Following Netflix and Hulu, Amazon brings over 140,000 movies and TV episodes to the Nintendo Wii U
Following Netflix and Hulu Plus, Amazon on Wednesday announced the launch of its Instant Video app for Nintendo's Wii U console. You can now download the app now on the Wii U home screen or grab it from the Nintendo's Wii U eShop.
Context & Ripple Effects
Nintendo had already made streaming a console priority, adding Netflix streaming to the Wii in 2010 and pursuing Hulu Plus for its hardware in 2011. On the Wii U, Hulu Plus arrived one day earlier with an integrated second-screen experience.
Amazon's app gives the Wii U a third major subscription or transactional video destination at launch, making the console's screen-and-controller setup more relevant to entertainment use alongside games.
First-order effects
- Amazon Instant Video gains Wii U distribution for its catalog of more than 140,000 movies and TV episodes, while Wii U owners can access it from the console home screen or eShop.
- Nintendo can present Wii U buyers with Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu Plus video options rather than relying on a single streaming partner.
Second-order effects
- Hulu Plus and Netflix must compete with Amazon for viewing time on Wii U, while Hulu's second-screen integration becomes a more distinct product feature rather than merely a launch-time service advantage.
- Nintendo's value to video partners rises with each major service it carries, encouraging platform-level competition around app availability and console-specific experiences.
Third-order effects
- If major video services continue to treat console launches as essential distribution, game systems increasingly compete as living-room media platforms as well as game hardware.
- The Wii U model points toward differentiated interface features—such as Hulu's second-screen use—becoming a way for services to stand out once basic app availability is widespread.
The trend: Game consoles are becoming contested distribution platforms for streaming-video services, with app breadth and device-specific interfaces shaping their entertainment appeal.