Nintendo Wii U controller

The Wii U controller is a device in and of itself. It contains a 6.2” touchscreen. When playing a game on the Wii U, you can switch the display from a TV to the controller. The console will synch with the controller and stream the display to your now handheld device. It doesn't actually host the game itself, it mere corresponds as a handheld display.

Other than display capabilities, the controller will add a layer to gaming. Upcoming games will take advantage of the display to give you a look at an inventory or health for example, but it can do much more. One example showed a baseball game, where you use the controller to line up your pitch, then to catch a hit ball, you track it with your controller and “catch it”. Another example used the controller to hold ninja stars, which your game character then threw as you swiped your hand over the controller display.

When it is not being used as a game controller, the device can itself play some simple games, but Nintendo was quick to emphasize that the controller is not a handheld unit.