Explore the World with Google Maps and the Wii U GamePad

Update - Nintendo has confirmed that he Google Maps service will be heading to North America and Europe.

Nintendo have confirmed that a Google Maps will be plotting its way onto the Wii U terrain next month.

Google Maps and a Nintendo home console maybe two technologies that wouldn't appear a worthy fit, however in a presentation this morning company president Satoru Iwata confirmed that the technology will become available on Wii U.

Like the desktop and mobile application, it will allow Wii U owners view maps from a worldwide scale, but the streetview functionality is where the need for a map viewer starts to make sense. Couple Google's growing photographic street navigation with the GamePad's screen and motion sensors and there's a recipe for an interactive way to quite literally, explore the world.

Just use the controller to tilt the Streetview camera around in a similar way to Nintendo's own Panoramic View.

Google Maps for Wii U will become available in Japan as a free download from January to March, when it will become a paid app.