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Teased about two weeks ago, a substantial system update for the Wii U has now launched. The update adds the following improvements:

• Shorter loading times
• The ability to instantly launch Wii mode when holding down the B button on startup
• Background downloads
• Data transfer between external drives
• Software downloads even when the system is powered down

Tomorrow will also mark the launch of the Wii U's Virtual Console, which will include games like Super Mario World, Mega Man, Kirby's Adventure, and a few others, along with the long-awaited VC release of the SNES classic, EarthBound.

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Rayman Legends, the sequel to the incredibly successful Rayman Origins, has been given a release date after its major delay due to the executive decision to make the Wii U exclusive into a multiplatform game. Rayman Legends will hit shelves on September 3rd, 2013, which is substantially later than its original release date before the platform switch.

To appease the people who were anxious for the Wii U version, however, the dev team has spent the last few months working on a free-to-play challenge mode download of Rayman Legends, which is exclusive to the Wii U. This bonus launched today, and it includes daily challenges and leaderboards in unique levels running in the Legends engine. This should keep you all occupied in the months to come while waiting for the full game to come out on Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, and eventually on the PS Vita.

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Usually Nintendo will have a huge announcement or a press release when they launch something new. This time, however, something just popped right the fuck outta nowehere: The PC site for the Wii U's social media platform, Miiverse.

Even if you don't have a Nintendo Network ID, you can still view the various communities and see the drawings and posts within, which is pretty awesome. This feature for Miiverse was teased at the initial announcement of the platform, but no actual date of launch was given. Realistically speaking, this has probably been up for weeks and some exec up in Nintendo is laughing his/her ass off at the fact that we're just now discovering this. Either way, it's an awesome addition to Nintendo's online arsenal.

If you have a Nintendo Network ID, what other features are available on the PC Miiverse after logging in? Let me know in the comments or over Twitter!

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Microsoft teased through Twitter that their next home console will be announced on May 21st in a press conference at 10 AM PT. Many speculate it will be all digital and will have DRM, while others are staying a little optimistic. Hopefully this reveal can settle all of our fears, but we won't know until then.

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Launching on May 13th as a digital title on the 3DS eShop is the next installment of the Mario VS Donkey Kong series. In Minis on the Move, you control the Minis on a predetermined path built with consumable blocks on a large platform; this puzzle style's layout will make good use of the system's 3D capabilities. The game includes a massive amount of levels over various game modes, making it well worth its announced price of $9.99.

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Hey, check it out! The PlayStation Vita is actually getting some games. It's been announced that Rayman Legends will be getting a PS Vita version and a new Corpse Party game, Blood Drive, will hit the Vita sometime this year.

In even bigger news, Konami has revealed the Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection, which includes literally every single mainseries edition to the Metal Gear Solid franchise. To directly quote the announcement, Konami stated that games included are, "Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid 3: HD Edition (which includes the original MSX versions of Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2), Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition, Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions and Metal Gear Solid 4: Trophy Edition. In addition, the collection will also include two Ashley Wood digital graphic novels." The Legacy Collection launches on the PS3 in June 2013.

Did you buy the MGS HD Collection? No? Good for you. Now you can get an even better pack. ...oh, you did buy the HD Collection? ...hope you're cool with more duplicate games.

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Nintendo has stated that (as a form of apology for the delays, most likely) American and European players of Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS will be getting a feature that Japanese players don't have. Said feature is that Nintendo-made model homes will appear in the HH Showcase and will be recieved through SpotPass. This is a nifty little addition to the already-expansive amount of social-based features in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The game hits shelves in June.

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Information on Animal Crossing: New Leaf, the 3DS installment in the Animal Crossing series that takes the customization features of the franchise to the next level, has appeared in the 3DS eShop. Surprisingly, the game is listed at $34.99 instead of the expected $40 of 3DS games. It seems as though Nintendo has enough faith in the game to launch it at a slightly lower price. New Leaf will hit the eShop and stores shelves on June 9th.

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Warner Bros. has announced that a prequel to the Arkham series of Batman video games is in the works, and will launch on PC, Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U in October 25th, 2013. Dubbed Batman: Arkham Origins, the game takes place many years before the first Arkham game and will focus on Batman meeting some iconic characters for the first time whilst avoiding assassins who are after him. A sequel/spin-off to Origins called Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate will be hitting the PS Vita and 3DS on the same day. The portable version will have Metroid-esque gameplay and is actually being made by former developers of the Metroid Prime trilogy. Supposedly, Arkham City will actually be a fully-functioning city this time around, as opposed to a destroyed hellhole.

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For the next month or so, Club Nintendo members will be able to download a set of 4 digital games for 150 coins each for their Wii or 3DS. These games change monthly and games previously available will most likely not come back.

The lineup this time around consists of Super Metroid (SNES) and Super Mario 64 (N64) for the Wii, as well as Kirby's Pinball Land (GB) and 3D Classics: Urban Champion for 3DS. Choosing which game you use your coins on will provide you with a code to input in the Wii Shop Channel or 3DS eShop for your free download.

Correction: Super Mario 64, specifically, is 200 coins, not 150 like the rest of the titles available.