Nintendo plans belated Pro Controller support for New Super Mario Bros. U

Nintendo is adding a much-needed feature to New Super Mario Bros. U on Wii U.

The game — the company's next-gen, HD answer to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which debuted in 2009 — will soon support the Pro Controller. The patch will be available the same day that New Super Luigi U arrives — August 25 in North America and July 13 in Japan.

The Wii U Pro Controller offers a more traditional alternative to Nintendo's motion-sensing and touch-based controllers of recent years. It features analog sticks, buttons, and triggers — like the controllers for the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

Apparently, players will also be able to purchase the upcoming Luigi-centric title (part of the "Year of Luigi" celebrations) from within NSMBU, circumventing the eShop.

[Nintendo World Report]

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