GameCenter CX Officially Unseals Wii and PS3 as Retro Games
The unsealing formally adds a generation of larger-scale, assist-heavy games to Arino's Challenge, a format built around clearing games within a limited time, after staff had raised doubts about whether those games fit the show's concept.
Key Facts
- The Wii and PS3, released in 2006, will mark 20 years since release in 2026, meeting GameCenter CX's retro game criterion.
- The first viewer poll on unsealing received about 14,000 votes with 71 percent for 'unban,' and the second received about 17,000 votes with 80 percent for 'unban.'
- Arino played New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Fit, and Demon's Souls as a 'taste test' during the August 23 live stream.
- GameCenter CX DVD-BOX23 is set for release on December 11, with pre-orders being accepted.
- GameCenter CX is scheduled to have a booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held from September 17 to 21.
Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark, Inside.
On August 23, 2026, the official GameCenter CX YouTube channel aired the 'Wii & PS3 Unsealed!? Live Stream,' during which Shinya Arino, known on the show as Section Chief Arino, decided to officially treat Wii and PlayStation 3 software as retro games. The show's definition of retro software is 'games for hardware that has been out for more than 20 years,' and both consoles, released in 2006, reach that milestone this year. The decision followed two viewer polls and a 'taste test' where Arino played New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Wii Fit, and Demon's Souls. The first poll, with about 14,000 votes, favored unsealing at 71 percent, and the second, with about 17,000 votes, saw that rise to 80 percent. Arino raised the 'unseal' card after deliberating, saying the show wants to attract new fans in their 20s. The specific timing for tackling these games and which titles will be chosen remains undecided, and viewer requests are being solicited.
- Arino named "AFRIKA" as a game he wants to try first, saying "'AFRIKA' would be good. As the first one."
- Titles played in the taste test included "OPONA" and "rain" alongside "New Super Mario Bros. Wii," "Wii Fit," and "Demon's Souls."
- The show previously unsealed the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Game Boy Advance under the same 20-year rule.
- Staff had debated the unsealing before the stream, with concerns that modern games' longer completion times and improved save and assist features would not fit the show's format of clearing games within a limited time.
- Viewer comments in the first poll included "They're nostalgic for younger generations," "You can't clear them in one day," and "Section Chief Arino probably won't struggle."
- GameCenter CX will have a booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held from September 17 to September 21.
- Pre-orders are open for "GameCenter CX DVD-BOX23," set for release on December 11.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net 「ゲームセンターCX」，WiiおよびPS3をレトロゲームとして取り扱い解禁。有野さんが「Wii Fit」「Demon's Souls」などにお試しで挑戦
- Denfaminicogamer 『ゲームセンターCX』が「Wii」「PS3」をついに解禁！有野課長「どうしよう、解禁しちゃいました」
- Game Spark 激論を生んだ「Wii＆PS3はレトロゲームか？」論争、ついに決着－「ゲームセンターCX」生配信で有野課長が実際に『Wii Fit』『デモンズソウル』などプレイ
- Inside 激論を生んだ「Wii＆PS3はレトロゲームか？」論争、ついに決着－「ゲームセンターCX」生配信で有野課長が実際に『Wii Fit』『デモンズソウル』などプレイ