Google Maps application confirmed for Wii U

During a Nintendo Direct broadcast this morning, global president Satoru Iwata has confirmed that a Google Maps application will be released for Wii U in Japan.

It will be made available at the end of January, and will be free to download until the end of March after which it may be purchased.

Iwata demonstrated the application, and how you can zoom in to ground level to use Google Maps Street View, strapping on a head camera to do so.

With the Wii U GamePad, making use of the gyro sensor you can then look around you through physical movement.

There are no announced plans as yet for this to release outside of Japan, but we’ll probably hear more from the North American and European Nintendo Direct broadcasts later.