cost of admission....I know a few people that have used it once or twice and then never again....I mean it really serves no purpose

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

"And since its still part of Gold"

You said it yourself, they've had many, many months of gold membership money flowing in to more than offset the check they wrote out to Netflix. So yes, it was more than worth it.

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi

In terms of console sales, no, it probably didn't make much of a difference. I'm sure they sold a few extra systems during that time but not likely a significant amount.

Where it likely made a difference is in XBL Gold Subscriptions. There are probably quite a few people that subscribe to XBL Gold just for Netflix. That's where it was probably well worth it to Microsoft.

You came out in hardcore fanboy mode for this article. This must have been the moment you waited for. The day both the Wii and PS3 got their Netflix apps. Two long grueling years of having to watch Netflix on your PS3 by disc. "How dare Microsoft add something to their service by paying for it" you said. You showed them. Microsoft as a company will never be the same again. Xbox fanboys will hate you but your PS3 comrades will call you a hero. PC gamers won't even bat an eyelash. Kudos to you sir. You've changed nothing through the internet.

@Bubbameister33 fanboy mode? really? ME!?!?! ROFLMAOOOO

I've LONG been out out that....I'm on my 360 RIGHT now....I was just speaking my mind on the situation....sheeeeeeeeeesh....you guys are really touchy today for some reason....

"subtitles"

Whoa... that could shift my Netflix-ing alliances to PSN...

Awesome. I was excited about the PS3 version coming out today and was telling my wife that, to my knowledge, the Wii wasn't getting one at the same time. Guess I lied to her. Typical.

@ilduce620 well you said to your knowledge....and tho many suspected it would happen today or at least eventually we had no confirmation about it until now....so you didnt lie sir...

@Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll be sure to let her know. :-)

@ilduce620 Just tell her it was a surprise.

The PS3 one is available too. It just pops up on the XMB at some point so you can download it.

@KingBroly yea I had to restart my PS3 for it to pop up but sure enough it was there

@Chazzr
Isn't BBC iPlayer already available on both Wii and PS3?

Awesome! anyone know if it lets me pick my watch now line up or do I still have to set that up from my pc?

@MinkLei There's now a search option and when you find what you're looking for you can add it to your instant queue with a click of a button.

I can finally take the Netflix disc out and start playing Kirby

Downloading for my ps3 now! I'll be watching some more battlestar galactic S3 tonight to compare streaming quality to the disc app. Supposedly BSG is available in HD, dunno if my connection is up for though...

Joy!

I had the netflix app on my ps3 over the weekend. I'm not sure when it showed up but I tried it on sunday and it wouldn't work.
I can't wait to get home and try it!!!

kthanks now let me search

Anybody know if you can stream on 2 devices at once? My brother has 2 ps3s and he'd love to stream something in their room while his wife is watching something in the livingroom.

@Genaldar

You can do this, but I think it requires the two-at-a-time subscription from Netflix at a minimum.

@Genaldar I've streamed to 3 devices at once (PS3, iPhone, iPad) and I have the basic $8.99 service level.

@chris234 Thanks for the heads up, I'll let my brother know.

The PS3 and Wii netflix apps were actually pretty good and offered a better experience than Netflix own site. I'm so glad that the apps are finally native because it was annoying changing discs and at times the discs themselves would crap out for no real reason. I would have preferred a native app day 1 but I guess looking back on it I was happy to have it at all.

I wish that the original apple tv (the one we have) would be updated with netflix streaming capabilities. Point is that I'm happy to have the dedicated app but it was good to have it at all. I'm also glad I don't have to be a PS+ subscriber to use it because I don't care for what the service has to offer.

....

The app for the Wii is out? Crap, now I have to go make my little girl cry for 5min while I take the disc out in interrupt Spongebob....

wow, that's nice to hear for us Wii Owners! :)

Awesome news. Our kids stream on the Wii and their disc is straight thrashed. This will be an excellent alternative. I love streaming on PS3 but damn if it isn't annoying to switch discs. Now I can keep NCAA 11 in the PS3 while I watch Prison Break.

So is this in Canada as well? We've had the PS3 app since it launched here and I would love for the 360 to be the last console to have netflix, purely for the thick, thick irony.

Still waiting anxiously for that 360 app though. Hate having to switch from console to console.

@Alexisonfire

Actually I have Netflix in Canada on my 360 thanks to the preview beta.

I'm still waiting for my Netflix disc to arrive in the mail, anyone know if this is available in Canada as well?

I wonder what is the usage rate of Netflix on Wii compare to other consoles. With the number of Wiis in every living room and the popularity of Netflix now, I have a feeling it will be surprisingly high. Probably higher than 360 (due to Live Gold limitation) and much higher than PS3.

All the pictures Netflix used in their advertisements for "play on your gaming console!" category has been the Wii as the main pic too.

@billysea
Netflix pushed extra advertising for the Wii. They have those commercials where Wiimotes pop up in parodies of movies. I haven't seen any similar ads for 360 or PS3.

I hope they fix this app.... i had no trouble with the disc, and now i cant get through an episode without it buffering atleast twice... I'm on dsl, so it's already slow.... but the dissc had no trouble with it and now it's locked out...

Nobody mentions how the Netflix interface is both new AND FINALLY includes SEARCH functionality? Its really nice!

Plus, I've been switching between Netflix and Other M so much, this came at a great time for me.

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Netflix native app for Wii available now

Reader Comments (51)

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 8:46AM thelolotov said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 8:55AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:28AM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 1:47PM Assmar said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 2:03PM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 2:45PM JimmyHACK said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 2:59PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 4:07PM smoothy said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 4:57PM Haizeus said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 8:47AM Chilly P slapperonlyblogspotcom said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 8:56AM sammo21 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:03AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 8:56AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:07AM Edge of Blade said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:08AM nightmare452 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:16AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 10:15AM Hoot said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 10:44AM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:11AM Bubbameister33 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 12:55PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:03AM Edge of Blade said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:06AM ilduce620 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:11AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:40AM ilduce620 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 10:39AM Rocketboy said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:08AM KingBroly said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:19AM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:27AM Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:27AM MinkLei said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 7:52PM zerosuitsammich said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 9:52AM DarkHeroZark said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 10:25AM scratchh said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 10:35AM Rockcake said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 10:40AM Barkley610 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 10:59AM Deaths Hand said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:10AM Genaldar said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:23AM fiseman said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 12:02PM chris234 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 5:57PM Genaldar said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:38AM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:19AM InkSix said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:24AM 182 said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:28AM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:29AM Alexisonfire said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 12:20PM wardob said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 11:57AM superafroboy said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 1:59PM billysea said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 7:55PM zerosuitsammich said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 2:19PM Carlt said

Posted: Oct 18th 2010 7:33PM Pandaman said

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