July 18th, 2012

Activision and Call of Duty forced Nintendo to make the Wii U Pro Controller

67 Comments

When discussing the Wii U Pro Controller, Michael Pachter said that:

Activision never said anything to me, but I know that [for] big games like Call Of Duty they said, ‘No, we’re not putting it on there if you don’t give us a conventional controller’. So they gave in.

(The “they” is in reference to Nintendo.)

He seems confidence in his stance, suggesting that, without a doubt, Call of Duty is on its way. We sort of already knew this, but Activision continue to remained quiet about the game. For those of us who are keen to use the more traditional controller, this might be a moment where we share a slice of gratitude for Activision.

Weird.

Update: It turns out Pachter’s thoughts were not based on insider information:

I am putting two and two together to conclude that Activision put pressure on them. I do not know this either first-hand or third-hand; nobody told me. I am merely deducing it from what we know, and it’s an educated guess.

Some people are saying this was obvious based on what he said. I thought his wording implied that there was some thread of insider knowledge. But I guess that just proves how tricky language can be.

  • boyonthemoon

    wow, and i thought nintendo made a good call by themselves. really glad this controllers gonna exist though. im hoping nintendo will use this controller themselves, not just activision

  • Matt

    “Activision demanded a traditional controller! Although they didn’t directly tell me that they demanded it…”

  • Captain Falcon

    tbh, I don’t blame Infinity Ward or Treyarch at all.

  • Diamond Ammo

    WHy would nintendo even want call of duty…..it’s literally the same game every single year,it’s never a true sequel anymore,it’s so boring and overated and if you play online get ready to deal with screaming cussing little kids and immature teens and adults. so….why would nintendo care? That’s one crappy shovel ware game not on the wii u, Nintendo should have only gave in if another company say,rockstar demanded it,because they would make gta on it :) Nintendo needs to get back to not letting crappy shovel ware on the systems,AHEM the seal of approval, limit 5 games a year for each dev, people said the wii sucked because nintendo did not care what third parties made so that is how you got.(they had THE best first party games though, like always :) )

    • Captain Falcon

      Probably the only COD game that had little change was MW3. COD’s decent at the most, not spectacular.

    • ShaDow

      I have Black Ops for my PS3 and it’s fun for a while. I don’t like the graphics, Spawning system, knifing mechanics, the lack of music, but the Zombies is fun. Bought MW3 and gave it to my cousin that day I just didn’t like it at all.

    • Captain Falcon

      Heard MW2 music was pretty good. o_o
      Produced by Hans Zimmer iirc,

    • Diamond that’s dumb

      Because it sells even though you don’t like it. Do you know how many kids would want a WiiU because of a good version of COD

    • ShaDow

      There is a mute option and FYI every game that has voice chat will have some disrespectful people and it is a pain but try muting them and don’t say anything to them or you will have a bad time. Just play the game and don’t let them ruin it for you.

    • me

      Nintendo does the same thing with mario

    • ShaDow

      Not exactly. Call of Duty Has a yearly release of similar games while Mario ranges from Paper Mario to Mario Bros to sports which usually have only one of each to a system. Paper Mario doesn’t get annual releases.

  • Cristo396

    Does this mean activision black ops 2 wont use second screen in the wii u game pad

  • Luciano Fran

    I pefer using the Wiimote and nunchuck

    • Luciano Fran

      for fps games

    • RockieOllie

      Conduit played very well with nunchuck and wiimote. It’s way more intuitive than dual analog sticks.

    • Xarreno

      Maybe they’re going with a KI:U direction this time? It’s possible that the Wii U controller is either going to use a stylus to pin point head shots or the controller itself (with the gyro) is going to exact judgement by pointing at the screen.

  • Enzo

    I don’t believe this is true because Call of Duty goes onto every platform regardless of controls. I also think Nintendo had always intended on putting out the pro controller as the Wii had one as well, and since they were targeting a more “hardcore” audience this time around, it would only make sense. Plus, there are some Nintendo IP’s that would prefer a standard controller such as Super Smash Bros.

    • ShaDow

      I was happy to see the Pro because of Smash. I would prefer the sticks to be laid out like the Gamecube controller but I will adjust.

  • Tailisu10

    I don’t get stuff like this, the call of duty series is already on the wii. And I doubt Nintendo made the WiiU Pro Controller just for Call of Duty, that’s just silly.

  • ePik Min

    And this is from Pachter again… He just wants more attention.
    I think people at Nintendo are big boys now, and I don’t think they need Actifion to tell them what to do.

    • Co-Wink-Key dink inc

      Yup, they can’t even THINK of anything to do with awesome controllers, just stick to “Old School” (AKA STANDERD) controllers! (Sarcasm)

  • Miketendo

    I’m kind of done with that series but truthfully, I would. E more interested in playing with the tablet than conventional controls. If the tablet is well interfaces it may even. Ring me back to CoD.

  • Miketendo

    Also I think The Pach man is hedging his bets. If WiiU fails, he can say “I told you so” and a success would be accredited to the Pro controller securing key 3rd parties. This guy isn’t an analyst, he is a weather man. “It may fail… or not”

  • Ness

    So it’s another Capcom and Circle Pad Pro situation? What a shame. I thought Nintendo was actually fucking serious about hardcore gaming for a moment. SILLY ME.

    • Co-Wink-Key dink inc

      Wait, the game pad already has the capabilities of a Wii U Pro Controller, and what does Capcom have to do with this?! Questions that will never be answred

    • ShaDow

      Actually Nintendo made the pro controller on their own just like the Wii one. Patcher is talking out of his ass again as neither Nintendo or Activision say anything about this. Developers did ask Nintendo to make the sticks clickable though and Call of Duty would of been on the system even if the controller was a toaster. CoD works great with Wii+Nunchuck anyway.

    • DonnyKD

      LOL Ness listens to Pachter?

      That. Explains. Everything.

    • TheFarmboy

      What a breakthrough! Or Ness is Pachter incognito!

    • Seb

      Let’s have a civilised debate ness. Oh wait, you can’t help but use silly excuses.

    • LaLaLa

      Ness, if you stop listening to Patcher, you won’t be a troll.

    • Ziggy

      COME BACK

  • Swankenstein

    Can you please stop making news posts about Michael Pachter. Clearly his only purpose is to make “shocking” baseless revelations about things that agitate and annoy people. A slow news day is better than one filled with destructive criticism. His little segment is called “pach attack” so seriously…. stop feeding the troll.

    • ShaDow

      It is news related to the WiiU and this site reports news about the WiiU and how do you know Pach is a troll for all you now he is just a misguided idiot.

    • Swankenstein

      You, sir, have low expectations of “news”

    • ShaDow

      News covers a lot but yeah you are right this isn’t very interesting but I expect all the big news in October and November.

  • Tails the Foxhound

    I’d be more willing to believe Nintendo created the Pro Controller to mitigate any fears of getting a Monster Hunter on the Wii U.

  • BetaDevil

    It doesn’t matter why they are making it, I’m just glad they do. The classic controller describes itself, it’s classic but not for pro games like on the 360 & PS3. The buttons look similar to the GamePad so let’s just hope lots of games support it.

    Also, really hated that the classic controller was connected through the Remote, so nice that it’s a controller on itself!

  • ddddd

    Its just a guess from patcher, he said it now. This whole thing never happened

  • Paul Taylor

    They deserve to mocked by all their players using the “Original” Wii U controller, instead of this lame excuse for a cop-out controller, honestly just like all the “other” controllers for a game just like all the “others”, pitiful Activision!

  • http://twitter.com/fighterguard Adrian Farenheights

    This Pachter guy is such an asshole. I’ve learned to take everything he says as pure bullshit, especially when referring to Nintendo.

  • csaw

    I vaguely remember an article where activision was actually praising the gamepad saying something like they could see their game franchises actually benefiting from the controller. I wouldn’t take anything that pachter says seriously, considering he has a habit of getting his predictions wrong.

    • LaLaLa

      What predictions? he just makes up crap all day and expects people to respect him.

  • Louiejub

    Wow. I REALLY hope nobody actually believes this. Why would Nintendo be “forced” by another company to make this controller? It’s NINTENDO’S console, not theirs. It was obviously Nintendo’s decision so players/developers can have more controller options. Although I can honestly expect bullshit like this from Pachter…

  • The_Beeshnu

    I don’t know about you but for some games i’m gonna actually have to use this controller

  • T. Finland

    Wii Remote + nunchuk is by far the best way to play fps since mouse + keyboard, and they want a traditional controller especially for first person shooters?! It’s sometimes hard to be part of this thing called mankind. You know… with all the stupidity and stuff.

  • thatoneguy

    I stopped reading at michael pachter

  • ninjamik

    michael patcher is full off $%!*… he has admitted he made it up. or made an assumption.
    he knows nothing about Nintendo (they have always offered a pro – normal pad)
    and to add the game pad is a normal pad with a screen in the middle so you could even use that with a black screen if u couldnt be arsed taking advantage of it by adding the map and inventories to it to enhance the game as any good developer would do!…

  • http://www.facebook.com/jacob.saunders.9634 Jacob Saunders

    Doesn’t he know anything about Capcom’s involvement. Capcom made the other pro controllers and the circle pad pro with Nintendo. So it would be logical if it was Capcom that was involved partially or fully with the Wii U Pro Controller.
    If third parties pressured Nintendo to do anything it was probably to add clickable sticks to the U Pad.

  • Person (formerly person)

    This Patcher guy just rubs me the wrong way. It seems everything that comes out of his mouth is negative.

  • djdorito

    Forced? Nah,But they even can do that?

  • http://www.facebook.com/JonathanRider Johnny Rider

    I’m pretty sure they made it as a remodeled version of the Classic Controller Pro from the Wii because they knew some developers would rather use it for straight ports. Nintendo know what they’re doing.

  • Varun

    Patcher is the FOX news of the gaming world

  • Armageddon

    i find this controller quite sexy.

  • manhill

    you guys do know that we do have cod for the nds?!

  • Raven The Great

    A call of duty exists on the DS.
    PFFT LOL PACHTER

  • StarTropics

    I still think Wii U FPS games should use Wii Remote and Nunchuck instead of dual analog

  • callmeawesome

    conventional=boring and non origional

  • Zboy98

    Is just me or does it look a lot like the controller for the Xbox (Xbox 360)

  • Total911

    Typical Pachter…

  • Dae

    He’s such a moron. I’m sorry. But never has he said anything that even sounds respectable to me. Just a lot of stupidity and half-assed guesses typically. This is probably the most obvious moment in which he has made any sort of attempt of using his brain.

  • Rick

    Even in the first topic about this, Patcher said “anyone told me” and that’s why I always said: Stop spread every BS that Patcher said, 99% is totally BS!

  • MarioM98

    Who cares about Activision and their [obviously] watered-down call of duty games. DICE’s BATTLEFIELD IS THE BEST!! :D

  • Gary

    Great decision from Activision and Nintendo. Most gamers really wanted to have different ways for playing games. Nintendo’s touchscreen controller will be fantastic and all for their games and many more but the pro controller will be great for call of duty games, Fifa, Assassins creed ect for long periods of time.

  • Midori

    Why is there a picture of an XBOX 360 controller here?

  • judgebeanhead

    Even if Activision wasn’t bitchin’ they still should have done this. A big issue with the 3rd party developers for Wii was the fact that they had to make an entirely new game to make it for Wii. They couldn’t just port it over, they had to redo the models to have lower resolution graphics and they had to remap the controls onto the Wii Remote and Nunchuck [although the classic controller and Gamecube controller were still around, now that I think about it] My point is, 3rd party developers were going to keep using that as an excuse not to put their good games on Wii U and now they can’t.

  • RequiredName

    Michael Pachter is not anybody we’re familiar with, and “Call of Duty” is not a “big” title; it’s another generic FPS that the market has been saturated with since the turn of the century.

  • Hamez

    “They didn’t say anything to me, but they said…”