Nintendo Releases New Wii Firmware

[The Teej]

Nintendo releases new firmware
Now you can load from SD!

Just a few minutes ago, Nintendo released a brand new update which allows Wii users to load games directly from the SD card, but not only that, from SDHC cards as well! This firmware update is definitely the definitive storage solution Nintendo had talked about in the past. Joystiq confirms that the update is available in America, while I can personally confirm the update is also available in Europe. Assumably, this update is available worldwide.

The storage solution still cannot unfortunately load save games from the SD card, however, this is likely due to the SDK not having this option in the first place.

There are three small differences to the SD Menu and the Wii Menu. The first, being the channel preview having a default "tune" and only showing the channel's logo when selecting the channel from the menu. The second and third are simple aesthetic changes, namely, the background and bottom bar being black. I can also confirm that The Homebrew Channel works on the SD Card menu, which is great for all of our users running homebrew.

 Source

 Discuss

 

[coolbho3000]

Ooo, does it make an attempt to block homebrew or chips? I'll bet it does... and I'll bet Bushing and the other Wii hackers will crack it in 2 seconds... again.

 

[gov78]

hmm this restores some of my faith in Nintendo (well the whole storage solution at least)

 

[Youkai]

I can also confirm that The Homebrew Channel works on the SD Card menu, which is great for all of our users running homebrew.

are you saying its save to update ?
so even if i would update my wii now everything should work ?

 

[coolbho3000]

Does the Twilight Hack still work? Does the HBC load from system memory?

 

[The Teej]

Ooo, does it make an attempt to block homebrew or chips? I'll bet it does... and I'll bet Bushing and the other Wii hackers will crack it in 2 seconds... again.

I just tested The Homebrew Channel (I did mention it up there...

), and it appears to run fine.

 

[AXYPB]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't homebrew support SDHC already?

 

[pkbelly]

And what about the Twilight Hack? and WAD manager / WAD manager channel?
Very eager to update for SDHC but still cautious about that :\

 

[Zaiga]

Does this new firmware count as version 3.5? Also, is it safe to update?

 

[Jdbye]

25 March 09: Nintendo has issued a batch update to the majority of the various IOS versions. More information at 25 March 2009 Batch IOS Update . Updating is not recommended at this point.

According to wiibrew.org

Don't update.

 

[Yukito]

Yeah they do, but the Wii itself never supported SDHC (the hardware was there, but the firmware didn't have SDHC till now)

 

[Shugo Takahashi]

-snip-

 

[Tigran]

Yes... A bit more info if you don't mind.. Does the wad installer still work, and does it mess with any mod-chips.. That you know of?

 

[Lakerfanalways]

I am running firmware 3.4U..have the soft mod as well as the mod chip..will my Wii automatically update this new version or no..and if it does, will my soft mod and mod chip no longer work??

 

[stanleyopar2000]

sooooo.....if I upgraded to this WITH MY CURRENT TWILIGHT HACKED 2.1 U FIRMWARE...

the HBC would still be there and my twilight hack would be untouched??

SD launcher looks cool..for all those big .WAD installs

 

[CockroachMan]

Let's go to the same questions as always..

So.. can people with custom IOS installed update without fear?

Can people with modchips update without fear?

 

[Tigran]

Well I may regret it.. but I'm updating. See you on the other side.

 

[Jdbye]

HBC would still be there and the twilight hack would die, but you'd most likely be unable to install anything new. Read my post in the topic on the frontpage.

Basically, don't update. Read my post in the frontpage topic for the reason why.

 

[moonscapex]

Does this mean you don't need a hack or mod chip to install homebrew?

 

[Shinigami Kiba]

I wonder if this can be installed as a WAD to 3.2 so we don't have to update.
I don't want to lose StarFall and end up not being able to unbrick my wii if it bricks at some point or be unable to play non EU VC and WiiWare games.

I always wanted to be able to boot WiiWare and VC from an SD card, but I'll wait and see if this can somehow be brought to 3.2 either through a custom channel or something.