page_title: Wii
section_title: Backward compatibility
hierarchical_section_title: Wii / Games / Backward compatibility
caption_attribution_description: English: Nintendo Wii console with GameCube Memory Card and GameCube Controller connected, and GameCube game semi-inserted. Deutsch: Nintendo Wii Spielkonsole mit ein GameCube-Controller, -Spiel und -Speicherkarte (Memory Card).
context_page_description: The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh generation console, the Wii competed with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo stated that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others. As of the first quarter of 2016, the Wii led its generation over the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in worldwide sales, with more than 101 million units sold; in December 2009, the console broke the sales record for a single month in the United States.
  The Wii introduced the Wii Remote controller, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and which detects movement in three dimensions. The console runs games supplied on Wii optical discs. It also supported the now discontinued WiiConnect24 service, which enabled Wii to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode. The system supported a service, called "Virtual Console", that downloaded emulated games from past Nintendo consoles, support for online video streaming such as BBC iPlayer, and other services provided by Nintendo over the Internet.
context_section_description: Wii consoles with the original design are backward-compatible with all Nintendo GameCube software, Nintendo GameCube Memory Cards and controllers. Software compatibility is achieved by the slot-loading drive's ability to accept Nintendo GameCube Game Discs. However, redesigned model RVL-101 and the Wii Mini are not backward-compatible.
  A Wii console running a GameCube disc is restricted to GameCube functionality, and a GameCube controller is required to play GameCube titles. A Nintendo GameCube Memory Card is also necessary to save game progress and content, since the Wii internal flash memory will not save GameCube games. Also, backward compatibility is limited in some areas. For example, online and LAN-enabled features for Nintendo GameCube titles are unavailable on the Wii, since the console lacks serial ports for the Nintendo GameCube Broadband Adapter and Modem Adapter. The Game Boy Player will also not fully work with the Wii, as the console lacks the port needed to connect the Wii to the player and due to design differences between the 2 consoles.
caption: The first model of the Wii has Nintendo GameCube Memory Card and controller slots to provide backward compatibility.
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