Selling Wii U with DLC

Sanchez · 31 Oct 2014 at 16:09

So it's time to admit defeat with my Wii U. I've got a lot of the main titles but it's just not getting the use unfortunately. I'm wanting to sell the console on and I have a few titles that I downloaded which I want to pass on to the new owner. How can I go about clearing my data from the console but still allowing the new user to play the games I downloaded and paid for? Do I have to transfer my NNID to them for this to happen? Or can I just format the storage on the console and when they create a new account and sign into the eSHop the titles will be available for them to download?

I've searched Google a bit but not found anything particularly helpful.

malachi · 31 Oct 2014 at 17:57

All downloaded games are tired to the console not the account. So even when you wipe the console and they create a new NIND for themselves the previously downloaded games will still be there for them.

Zefan · 31 Oct 2014 at 18:01

malachi said:
All downloaded games are tired to the console not the account. So even when you wipe the console and they create a new NIND for themselves the previously downloaded games will still be there for them.

I'm pretty certain that won't work. You're right that they are tied to the console, but if you wipe the console I think they will need to use the NNID the game was bought with to access the game/DLC again.

I bought one from the MM and the seller stated they would not wipe the console, leaving the NNID on there to allow me to play the downloaded verison of ZombiU. This is what I suggest you do.

Sanchez · 31 Oct 2014 at 18:28

Thanks for the replies. I spoke to Nintendo and they confirmed that you must leave the details on the system as the downloads are linked to the NNID and not the console.

Never mind, I don't plan on using my NNID again in the future anyway.

Timber · 31 Oct 2014 at 18:29

malachi said:
All downloaded games are tired to the console not the account. So even when you wipe the console and they create a new NIND for themselves the previously downloaded games will still be there for them.

Unfortunately that's incorrect.

As Zefan as already mentioned the seller will need to leave the NNID on the machine otherwise any downloaded content is wiped. Thread here from another forums with same question about 3DS which is the same as the Wii U.

http://www.bordersdown.net/threads/122278-3ds-xl-downloaded-games-on-system

EDIT - just seen the above, slightly too slow with the reply.

megalomanic · 31 Oct 2014 at 18:32

Yep, purchases are tied to the NNID, and it's the NNID that's tied to the console.

woofercooker · 31 Oct 2014 at 18:35

What happens if the console brakes? You loose all your DLC?

megalomanic · 31 Oct 2014 at 18:39

If your console breaks you would have to contact Nintendo in order to get the ID moved to a new console. That, or just send the console to Nintendo for repair.

There will probably be an easier way to get an ID moved in the future... maybe.

woofercooker · 31 Oct 2014 at 18:54

what about if it brakes, you move the id to a new console then it randomly starts working again?

megalomanic · 31 Oct 2014 at 19:04

The games would probably still work on the old console initially, but if you connected it to the internet then the games would stop working or get deleted.

It's not actually always a simple process to get an ID moved, as it's not even something they openly commit/promise to being able to do.
In some cases they might even ask you to send them the old console. Peoples success with the process varies from what I've read.

malachi · 1 Nov 2014 at 03:19

Zefan said:
I'm pretty certain that won't work. You're right that they are tied to the console, but if you wipe the console I think they will need to use the NNID the game was bought with to access the game/DLC again.

Thanks

I heard otherwise