Connected to the console via USB, the device can be placed near the video display, which allowed voice chat to be conducted within entire rooms across multiple households.

It was released on its own, as well as in a bundle alongside Animal Crossing: City Folk, on November 16, 2008 in North America, and on December 5, 2008 in Europe.

"[3] Addressing concerns over background noise due to the placement of the microphone near a television set, Animal Crossing: City Folk producer Katsuya Eguchi stated that the device was designed to filter out video game sound from the audio speakers.

[2] Miyamoto noted at the time that the quality of the noise filtering functionality in the Wii Speak is "very good", which may have contributed to the cost of the device.

In addition to the standalone accessory, the Wii Speak was also made available as a bundle alongside Animal Crossing: City Folk.

At E3 2008, when asked why the device would not be bundled with City Folk, Nintendo senior managing director Shigeru Miyamoto replied that cost was the factor behind the decision, adding that some users may prefer playing the game without a microphone, and that others may want to use Wii Speak who are not interested in buying City Folk.