The Wii U is a home console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and the first Nintendo console to support HD graphics. The system's primary controller is the Wii U GamePad, which mainly features an embedded touchscreen, and the Wii U Pro Controller can be used in its place as a more traditional alternative. Online functionality centers around the Nintendo Network platform and Miiverse, the integrated social networking service which allows users to share content in game-specific communities.