19 November 12: The WiiUBrew Wiki is open. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii competed with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. The Wii (/wiː/ WEE) is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. Updates are optional to each console owner, but may be required in order to retain. Nintendo maintains the Wii U's systemwide features and applications by offering system software updates via the Internet. The Wii U system software is the official firmware version and operating system for Nintendo's Wii U game console.