Today's Wii U update helps you get into games faster

Waiting is a sucker’s game, and Mario Kart 8 is way better. To help you do more of the latter, Nintendo is introducing a way to cut down on the time it takes you to start playing games on Wii U.

The Wii U has a new update available to download now, and it will introduce a number of small fixes and adjustments for Nintendo’s dual-screened home console. The biggest upgrade is the inclusion of a new quick-start menu that pops up on the GamePad when players turn on the system. This guide will enable players to select a game to load immediately without having to wait for the Wii U to fully boot up to its operating system. This should cut down on the time it takes players to get into Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World, and other Wii U games.

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The Wii U often suffers from incredibly long load times, which can often cause the user experience to drag. Nintendo obviously recognizes the problem, and it should please fans to see the company is addressing the issue where it can.

In addition to the quick-start menu, Nintendo’s Wii U update will also bring along a number of other new features. These include the capability to download and install Wii U updates in the background while the system sleeps and full-screen alerts that inform players about new updates and promotions by popping up on the GamePad even when the Wii U is in standby mode.

Nintendo’s doing what it can to improve the Wii U as the system is quickly falling behind the competition. Sony’s PlayStation 4 has already outsold Nintendo’s machine, and Microsoft’s Xbox One is likely going to do the same soon. Both of those devices debuted a year after the Wii U.

The Wii U system has a number of issues that are likely keeping it from selling well. It’s underpowered, it requires the touchscreen GamePad that doesn’t affect most releases, and it lacks many of the features of the PS4 and Xbox One. The system is also sluggish and unresponsive in a number of important situations. While Nintendo can’t or won’t change most of the things holding back the Wii U, today’s update is at least an improvement for those who already own on it or are maybe thinking about picking it up for Mario Kart 8 or the upcoming Super Smash Bros.