The Wii U's spring firmware update will launch the Wii U Virtual Console; cult RPG Earthbound will also release this year.

Nintendo has announced that the Wii U Virtual Console will officially launch in North America next week with the console's spring firmware update.

Speaking during today's Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata said Virtual Console games on the Wii U would be playable on TV and from the GamePad. Games will also be able to access the Miiverse community.

At launch, the Wii U Virtual Console will feature classic Nintendo titles F-Zero, Balloon Fight, Donkey Kong Jr, Excitebike, Punch Out, Super Mario World, Ice Climber, and Kirby's Adventure

As part of the announcement, Nintendo confirmed that cult 1995 SNES RPG Earthbound would be also be coming to the Wii U Virtual Console this year in North America and Europe.

Elsewhere in the Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo confirmed that Wii U eShop title Game & Wario would release in North America on June 23.

As for the 3DS eShop, Nintendo will be releasing Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move on May 9. This year the 3DS eShop will also see three original games from Professor Layton publisher Level 5: The Starship Damrey, Bugs vs Tanks, and Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale.

Finishing off Nintendo's downloadable announcements, the publisher confirmed Capcom-developed The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Seasons will be released for 3DS Virtual Console on May 30.

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