Game preservation communities trying to fix dying Wii U consoles are finding that the console’s lifespan could just be a matter of luck.
Over the weekend, YouTuber Voultar documented his efforts to bring “unsalvageable” Wii U consoles back to life after reporting that not using the machine for an extended period could contribute to its untimely demise. As the system’s eShop nears closure, these reports have raised notable concerns that players will lose access to their games and the ability to purchase them.
Voultar claims to have been able to fix several “bricked” consoles in a relatively easy and inexpensive method, using a $9 Raspberry Pi Pico to bypass two common error codes. They describe their efforts in the video below and say they’ve heard from a number of fans who have been able to repair their consoles using this method.
However, other members of the preservation scene have claimed that it won’t fix some of the other Wii U-related issues that have surfaced in recent weeks. These are tied to the system’s NAND chips, a form of storage that doesn’t need power to retain its information.
According to data miner and developer OatmealDome, some of these NAND chips die faster than others. Three companies – Samsung, Toshiba and Hynix – were involved in making the Wii U chips, but it seems that almost every console that turns out to be truly unsalvageable contains Hynix chips. OatmealDome says you “basically have to win the lottery” and hope your console will have Samsung’s or Toshiba’s equivalent, as there is currently no fix for the deteriorating Hynix alternative.
You can check what type of chip you have using the methods described in it’s tweeted (Opens in a new tab), but if you find a Hynix version, you might want to release a new console.
Take a look at what you might be missing with our list of best wii u games.