Moonlight Wii U is a port of Moonlight Embedded, which is an open source client for Sunshine and NVIDIA GameStream. Moonlight allows you to stream your full collection of games and applications from your PC to other devices to play them remotely.

It's using the hardware-accelerated h264 library of the Wii U which results in pretty fast decoding.
Using my LAN Adapter 720p@60fps runs almost flawlessly.

Here's a little demo (and april fools) video:

Quick Start​

A Wii U LAN Adapter is recommended!

• Grab the latest version from the releases page and extract it to the root of your SD Card.
• Enter the IP of your Sunshine/GFE server in the moonlight.conf file located at sd:/wiiu/apps/moonlight.
• Ensure your Sunshine/GFE server and Wii U are on the same network.
• If using GFE, turn on Shield Streaming in the GFE settings.
• Pair Moonlight Wii U with the server.
• Accept the pairing confirmation on your PC.
• Connect to the server with Moonlight Wii U.
• Play games!

Configuration
You can configure all of the documented settings in the moonlight.conf file located at sd:/wiiu/apps/moonlight.
Note that a lot of option are commented out by default, to edit them you need to remove the # in front of them.

Supported controllers

• Gamepad (can be disabled with the disable_gamepad option).
• Up to 4 Wii U Pro Controllers and Wii Classic Controllers (Pro).
  The Gamepad needs to be disabled to use the 4th controller.

Troubleshooting​

Input doesn't work when using Sunshine​

Verify that you've installed Nefarius Virtual Gamepad and restarted your PC after the installation.

The stream disconnects frequently/immediately​

Depending on your network connection you need to adjust the configuration to find a stable bitrate and resolution.Try something like this to get started:

width = 854
height = 480
fps = 30

bitrate = 1500

Then slowly increase the bitrate until the stream is no longer stable.

Can't find app Steam​

Moonlight Wii U tries to start the app "Steam" by default, but sunshine does not have a default Application called "Steam".
You can either rename the app in the moonlight.conf to

app = Steam Big Picture

which is a default option in sunshine or add a new application called "Steam" in the sunshine configuration.

Releases: https://github.com/GaryOderNichts/moonlight-wiiu/releases
Source code: https://github.com/GaryOderNichts/moonlight-wiiu

Special thanks to agilly1989, rw and QuarkTheAwesome.

 

[ZTylerDurden]

Looks like there's software called libdrc to stream PC->Gamepad independent of Wii U but it's largely left alone because of its complexity.

Streaming a stream seems the way to go...

 

[funk192]

Is there anyway to get the WiiU playing a stable FPS stream while using GeForce Experience Shield streaming as the server?

I normally use Moonlight client on my other desktop and the same stream is stable.

The way I test for a stable stream is to make sure I have the monitor it's streaming from(the host) to the correct Refresh rate e.g. 60Hz and set my moonlight Desktop client FPS and its monitors refresh rate to the same to match the Host while using Vsync.

Then I run UFO test(search in Google) from blurbusters website on Chrome browser on the host and watch the stream on the client. This shows any jitter or unstable FPS.

Watching the same stream on the Wii U controller shows that it hitches every 1.5 or so seconds. Now the thing we probably can't change is the refresh rate of the controller.

I've tried altering the host to stream 30FPSHz, 59.940FPS/Hz, 60FPS/Hz and match the moonlight config file FPS setting but it consistently skips every 1.5 or so seconds still.

Sunshine/Openstream streaming will never give a consistent stream though so don't bother with those. Only GeForce streaming gives consistent, just not while using WiiU.

The question is, what would the exact refresh rate be of the Wii U Controller. I'd imagine it would be matching the WiiU's HDMI output. My TV projector where my WiiU is connected states 60Hz but that also could be 59.94(60/1.001)

My desktop client still gives a very consistent stream without Vsync so Idk what the problem could be while using Moonlight on the WiiU. I use 854x480 resolution, but have tried 1280x720 and also tried different and lower bitrate and MTU settings as I use WiFi.

 

[WiiU_user]

Great work! Thank you very much!

 

[MO35AB]

Its lagging very much for me, i tried to tether directly from my pc, but same issue, even on smaller resolution.

 

[Fesku]

Hey guys, Moonlight is not working, I don't know why.
I followed all the steps and the Wii U even successfully paired with gamestream on Geforce Experience, but after I pressed A (start stream) on the gamepad, nothing happened on my pc and the Wii U gamepad was just black - It wasn't frozen I could go back to the Homebrew Launcher with the Home button. I don't know why it won't stream, I can even stream my 3ds (using NTRview) to my Wii U gamepad, so the problem is with my pc?

I have a GTX 1070, have a good internet connection, the latest version of Moonlight, Geforce Experience version 3.21.0.36 and blocked all Updates for Geforce Experience.

 

[MO35AB]

Hey guys, Moonlight is not working, I don't know why.
I followed all the steps and the Wii U even successfully paired with gamestream on Geforce Experience, but after I pressed A (start stream) on the gamepad, nothing happened on my pc and the Wii U gamepad was just black - It wasn't frozen I could go back to the Homebrew Launcher with the Home button. I don't know why it won't stream, I can even stream my 3ds (using NTRview) to my Wii U gamepad, so the problem is with my pc?

I have a GTX 1070, have a good internet connection, the latest version of Moonlight, Geforce Experience version 3.21.0.36 and blocked all Updates for Geforce Experience.

I don't know about hardware, but for the stream, you need your WIFI local network to be fast, not the internet, the whole operation is going locally, so try to stream using laptop's tethering hotspot, you might have better results.

 

[funk192]

but after I pressed A (start stream) on the gamepad, nothing happened on my pc and the Wii U gamepad was just black

Download Moonlight on your phone and test if you get the same behaviour. If so, then the problem must be your PC. Usually from experience black screen problem occured when there was no physical display/monitor/headless dongle attached or enabled to the Nvidia GPU.

 

[CrisMod]

Hey guys, Moonlight is not working, I don't know why.
I followed all the steps and the Wii U even successfully paired with gamestream on Geforce Experience, but after I pressed A (start stream) on the gamepad, nothing happened on my pc and the Wii U gamepad was just black - It wasn't frozen I could go back to the Homebrew Launcher with the Home button. I don't know why it won't stream, I can even stream my 3ds (using NTRview) to my Wii U gamepad, so the problem is with my pc?

I have a GTX 1070, have a good internet connection, the latest version of Moonlight, Geforce Experience version 3.21.0.36 and blocked all Updates for Geforce Experience.

Also the GeForce Experience version mentioned from you the 3.21.0.36, was well matching with Moonlight version 2 if Gary made a new version 3 of Moonlight, this latest version it's compatible with the latest GeForce Experience updates, maybe the latest Moonlight Update it doesn't work well with the GeForce Experience older versions....

 

[Axellito]

Hello ! I'm going wild because it's been a day that I'm tring to make Moonlight working on my Wii U ...
It's always saying
"Can't connect to server 192.168.1.37" but it's my local address ... I checked on my network admin panel (with local address and Mac address) and it's a match ! Both Wii U and my computer are connected on the same network (we have 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz) so this is the correct address.

Of course, I replace all the settings, remove all the "#" etc... here is my settings to be sure :

## Hostname or IP-address of host to connect to
address = 192.168.1.37

## Video streaming configuration
width = 1920
height = 1152
fps = 30

## Disables the gamepad so the other controllers are mapped to players 1 to 4
disable_gamepad = true

## Swaps the buttons so they match the xbox controller layout
swap_buttons = true

## Bitrate depends by default on resolution and fps
## Set to -1 to enable default
## 20Mbps (20000) for 1080p (60 fps)
## 10Mbps (10000) for 1080p or 60 fps
## 5Mbps (5000) for lower resolution or fps
bitrate = -1

## Size of network packets should be lower than MTU
packetsize = 1470

## Default started application on host
#app = Steam

## Play audio on host instead of streaming to client
localaudio = false

## Send quit app request to remote after quitting session
quitappafter = false

## Enable QOS settings to optimize for internet instead of local network
remote = false

## Enable 5.1 surround sound
surround = false

Moonlight works on my android phone, so it's not a computer problem.
Moonlight works on my old computer, so it's not connection problem or computer problem.
Moonlight also work with my phone data on my old computer and an other android phone so it's not a network issue either. I suppose...

I tried Sunlight but not working, I didn't went deep in the research of it I assume. Openstream works on my phone also.

I donwloaded the latest version of Moonlight for Wii U, tested with the latest and the downgraded version of GFE but nothing seems working for the Wii U. I also tried with an old version of Moonlight for Wii U but same thing :
"Can't connect to server 192.168.X.X"

I don't know what I can do next !

 

[CrisMod]

Hello ! I'm going wild because it's been a day that I'm tring to make Moonlight working on my Wii U ...
It's always saying
"Can't connect to server 192.168.1.37" but it's my local address ... I checked on my network admin panel (with local address and Mac address) and it's a match ! Both Wii U and my computer are connected on the same network (we have 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz) so this is the correct address.

Of course, I replace all the settings, remove all the "#" etc... here is my settings to be sure :

## Hostname or IP-address of host to connect to
address = 192.168.1.37

## Video streaming configuration
width = 1920
height = 1152
fps = 30

## Disables the gamepad so the other controllers are mapped to players 1 to 4
#disable_gamepad = true

## Swaps the buttons so they match the xbox controller layout
#swap_buttons = true

## Bitrate depends by default on resolution and fps
## Set to -1 to enable default
## 20Mbps (20000) for 1080p (60 fps)
## 10Mbps (10000) for 1080p or 60 fps
## 5Mbps (5000) for lower resolution or fps
bitrate = -1

## Size of network packets should be lower than MTU
packetsize = 1470

## Default started application on host
#app = Steam

## Play audio on host instead of streaming to client
#localaudio = false

## Send quit app request to remote after quitting session
#quitappafter = false

## Enable QOS settings to optimize for internet instead of local network
#remote = false

## Enable 5.1 surround sound
#surround = false

Moonlight works on my android phone, so it's not a computer problem.
Moonlight works on my old computer, so it's not connection problem or computer problem.
Moonlight also work with my phone data on my old computer and an other android phone so it's not a network issue either. I suppose...

I tried Sunlight but not working, I didn't went deep in the research of it I assume. Openstream works on my phone also.

I donwloaded the latest version of Moonlight for Wii U, tested with the latest and the downgraded version of GFE but nothing seems working for the Wii U. I also tried with an old version of Moonlight for Wii U but same thing :
"Can't connect to server 192.168.X.X"

I don't know what I can do next !

You have the hashtag here:

#app = Steam

Take out the "#" , otherwise cannot connect with GeForce Experience/your PC.

 

[Axellito]

You have the hashtag here:

#app = Steam

Take out the "#" , otherwise cannot connect with GeForce Experience/your PC.

Even with this modification, it's not working...
What can you suggest ?

 

[CrisMod]

Even with this modification, it's not working...
What can you suggest ?

First, it pops-up the pairing code on your PC when you press on your Wii U to pairing first?

 

[Axellito]

First, it pops-up the pairing code on your PC when you press on your Wii U to pairing first?

No ! It only shows "Can't connect blablabla " on the gamepad

 

[CrisMod]

No ! It only shows "Can't connect blablabla " on the gamepad

Sorry for stupid question, but did you fill with the PC IP your Conf file from Wii U right?

 

[Axellito]

Sorry for stupid question, but did you fill with the PC IP your Conf file from Wii U right?

On my computer (with GFE) : cmd --> ipconfig --> ipv4 : 192.168.1.37
so in the conf file on wii u : address = 192.168.1.37

 

[CrisMod]

On my computer (with GFE) : cmd --> ipconfig --> ipv4 : 192.168.1.37
so in the conf file on wii u : address = 192.168.1.37

The Firewall from your router or pc block it?

 

[Axellito]

The Firewall from your router or pc block it?

like I said, everything works when I tried with Android or an other computer, with an other connection (my 4g phone data) etc...
I don't really know what happening with the WiiU homebrew

 

[CrisMod]

like I said, everything works when I tried with Android or an other computer, with an other connection (my 4g phone data) etc...
I don't really know what happening with the WiiU homebrew

Change the GeForce Experience Version with one older, and pair first, and keep watching your PC. Better to reboot everything when you install the old version of GeForce Experience

 

[Axellito]

Change the GeForce Experience Version with one older, and pair first, and keep watching your PC. Better to reboot everything when you install the old version of GeForce Experience

Please, can you consider my first big message... I already done this...
I just don't receive Pair message because the Wii U can't connect to the server

 

[CrisMod]

Please, can you consider my first big message... I already done this...
I just don't receive Pair message because the Wii U can't connect to the server

In this case, could be because your PC it's connected with 5GHz and your Wii U with 2.4GHz, I know it's crazy but sometimes could happens this, try to connect the PC by ethernet and give in the router settings the IP static to your PC and not Dynamic. If even not with these two test are working, for sure there something between your settings.....