Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime stated that the Wii U's lack of video services at launch — save for Netflix — is indicative of the console being a "living, breathing system" in an MTV Multiplayer interview.
Several entertainment apps, including Hulu Plus and Amazon Instant Video, were absent from the console's day one system update. Its Nintendo TVii functionality, which adds social features to these apps as well as live television channels, was also pushed back to December shortly before the console hit store shelves.
Fils-Aime explained that it's important for the Wii U to continue to expand during its lifetime, which the tiered release of these applications will allow it to do.
"Wii U is a living breathing system, and what I mean by that is the experience that consumers will have tonight as they first open the system will be different than the experience that they have two weeks from now, it will be then even more different two years from now," Fils-Aime said. "We believe that its our responsibility to continue bringing new experiences, to continue refreshing the experiences that we have, and in doing so, I think that's what's going to have consumers continue to pick up and engage with that gamepad every single day."
Addressing the entertainment apps, many of which were expected in the console's day one patch, Fils-Aime said that their launch timing plays into the console's identity.
"One of the things that we were criticized for yesterday was for the lack of some of the video on demand content, but I can tell you that when consumers buy their system, Netflix will be live," Fils-Aime said. "I share that because it really reflects how this is a living and breathing system. In the days and weeks ahead, the other three video services will be up and running. We've said that Nintendo TVii is coming in December, and so it truly is a living, breathing system that will bring more and more elements to bear over the days, weeks, months, and years ahead."