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Nintendo announced on October 21, 2011, that Hulu Plus was planned for the Wii and Nintendo 3DS by the end of the year. The same announcement covered a 3DS system update for stereoscopic 3D-video recording, new Nintendo Video programming, and several upcoming eShop games. It was a plan for expanding Nintendo hardware beyond games—not confirmation that Hulu Plus was already available. Today, the announcement is historical: an original Wii or 3DS should not be treated as a supported modern Hulu streaming device.
What Nintendo announced in October 2011
Nintendo’s announcement combined several entertainment and software initiatives. According to contemporary coverage, Hulu Plus was expected to arrive on both the Wii and Nintendo 3DS by the end of 2011.
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- Wii: Hulu Plus support for Nintendo’s living-room console.
- Nintendo 3DS: planned Hulu Plus support for the handheld.
- 3DS system software: a feature enabling users to record 3D video.
- Nintendo Video: additional programming, including animated content from DreamWorks Animation.
- 3DS eShop: forthcoming releases including Freakyforms, Pushmo, Swapnote, and Dillon’s Rolling Western.
The wording matters. Hulu Plus was described as something that would become available, not as a service already working on both systems. The report gave an expected timetable—by the end of 2011—but does not, by itself, establish the precise launch date on either platform.
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What Hulu Plus meant in 2011
Hulu Plus was Hulu’s paid subscription tier. The October 2011 report described it as costing $7.99 per month and carrying programming from networks and providers including ABC, NBC, FOX, Comedy Central, and MTV. That was period pricing and period catalog information, not a current Hulu quote.
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- Features: 3D Depth Slider, Wi-Fi Capability, Nintendo 3DS Sound, Mii Maker, 3D Camera, Front & Rear Camera, Touch Screen
- Includes: AC Power Adapter, Stylus
- Wired Connectivity: Wireless
- Model Compatibility: Nintendo 3DS
A subscription alone did not guarantee identical access everywhere. Availability depended on supported hardware, internet connectivity, account authentication, licensing agreements, and geography. Hulu’s 2011 service was primarily discussed in a U.S. context, so the announcement should not be generalized to every country.
Why Hulu Plus made sense on the Wii
The Wii was already connected to many household televisions, making it a natural target for subscription video. Nintendo had previously brought Netflix to the console, and Hulu Plus offered another major streaming service for owners who wanted one device for games and television.
In the competitive context of 2011, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 already offered both Netflix and Hulu Plus. Nintendo’s announcement therefore looked like an effort to narrow a living-room entertainment gap as the company prepared for the Wii U, scheduled for 2012.
The trade-offs were significant. Wii-era hardware and video output were not comparable with newer HD streaming boxes or consoles. The experience also depended on a paid Hulu Plus account, a suitable broadband connection, and continued app support. Its usefulness was that of a 2011 streaming option—not a substitute for modern streaming hardware.
How Hulu Plus fit the Nintendo 3DS
Hulu on the 3DS was a more unusual proposition. The system was primarily a handheld game console, but Nintendo was also positioning it as a portable video device. That could make television programming available away from the living room, provided the user had a wireless connection and a supported account.
The practical limitations were obvious: the 3DS had a small screen, finite battery life, and wireless performance that varied with the network environment. Long-form streaming was less convenient than watching on a television or a newer phone or tablet.
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- Nintendo 3DS offers a new way to play, 3D without the need for special glasses. The 3D Depth Slider lets your determine how much 3D you want to see.
- Play 3D games and take 3D pictures with Nintendo 3DS. One inner camera and two outer cameras. Resolutions are 640 x 480 for each camera. Lens are single focus and uses the CMOS capture element.
- Connect to a deeper wireless experience with SpotPass and StreetPass, giving you more exclusive content and connecting you with other Nintendo 3DS users.
- Complete with an adjustable stylus, 6 AR cards, and fun built-in software such as Face Raiders, Nintendo 3DS Sound, and the Mii Maker application.
- Use Parental Controls to restrict 3D mode for children 6 and under.
Most importantly, Hulu access and 3D recording were separate features. The announcement did not establish that Hulu shows would be delivered in stereoscopic 3D. “Hulu on 3DS” should not be rewritten as “3D Hulu.”
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The planned system update used the 3DS’s two outward-facing cameras to capture stereoscopic video that could be viewed on the handheld’s glasses-free 3D display. It was a software-enabled capability for the existing system, not a new hardware revision.
The feature was aimed at short, casual 3D clips rather than modern high-resolution video production. Storage, recording duration, battery use, and sharing options were practical constraints. The available announcement coverage confirms the feature but does not provide reliable technical specifications for resolution, clip length, codec, or file size, so those details should not be invented.
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The rest of Nintendo’s 3DS software push
Hulu Plus and 3D recording were only part of a broader attempt to make the 3DS a more active media and software platform. Nintendo also promoted new Nintendo Video programming, including DreamWorks Animation content.
The announcement listed four eShop games:
- Freakyforms
- Pushmo
- Swapnote
- Dillon’s Rolling Western
That broader package explains why the original news headline linked Hulu, video recording, Nintendo Video, and downloadable games. Nintendo was presenting a roadmap for the 3DS rather than announcing a single streaming application in isolation.
Announcement versus confirmed availability
| Point | What can be said safely |
|---|---|
| Announcement | Nintendo announced the plans on October 21, 2011. |
| Platforms | Hulu Plus was planned for Wii and Nintendo 3DS. |
| Timing | Contemporary coverage expected availability by the end of 2011. |
| Subscription | The period report described Hulu Plus as a $7.99-per-month service. |
| 3D feature | A 3DS update was announced to enable 3D-video recording. |
| Current use | The 2011 announcement is not evidence that the original apps, servers, or account authentication remain supported in 2026. |
The available announcement source verifies Nintendo’s plans and expected schedule, but not every later launch, regional rollout, or withdrawal milestone. Those events should be treated separately from the original forecast rather than assumed from it.
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- 3D Entertainment Without Glasses- Nintendo 3DS games have incredible graphics, and you can turn down the 3D effect to any level, or turn it off completely at any time with the build-in 3D depth slider to play games in crisp, clear 2D
- Two Screens- A widescreen display on the top screen shows 800x240 pixel resolution, allocating 400*pixles for each eye to create the 3D effect. The bottom LCD touch screen operates at a resolution of 320*240
- 3D Photos, Plus More- Nintendo 3DS comes built-in with the ability to take photos in 3D. Capture eye popping images of your friends and family, have fun with filters like the Merge lens, or even use the system's AR technology and included AR Cards
What happened to the idea?
The announcement represented Nintendo’s attempt to broaden both systems’ roles. The Wii was becoming a household streaming box as well as a game console, while the 3DS was being promoted as a portable destination for video, downloadable software, and user-created 3D content.
That model was tied to a particular moment in console history. Apps on legacy platforms require ongoing support from both the platform holder and the service provider. Hardware aging, changing authentication systems, licensing, regional restrictions, and newer streaming standards can all end that support even when the original hardware still powers on.
As of 2026, the Wii and original 3DS are discontinued legacy platforms. Readers should not buy or configure either system expecting dependable access to current Hulu programming. A modern Hulu subscription, where available, does not make an original Wii or 3DS a viable current streaming device; the official service reference is Hulu’s signup page.
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Why the 2011 announcement still matters
Nintendo’s Hulu Plus plan showed how console makers were competing to become broader entertainment platforms. Netflix had helped establish streaming on game consoles, and Hulu Plus gave Nintendo another way to keep Wii owners engaged with the television connected to the system.
On the 3DS, the pitch was more experimental. Portable television access sat alongside a camera feature that emphasized the handheld’s distinctive stereoscopic hardware. Neither feature should be judged by modern standards, but together they show Nintendo testing what a game system could do outside traditional game software.
The lasting lesson is to separate the promise from the product: Nintendo announced Hulu Plus for Wii and 3DS, expected a rollout by the end of 2011, and promoted 3D recording as part of a wider 3DS update cycle. That historical plan should not be mistaken for current support or for stereoscopic Hulu streaming.
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