Wii U graphics chip outed as last-gen Radeon (which is still pretty good, apparently)

A last gen chip on a system that hasn't been released yet is very, very far from good news.

It is funny, but to be honest I don't feel like, graphics-wise, a new console is needed at this point. Some years ago I remember drooling over how ps2 was technically superior to PS1 (ahem, Squaresoft tech demo).Eventually consoles reached a totally incredible level with ps3 and 360 and I just realized that at this point we don't need better graphics but maybe more media storage (blu-ray). I'm perfectly fine with these graohics and if by any chance ps4 and Xbox 720 are released, their lifespan will be of more than 10 years. Evolve gaming and storytelling: at this point graphics are not as relevant as they use to be (at least to me).

This list was floating around Neogaf..

NES - Ten-year-old CPU, PPU uses around four-year-old tech
Genesis - Ten-year-old CPU, recycled seven-year-old VDC
SNES - Seven-year-old CPU, custom PPU based on five-year-old tech
Saturn - CPU uses five-year-old tech, same with VPU
PlayStation - CPU uses seven-year-old tech, 3D relies on CPU, graphics processor about the same
N64 - CPU uses five-year-old tech, same with graphics/sound processor
Dreamcast - CPU development of eight-year-old tech, PVR uses three-year-old tech
PS2 - CPU based on five-year-old tech, Graphics Synthesizer completely new
GCN - CPU based on four-year-old tech, Flipper completely new
Xbox - CPU based on two-year-old tech, XGPU completely new
Xbox 360 - CPU completely new, GPU completely new
PS3 - CPU completely new, GPU completely new
Wii - CPU based on nine-year-old tech, Hollywood based on five-year-old tech


I wonder where the wii u would fit into this.

I find it kind of sad that people regard this as good news. The Wii U being more powerful than 5 year old consoles is not a triumph. This is a joke, and I'm really losing faith in the big N. This system doesn't even have a DX11 card in it. Basically when all is said and done it's a medium level console. This system is going to have a hard enough time digging into the established console's markets. But when the real next gen consoles come out they'll out class it by a great margin. If it weren't for the first party titles I wouldn't even consider throwing down $300+ for another current gen console. And if I'm hesitant as a gamer, I find it hard for the casual PS3/360 owners to jump ship specifically for Nintendo's first party games and the same 3rd party titles as their current consoles. The controller doesn't really do much new when all is said and done. They're making a huge risk by creating a console to compete with the already well established PS3 and 360. In my opinion they should of just focused on creating a next gen console. Such an utter disappointment. To me at least. It's also a wasted opportunity to be first out the gate for Nintendo. My guess is that the next iteration or Playstation and Xbox will be packing something around a GTX 460 since they're rumored to hit 2 to 3 years from now. Now that's going to be something to get excited about.

It seems from reading many very assuming comments that hating on Nintendo is the new "cool" thing to do. Nintendo did a great job selling the Wii to "casuals", and I'm glad they did. Sure it got a ton of shovelware, but so did the PS2, the SNES, basically any console that is the hottest selling at the time. The Wii allowed my me to play video games with my mom, something she hasn't done since she tried Mario on the NES when I was little, and declared it a waste of time. Now she plays Mario Galaxy and loves it. Thanks for that Nintendo.

ps vita will have better gfx than wii lol!

You know what I really like about Joystiq? Their news post headlines don't give just half the story. I can imagine certain sites naming an article like this in a way that creates drama, or something.

Props for respectable journalism, Joystiq.

Cool, the Wii can do some decent stuff graphically - however it just can't do the same level of stuff as PS3/360. Sometimes having more power does allow a deeper experience.

I know Wikipedia cant be completely trusted but they have the ps3 as having no GPU to speak of. Obviously there should be some sort or GPU in it. Does anyone know what GPU is in there?

By the time it comes out, it will be considerably less impressive.

As for the other consoles, I recommend you guys wait until you can relatively affordably pack it with guts powerful to run the Samaritan Unreal demo in real time. Then we can talk.

Multiple SD display output is the better thing here. Hopefully means Nintendo can open this thing up for multiplayer (especially since gamers have been willing to tolerate sub-720p games like Halo 3 if they're actually good games)

@Alex Oglitchkin

Yes, but as we get up into these higher levels, it will get harder to push graphics yet further still. Depending on what the Wii U can offer, it will likely be within easy porting range (like a minimum/maximum settings difference in PC games) with whatever Sony and Microsoft toss out

To put things into perspective....When the 360 launched in 2005, it was ahead of the PC. That's how cutting edge the 360 was at that time. When the Wii U releases next year, it would be at least 3 gens behind the PC. Not even close to cutting edge. Nintendo could have done a little more to future proof the system. As it stands the Wii U will be decent hardware that will easily be blown out of the water by Sony's and Microsoft's next offerings.

your're all missing the point.

Nintendo never ever cares what technical magickery Microso$t or Sony put in thier machines. Nintendo cares about it's own machine, and does things its own way.

this is a HUMUNGOUS leap from Wii. it's so next gen from WII it hurts. it is simply the next generation of Nintendo hardware, nothing more. not competing with PC. not trying to outdo anyone else. just being Nintendo.

It won't be released at a ridiculous price either. Just imagine F-Zero GX but on WiiU... F-ZerUx or whatever. my face nearly bled to death with the GC graphics!! can't wait myself..

If consoles made it so that GPUs could be swapped out to keep things updated (like they do now with hard drives), things would be much more interesting in the console market.

And FYI, swapping a new GPU into a PC is about 10 times easier than doing a HDD swap - and you don't have to worry about installing the OS, transferring your files from old to new,etc.

Install the new card, download the proper driver from PSN/Live, etc and you're off. There wouldn't be compatability issues. My new PC graphics cards can obviously run 10 year old PC games.

Seems like a no brainer if you ask me.

I respect the decision to create this hardware, but I think its too late (or too early). I wanted an HD Wii 2 years ago and here we are starting early... for the next gen of consoles with slightly better hardware than competitors. Historically early starts mean inferior hardware in relation to the market, unless you revolutionize the industry with implementation and software... Motion controls hit the mainstream thanks to their efforts, but I don't think a very large touch screen controller will resonate with consumers. Am I getting one... of course, will I be disappointed a few months afterwards (much like the Wii)... an astounding yes; unless they have the software to support it; but looking at the mistakes of the 3ds... lighting is going to strike twice, and "the N" will be the only supporter of their product with software, and that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Hahahahaha a nintendo that's better in hardware spec than an xbox or playstation? Oh nintendo you funny funny b##tards tell me another joke!

I don't get why everyone here is so excited about this? most comparisons of Wii U are to the 360 and PS3, that's already a pretty bad sign imo.
Is this a current gen console released too late, or a next gen console too early?
Not a fan of the controller either, nice concept though.

4000 Series radeon's are garbage for the most part considering the 3000 series has proven to be better in every regard vs the re bandaged and die shrunk 4000-5000 series. They would have had better luck going with a 5000 series vs a 4000 series but whatever. PS4.X720 will own the Wii-U later on.

Joy, a great graphix chip and still Mario will look BOXIE! Mark my works, it will have a great Video card, but the EDEV. team will fail to use it (except for maybe RE) Gamecube all over again. Good system, very few (wow, i am glad i bought this system) games

If it's about price for DVD and BLURAY watching, then make a app we can download or buy for the system. not sure why I'm hearing the same excuses that the XBOX fan boys say about the xbox 360 not having a DVD drive because it no big deal. It is a big deal with you have expensive hardware that reads bluray and dvd's. it's all software cost, not hardware. Pass the cost on the user. Also wished systems were made for video expansions. I would like to have DEV teams make games with two diff type video cards so i could upgrade later and play a old game again with better graphix when the upgrade come to market. instead of making new games for new hardware all of the time.

As I said without real proof to back up what Nintendo is saying.......... All we have to go on is that Zelda tech demo and that was not even a real playable game it was just a tech demo for the Video Card, and rendering ability's.

If they use Open GL, and have a poor custom code for it ala the PS3 the same problems Sony has with third party titles will persist on the Wii U as well.

Open GL is a rather old API and while it works just fine for most MACs doing it with games built for DX9.0c and above via a conversion tool is harder then it looks theres a reason all MAC versions of PC games come out a year later. It's because it takes that long to get them to the same details as DX titles on Open GL regardless of Open GLs features it's much harder to work with as an API then Direct X is. Microsoft has games and has had games locked into Direct X for over 10 years now and to expect Open GL to beat the PC backed, and Xbox360 backed Direct X market is a foolish and hopless vender.

Fact is Open GL is harder to optomize, harder to code for, and takes much longer to get the same code strings done then Direct X dose. Simple as that and the PS3 has an even bigger problem beyond that with the fact that it's got an over powered CPU with some of it's internal cache being stupidly used for the OS, and on top of that it has a GPU with no internal memory thats only 500MGhrz in speed. WHile thats the low end for todays GPUs the biggest bottle neck the PS3 has is the fact that it uses old FAT32 formated drives, and uses short intager code systems that became obsolite like 5 years ago.

To do that massivly awsome train derail bit in Uncharted 2 took over 1000 lines of code, to do the same thing in Direct X on Xbox360, or PC would only take 500, to 200 lines of code. The facts don't lie.

Waiting for Mark Rein to make a BS excuse as to why the unreal engine won't work on Wii U

What it really comes down to is the controller. Not only price but how it can "change" how we play games. How it "changes" videogames is still a mystery.

Everyone is talking about graphics when in the end it's the game play that will bring you back.

If they make good games people will get the system not because of flashy graphics.