Wii U gets Gamertag and Friends List for online gaming. No more annoying Wii Friend Codes

Nintendo Wii U console goes online
Ubisoft producer Adrian Blunt has said that there will be no Friend Codes on the Nintendo Wii U, like there annoyingly were on the Wii.

Mr. Blunt was showing off Ubisoft’s online multiplayer game Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online for the PC (free-to-play) and Wii U at E3 2011, when he was interviewed by MTV, commented on why they will be bringing the game to the Wii U in 2012. To quote: “There’s a few things on that. The first is the ability for individuals to make accounts. Rather than a machine having an account, each individual user has an account.

To which he added the new system was exactly like the Xbox 360’s Xbox Live Gamertags, since Friends Codes are no longer required for adding friends to each game. He continued: “Also the ability to easily find friends. Rather than using friend codes, which we’ve had in the past, we’re able to connect players in a much easier way, which allows us to have a community that’s playing together in the game.

One last point of interest was that an achievements system (like on Xbox 360 & PC’s Steam) or a trophies system (like on PS3) couldn’t be confirmed yet. But it’s unclear if he was holding back confirmation or if Nintendo hasn’t decided yet.

Nintendo hasn’t officially confirmed what new online gaming service will be in place, but hinted earlier in the year they’d be partnering up with companies that are able to provide a better online service than they have in the past. Add to this Electronic Arts confirming Battlefield 3 on Wii U will have a solid online multiplayer experience like other consoles and easy to obtain downloadable content, and a picture starts forming. Then combine it with the knowledge that Ubisoft and Nintendo have — at a separate Wii U third-party press conference — announced a close partnership for the Wii U launch next year, and it becomes obvious they would know.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online gameplay from E3 2011:

Very exciting news about the Wii U having a single user account for online gaming, don’t you think so? 🙂