When Will Wii Play Online?

Nintendo Co. Ltd.’s Wii video game console was the surprise hit of the holiday season, but fans are wondering when it will match rivals Microsoft and Sony by offering a way to compete in cyberspace.

The Wii is online-ready right out of the box, thanks to its built-in WiFi. But competitive online play is not among the many features available to Wii gamers, even though more than 50 percent of Wii consoles in the United States are connected online.

Nintendo countered critics by saying the desire for online multiplayer is much higher in Western markets than in Japan, where the company is based. However, the company is committed to bringing the online play experience to the Wii…eventually.

"I’m confident there will be third-party titles with online game play by the end of the year," said George Harrison, Nintendo’s vice president of marketing. "Our first online multiplayer title, ‘Pokemon Battle Revolution,’ will be out this summer."

Reuters