Netflix streaming comes to Wii this Spring @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on January 13, 2010

News: But only in standard definition.

Nintendo and Netflix have announced that instant streaming of Netflix movies and television shows will be available on the Wii for US users in the Spring.

Like the instant streaming service on the PlayStation 3, Wii owners will need a Netflix instant-streaming disc, which can be obtained for free from netflix.com/Wii. Also like the PS3 version of the service, Netflix streaming on the Wii will not require an additional fee or subscription tier beyond Netflix's monthly $8.99 subscription fee.

With this announcement, the Wii has leapfrogged all of its competitors in the living room by reaching more users than any other device that currently supports streaming movies from Netflix.

"Our goal is to offer Netflix members as many ways as possible to watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix right to their TVs and to give non-members more and compelling reasons to consider the service," said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings. "Joining forces with Nintendo, which has been so immensely popular with consumers since its introduction, is a very meaningful step in that direction."

Although, it should be important to note that because the Wii's video output tops out at 480p, it will not be able to offer high definition streaming. The PS3 and Xbox 360 are both able to offer HD streaming through their partnership with Netflix.

No specific date was given for when Netflix instanting-streaming discs would be shipped out to Wii owners, but Spring is only a few months away.

We'll have more soon.