Wii U day-one update 'bricking' some consoles

The Wii U's unpopular 5GB firmware update is reportedly causing big problems for some users.

Although Australians won't see the Wii U until 30 November, the next-gen console has already launched in the US.

Already under fire for the massive 5GB day-one firmware update that users require to activate a number of system features — such as Miiverse, the online store and the compatibility for older Wii games — reports are coming in that interruptions to the download can render some consoles inoperable.

Ars Technica noted that a number of forum posts and tweets — including one from LA Times reporter Ben Fritz — indicated that interruptions to power or internet access during the update won't just require you to try again; it'll actually kill your console completely.

While there's no official comment from Nintendo yet, bricked consoles should be covered by the standard warranty, and — fingers crossed — the issue will be sorted by the time of the Australian launch.