3DS can 'technically' function as Wii U controller

The Wii U controller is not unlike the 3DS. In spite of significant advancements made to capacitive screens (like the ones used on most touch screen phones and tablets), both utilize resistive touch screens that work best with a stylus. There may be a reason why the two systems are so similar. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed that the 3DS can act as a controller for the Wii U. "It is technically possible," he said at Nintendo's recent investors meeting. "However, there are some limitations: While the Nintendo 3DS is communicating with the Wii or the Wii U, the Wii or the Wii U will not be able to access the Internet, and this technical restriction will remain unless we add some special hardware."

Although the company was aggressive with its connectivity plans during the Gamecube era, it seems more hesitant to pursue connecting the 3DS and Wii U. "Some consumers might feel that Nintendo is saying that consumers must buy both systems," Iwata explained. "So that consumers will not think of Nintendo as a company that made the Nintendo 3DS a controller because it wanted consumers to buy both hardware systems, we will not adopt this idea unless connecting the two systems is the most natural thing to do."

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Given the Wii U will supposedly only support one controller, perhaps the 3DS can be used as makeshift controllers for local multiplayer sessions?

"We would like to think of it as a possibility now that the communication can be done wirelessly, but even if we should do this, we would like to develop this service so that we will not receive comments from consumers saying, 'Why does Nintendo force us to buy both systems?'"