it takes 60m for it to shut down if you leave the console but it can be changed to longer periods or to turn the function off completely.

no one will shut the console of while it is updating though lol

If the automatic shutdown goes into effect even when updating your system then someone needs to get fired.

Edit:

And thankfully the system doesn't work like that.

The best part is the Wii U out of the box has a setting enabled that shuts off the console after an hour of inactivity. So while you go do some laundry or watch TV or whatever while you're waiting for the Wii U to download this ungodly update, you better have shut this function off, or else say bye bye to your brand new console.

Guys, this.

Yikes, that's terrifying.

OT: Is that Geoff Keighley guy the Doritos Pope guy?

Ouch. That's a pretty silly if it's true.

Its been confired that Wii U does not self shut down during update, the guy just unplugged or turned it off.

Well yeah that was my concern. If it's disabled during updates then ignore me.

Been quoted four times in a row. yay new personal record.

You guys should know that no system shutdown will ever brick the console. It is only the kind of "shutdown" that happens when you lose power or your pull the plug off directly that is actually harmful, and yes, you should be careful about it.

No need to worry about automatic shutdowns. Although 5 GB of update...I've never had a 5GB of an update for anything.

Ummm. Regardless of hardware, you just never turn off your stuff while it's doing firmware update. Why is this news? LOL