220°

Why is The Wii U Selling Poorly?

The Wii U has been out for a while now but what has Nintendo done so wrong to cause the poor sales that it is receiving. With the unveiling of the new consoles from Microsoft and Sony, is it too late for the Wii U to make a comeback?

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Lockhart3970d ago

I don't think people are interested in the concept anymore. It was interesting when the Wii originally came out because it was different, so everybody wanted to get their hands on one, but now most people just want to sit down with the likes of PS/XB.

Wizziokid3970d ago

It's because the Wii U didn't offer the same level of revolution that the Wii did, people saw it and though ok... a second screen, so?

Not truly amazing has been done with the gamepad, sure some nice things but nothing to say look at the Wii U it can do this and it's new and exciting. To me if they do get a chance Nintendo need to get back in the race with Sony and Ms otherwise in terms of hardware otherwise we wont be seeing any more consoles by them, maybe more handhelds but consoles. nope.

Timesplitter143970d ago

But if Nintendo became only a games developper and released their games on PS4/X1, that would be amazing (for us)

Rusty5153970d ago

It's not even that, it's just that the Wii U really has no purpose. I can play games while someone is watching TV? Yeah, that's cool. What else is its purpose?Nintendo have yet to show us why the game pad is relevant. There's no point in it.

miyamoto3970d ago (Edited 3970d ago )

More and More Games Less and Less Gimmicks

Timesplitter143970d ago (Edited 3970d ago )

There's also the fact that they did a terrible job at marketing it. Just 2 weeks ago I revealed to two of my gamer friends that the Wii U is Nintendo's actual next-gen console. They thought it was just a portable Wii redesign.

Many people don't even know it exists

M0rz3970d ago

Yes this is very much true and is stated in the article.

JsonHenry3970d ago

A whole host of reasons. It is a marginal at best visual upgrade from the Wii. It was marketed poorly. Many people think it is just a Wii with a new controller and judging by the visuals it produces the average consumer would not be able to tell it is a whole new system. The games just are not there. How many generations can Nintendo get away with releasing one zelda game, a mario game or two, a party game/kart game, and then expect us to want to upgrade to their new systems to repeat the process. 3rd parties don't even take the WiiU seriously.

Nintendo basically tried to sell a portable device as the set-top device hoping they would achieve success like they have with their handheld market.

They need a truly next generation console without adding a gimmicky controller and saying this is our innovation, enjoy!

3-4-53970d ago

Games.

They will release and people will flock to the Wii U.

3D Mario, Super Smash Brothers, Legend of Zelda U, Mario Kart 8 will all sell the Wii U.

Also that Xeno like RPG will sell consoles as well.

I still have a feeling they are working on a true 3D mario game that we will see in late 2014 or 2015.

Qrphe3969d ago (Edited 3969d ago )

People thought the same thing during the N64/GC days. The Wii U NEEDS 3rd party support to sell a lot better than it is now.

Anon19743970d ago

Talking to Wii owning families that I know, I've broached the topic of the Wii-U a number of times and have been, except for one family, been met with blank stares. The families I know simply don't know the Wii-U exists and the one that did know thought it was a tablet add on of some kind which she wrote off because they already have an iPad.

The Wii-U lacks that buzz the Wii had. The Wii was on TV talk shows, it was on commercials, it had families happily gaming with their kids and it had the motion control gimmick that appealed to kids. The Wii-U has none of that buzz going. They don't need to show the console at E3.

The people that bought the Wii don't know what E3 is. They need to get the Wii-U on Ellen or some similar show to inform the cauals that it exists if they are to have any hope. Core gamers aren't the people who caused the Wii to sell out so who does that leave to buy the product? Nintendo lost the core gamer's attention with the Wii and now the core is all ready for the PS4/XboxOne and I really don't know what Nintendo can realistically do to attract the attention of the casuals again with this product.

CrimsonStar3970d ago

I agree , but my main reason for not getting one is they're only couple of games I want for it . And with the Wii U I only want Exclusives , I'm not throwing down 300 bucks for a few games to play .

ATi_Elite3970d ago

Cause it SUCKS and has no games.

dark-hollow3970d ago

Same thing said about the 3ds in it early days, "two screens and 3d is a gimmick" and "handhelds are no longer relevant" yet when more games and a price cut hit, it sold like hot cakes.

All the Wii u needs is the big Nintendo blockbusters to release along with a price cut and better marketing campaign.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3969d ago
starf1sh3970d ago

I agree, a lot of my friends were so desperate for a normal Nintendo console to return like the N64 or Gamecube but it didn't.

Wizziokid3970d ago

I so wish that's what they did however if the Wii U doesn't pick up some slack we wont be seeing another console like that.

Concertoine3970d ago

You say that as if nintendo couldn't afford a major failure in the wii u, nonetheless a minor one (which i think it might be, but even the gamecube turned a profit).

imXify3970d ago

I have one and never touched it for 6 months now...so disappointed -_-

It will get better this holiday. But 2012 was a really bad time to buy one.

DJMarty3970d ago

Because it's underpowered compared to PS4/X1, too pricey for what hardware it offers.

Wizziokid3970d ago

Irrelevant, by that logic the Wii should have been dead on arrival as well.

NihonjinChick3970d ago

I don't know why you are getting disagrees. The Wii was the weakest console on the market this gen. Yet it still was the best selling console this gen

DaPrintz3970d ago

DJ is right. $350 for a WiiU or $400 for a PS4. When the Wii came out, no other system could match its price. That and the controller made it an attractive device. Combine that with PS3/360 getting the same games as WiiU and you have disaster. Not cutting edge enough to compete with PS4/X1, not different enough then PS3/360 at that price point.

DJMarty3970d ago

It was in my book, I skipped it and went for a PS3.

3-4-53970d ago

GBA & SNES are underpowered compared to current gen, but both systems have more good games.

It's not about power, it's what you do with whatever power you have.

bobacdigital3970d ago (Edited 3970d ago )

I have posted this several times .. If you take into consideration what you get it actually isnt as pricey as the other systems..

X1
Console: 500
Online Play:60
Game:60
Total: 620

Value here is the Kinect and robustness of Live and exclusives from MSFT.

PS4
Console: 400
Online: 60
Game: 60
Total: 520 (add additional 60 for motion gaming)

You do get bonus value here because PSN+ will be giving you free to play games.. Also exclusives from Sony.

Wii U
Console: 350
Online: Free
Game: Free (Bundled)
Total: 350 (add 50 for 500 gig external HD)

Value here is backwards compatibility (Games and accessories), Miiverse, Built in two screen gaming, free game and internet out the box.. Obviously exclusive Nintendo titles add value as well

You do loses some value because of Hardware capabilities like hard drive size and processing power along with third party support down the line.

The reality of the situation is the X1 and PS4 will cost you 100 dollars or more on day 1 compared to the Wii U Deluxe. Everyone keeps saying the PS4 is only 50 more... it is actually more than that when you include what you are not getting..

I do agree that Nintendo still needs to drop the price 50 to 70 more so that it is in an even better position compete.. But I somewhat disagree that it is entirely too expensive when you actually look at what you are getting.

Concertoine3970d ago

Drop the exclusive model to 299.99, throw in a pro controller. That's the best plan in my eyes. gets the pro controller exposure it sorely needs

Wizziokid3970d ago

Still no games.

i own a Wii U and I haven't played it for months. I may end up picking Lego City however but I'm really just waiting for Zelda, Smash Bros, Mario Kart etc.

Krew_923970d ago (Edited 3970d ago )

That's what happened with me. I bought the Wii when it came out and I almost never played it, most of the games didn't interest me.

I think I only ever owned about 2 games overall. I was severely disappointed, then after I sold it good games started to come out.

I ended up playing them at a friend's house, and got a chance to experience all the gems.

deadeyes3970d ago

Actually l bought Lego City and it bored me to death...I picked AC 3 and love it !

bobacdigital3970d ago

Have you not downloaded any of the Indie titles that are on the eshop? Rayman challenge app keeps me pretty busy along with completing New Super Mario bros U.

I ended up buying COD the other day for 25 bux and I have to say I am impressed with how well it plays in 2 player mode with one person only using the tablet and another using the pro controller on the TV.. Online worked pretty well and had alot of active players..

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80°

Game Developers Have Begun Confirming Nintendo Switch 2 Support

Game developers have already started to confirm that they will support the Nintendo Switch 2 with their future titles.

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twistedvoxel.com
80°

How Many More Victims, Like Garry's Mod, Will Nintendo's Hurtful Crusade Create?

Hanzala from eXputer: "As Nintendo takes out 20 years' worth of stuff from Garry's Mod, I watch in shock, thinking why it continues to hurt and discourage its fans."

RiseNShine7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

The irony that some of the most disgusting business practices come from companies like Disney or Nintendo, i can't even begin to understand what terrible damage was Garrys Mod making to Nintendo bottom line, imho they're getting pretty nervous about where they're heading in the future, handhelds are no longer something exclusive to Nintendo, from Steam Deck to many others, now you can play the latest games and pay a fraction of the price on Steam sales, so it's up to their exclusives, which just on their own would make hard to justify purchasing a closed overpriced hardware with outrageous price policies (Super Mario Odyssey is still 60 euro 6 years later!), and as a home console they're always underperforming compared to Sony or Xbox.

gold_drake7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

i cam guarantee you, that their exclusives alone is what drives switch sales. they sell in the 10s of millions of copies.

nintendo created their franchises to be sort of nostalgia driven, exclusive only on nintendo.

people will always buy the pkmn games as they always bring in new younger fans amd is family friendly

mario kart, the same thing, mario games in general.

zelda games are system sellers. animal crossing for the casual gamers.

nintendo doesnt need third vame devs essentially. they made sure with the switch and the limitations that they looked more to pc ps and xbox.

its sad, but nintendo is more than fine with what they're doing. they positioned themselves to appeal to the more casual gamers.

but to your point, im not sure why they're doing this rly.

Inverno7d ago

Look at how they handled Nintendo games being streamed or uploaded on YouTube in the past. They killed Yuzu and Citra even when they had nothing to do with ToTK being leaked, not to mention it was basically unplayable on emulation the week it was leaked. Smash Bros tournament, that was fairly recent. They shut down their online services without any care for purchases made. I bought a switch after skipping their last 2 consoles and handhelds but I don't plan on buying anything Nintendo in the future. They take things to the extremes, they legitimately hate their fans. They're honestly right up there with the likes of Acti, EA, and Ubi, only difference is that they disguise themselves as being family friendly all the while being shady.

80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."