Wii U Can Still Outsell Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4

Joseph DiGrado writes, "With the recent release of Nintendo’s Wii U console and the expectation of dominant sales, it seems that Nintendo may have hit a plateau in the eyes of gamers. As the sales surprisingly dropped down to barely over a hundred thousand a week only several months after release, Nintendo seems as if they may have run into a pickle. But this may not all be so true."

[PopRocks359]

Exactly the opposite could happen too. Who knows? The market is too unpredictable to make an adequate guess on which platform will sell the most. The best thing one can look to is history, and even history lacks consistency at times.

With that said, can we please just take the wait and see approach? I've had enough with the crystal balls over "who will sell best/worst/whatever" for one generation. All it seems to do is breed flame wars anyway.

[PoSTedUP]

i still have faith in nintendo, right now its not looking so good but i also agree with the article, nintendo has still yet to market their console. and imo when they do it Could be game over, all over again... lol.

[Cupid_Viper_3]

To be honest, I'm not saying that it's impossible for Wii U to outsell both the PS4 and the next Xbox, but I see that as an unlikely outcome.

The Wii has been the only run away success for Nintendo going back 3 generations. The N64 didn't outsell the competition, and the GameCube didn't.

It seems that Nintendo has been forced to have to create a new market in order for them to sell anything near Wii numbers. A lot has to do with the fact that over the past few generations, third party support have been moving away from Nintendo.

The Wii U so far doesn't seem be creating the necessary buzz needed to create a similar trend that we saw with the Wii. It simply doesn't have the same appeal as the Wii, where even non gaming news channel would talk about it which caused more people to be curious about it.

So if they're not bringing the casual crowd, the impending launch of the PS4 and the next xbox later this year will also take a lot of attention away from the Wii U. But the worst thing is that those console will further take away from Wii U's uniqueness as they'll pretty much be able to make use of a secondary screen as well.

So the one bright spot I see for Nintendo is price. They will be the cheapest console out this entire generation.

[guitarded77]

Simply put, it's gonna depend on price.

While we on this site are gamers, and look at games, games, games, a lot of console sales are by parents, for kids. Nintendo still has the biggest name recognition in gaming hardware, and if they can drop or set price at $100 or more under the competition, they will sell a butt ton.

Will it be more than Sony or MS? I don't know... nobody knows right now, but price will sell a lot to people who aren't as involved in gaming as we are.

[MaxXAttaxX]

But I'm not sure the GamePad will be anywhere near as big a novelty as the Wii Remote (just look at GameCube and N64 sales).
Let alone the average consumer realizing that Wii U is an entirely new system from the Wii, instead of something like DS and DSi.

[N4g_null]

I won't get optimistic on sells until they show their full hand. Ms and Sony are not in the console buisness any more if you look at what they are trying to sell they are in the pc market fully now. Unfortunately they both will now face competing tech from apple,dell,intel, and nvidia. I didn't even list the whole thing but ms wins in that market and this mat actually be away for Sony to get out of consoles.

You could argue pc gaming has no exclusives... The exclusives are only tied to power after this gen thus setting pc gaming back where it suppose to be.

Sony is in a weird place right now and ms walked them right into just being a software provider or may just a different version of steam based on cloud gaming. Price is going to be a problem also.

It really is funny watching this all play out.

[joab777]

Honestly if it were not for microsofts assumable trajectory, i may agree. Nintendo has a strong reputation and after less gen, many parents have come to trust them for young gamers and casual gaming. Also, they do have a hardcore base. I know nintendo will provide great mario and zelda games and it seems they should be able to provide respectable 3rd party ports. Much of it will depend on how they can market their advantages like the touchpad. This is key....

But...Microsoft, i believe has put a bullseye on nintendos back. The kinect has replaced the wii remote for casual and young gamers and MS is investing heavy in kinect 2.0 tech. Instead of abandoning it, they are doubling down. Now, all those ppl who bought wiis and loved motion controlshave either already blught a kinect or may when they see MS's next gen plans. They also have the smart glass to try and compete with the touchpad and vita.

I guess we will see but i believe that many have begun to shy away from AAA titles as their main priority for revenue.

[greenpowerz]

If the Wii U is cheaper it sure can beat the others although Nintendo's success came from revolutionizing motion tech bringing people something they have never experienced. Now Nintendo's competition is doing motion just as well(so far) in their own ways.

Nintendo will have to hold their own against a next gen PS4 dual Eye Camera and Kinect 2

MSFT has built their hardcore base soldily and in a blink of an eye captured the casuals as well resulting in a huge diverse fanbase. Sony seems to be doing this as well in the bext gen with PS4 strategy/multi media/motion etc.

What Sony and MSFT are doing is a bit different though as they're designing their platforms to be in more than one industry/market.
MSFT going after the other American giants and Sony going after a little of everything/everybody.

These formulas may result in Lasting appeal/percieved value over a gaming console with added media perks vs Home Theater enterianment systems.

Their could be a default Nintendo base so big due to the Wii Nintendo won't bleed them as much as we think.

If Nintendo play their cards right with marketing/games/price advantage truely next gen games they can do well(not graphics but redesigned gameplay to take advantage of the Wii U hardware)

Nintendo games are Fun and that's why people like them.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

First post from you that isn't completely filled with a trollish agenda and fanboy drivel.

I'm shocked. Well done. Congrats. You're finally starting to take the necessary steps to live up to the "gamer and tech guy" name!

[greenpowerz]

Thanks first time a delusional rabid foaming at the mouth troll with mental health issues didn't personal attack me for differing opinions. My style seems to be the only way that gets through to you guys. I have long given up on rational comments on N4G there is no point.

Anyways
Good job...

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

***"first time a delusional rabid foaming at the mouth troll with mental health issues didn't personal attack me for differing opinions.'***

So because I don't share your opinion I'm delusional and a troll? Nobody is allowed to disagree with you, huh?

***"I have long given up on rational comments on N4G there is no point."***

So you admit that all of your past comments were completely irrational? If so then congrats! Self-admission is the first step in recovery! Good job...

[psoomah]

The Wii Y is selling just over 30,000 per week. WORLDWIDE. For a new ‘next gen’ console with no next gen competition.

120K/mo. worldwide sales = third party devs looking like Munch’s ‘The Scream’.

The Wii Y = dead console walking.

[PopRocks359]

No competition? Are you serious? The PS3 and 360 are previous generation platforms but they are still viable competitors considering how cheap they are. They'll probably still be selling once the PS4 and Nextbox come out as well.

And failure after three months? What about the Vita? That's been selling even lower than the Wii U fairly consistently and it's been selling those kinds of numbers for a YEAR. Is that a failure?

[Link079]

Please even Nintendo say the graphics wont be better on the other consoles ??? and also Nintendo clarified what EA had to for ps4 wiiu can do 1080p at 60fps quite easy,remember devs only have 50% of WiiU power in their final devkits ??? thats official,so Watchdogs ect will only have access to 50% power on WiiU and it will look identical to ps4 version.

[cleft5]

The WiiU looks really disappointing right now. Whereas the Wii was all hype and big sales early on and then it drop off heavily. I think the WiiU is going to be the opposite, with very slow sales at the start and a steady climb of sales as the console lifespan goes on. Right now the demand for the WiiU is low but a lot of people still want one, they are just waiting for the good games to come out.

I didn't buy a Wii and never really regretted the decision despite some few good games coming out for it. I have to have the WiiU because there are some crazy good games that I want to play. I do trust Platinum Games will deliver the goods with Bayonetta 2. I just beat Metal Gear Rising 3 times, normal, hard, then very hard. I am a huge Fire Emblem fan so I want Fire Emblem x Shin Megami. I am really interested in Wonderful 101. I definitely want to play that "X Project" game. I am not a big Nintendo guy but I am interested in some of the 1st party games.

None of that stuff is out right now so I am fine with waiting to buy a WiiU. But when these things drop I will be buying a WiiU and I know I am not alone in feeling this way.

[Moonman]

Mario Kart 8, Zelda and a new Retro Studios Metroid will do wonders for sales.

[PoSTedUP]

im thinking a completely new epic mario game with the tablet implemented to catch everyone attention. considering the graphics are near ps3's, a next gen mario could be the biggest hit, along with zelda like you said.

[omkire]

Near PS3? O.o

Its significantly better. Have you not seen the "X" gameplay trailer? Keep in mind that game is in its early stages.

[WeAreLegion]

You mean this?

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

No. The only good looking thing about that is the background landscapes. You know what else did background landscapes like that?

http://img.photobucket.com/...

http://static.gamesradar.co...

[C0MPUT3R]

Gamecube got all of those franchises it only sold 22 million systems. Gamecube was a lot cheaper too.

[sashimi]

thats what everyone seems to forget.Those same franchises only sold so much more on the wii because of all influx of casuals. Casuals only know its a Nintendo console therefore will most likely buy Nintendo games.

[kirbyu]

True...but no one liked Super Mario Sunshine and, at the time, everyone was mad about the art style of Wind Waker.

[Moonman]

But in all fairness that was before Mario Kart Wii sold 30 million. Big difference in fan base.

[MacDonagh]

Gamecube was a console for the "hardcore" as you can see that the power was comparable to the other systems at the time. It was also the console were they put in the most risks. Super Mario Sunshine was a risk. Metroid Prime was a risk. Windwaker was a risk. I recall back in the good ol' days when people were dead set against a cel-shaded Zelda or a first person Metroid game; only for those games to become classics in their own right. They also didn't follow the online route that Sony, Sega and Microsoft took at that time and that was probably what counted against them in the long run.

It wasn't Nintendo that turned their back on the hardcore. It was the hardcore that turned their back to Nintendo. People like to say that they cater to casuals now but they've always and will continue to cater to gamers of all kinds.

[ArmGunar]

With a release 1 year before PS4/Xbox 3, it would be normal to see that.

Wii U has no games because Nintendo wanted to release before and not confront against PS4/Xbox.
Wii U will have big IP fall 2013/early 2014, when PS4/Xbox 3 will just release, after a big desert.

And maybe, there will be a price cut for Wii U when PS4/Xbox will release at 400-450$

So no need to be happy, that's normal ...

[GABRIEL1030]

Down the price to 249 USD and release AAA games like Zelda and Nintendo will have the 3DS effect, simple Nintendo good price and AAA games,

[Moonman]

Exactly. Around $199-$249 and Nintendo's magic franchises will move tens of millions of WiiU's.

[squarecircle]

But here's the problem.

Nintendo are already selling at a loss, making up a profit once one game has been sold.

Now if they make a price drop they will need to sell 3 or 4 games+ to make up a profit on the loss. But the problem is there isn't enough games available yet to warrant the price drop.

So they're in a catch 22. They can't make a price drop because there isn't enough games to create a profit, yet they can't get more games on the system because it's not selling well due to the price.

[PoSTedUP]

i dont know if their fanbase can hold up considering most of it last gen was because of marketing the wii motes and wii sports. they dont have that anymore so casual gamers and parents may turn to the ps4 and 720 if they can bring the goods with the ps3 move and kinect to the casuals aswell as nintendo did last gen.

[3GenGames]

Yeah, but it'd still more than likely have an attachment rate (aka game sales) as terrible as the Wii.

[Gr81]

Aware that Wii games sales dwarf either 7th gen competitor, right?

[riverstars86]

Nintendo needs to step up their marketing for the Wii U ASAP! As is, it it not an appeasing console for perspective consumers. I feel that the Wii U will have sales comparable to the GameCube. If I were Nintendo I'd be getting the successor ready for for a release within 2 to 3 years.

[PoSTedUP]

i dont think there is anything to market at the moment, they need to wait till they have more games and something worth marketing imo. if they market too much and no one is interested, they will be at a loss. they need to wait and test the waters first.

[riverstars86]

Gotta say I completely agree with you, but Nintendo should've had more software for the launch period for the Wii U. They unveiled the Wii U at E3 in 2011, here we are almost 2 years later and consumers still don't know what the Wii U is. Just a poor execution by Nintendo on the software and marketing fronts.

[Horny]

I don't really know if Mario and Zelda will help it out as much as people think. Remember the GameCube...
I do think the Wii U will be more successful than the cube but I don't see it selling past 50 million.

[NateCole]

People counted Nin out this gen and then the wii blew up on their faces.

You never know what might happen.

[zebramocha]

They had two things on their side price and motion controls.

[kirbyu]

WHAT is that picture supposed to be?

[Kevlar009]

Looks like Monster Hunter 3 HUD but with Mario weilding a hammer, fighting a giant Yoshi and Pikachu. Also Kirby is in the corner for some reason

[kirbyu]

Oh that is Mario. I thought it was C. Falcon. Did you notice that Toon Link is by Yoshi's right foot.

[Brucis]

Currently, if you aren't a Nintendo fan there's little reason to buy it. There's nothing wrong with that (who buys a Nintendo console for multiplats, it's about the exclusives) but until the mainstays come out there won't be too many sales. Monster Hunter 3U will give it a spike in sales but the big numbers will start coming in likely when the new Mario Kart, SSB, etc release. Hopefully some good games will come out until they release, but the majority of sales will come from the main franchises and a few other exclusives.

[RememberThe357]

It all comes down to software. It the system has games people want to play that they can't play elsewhere, they'll buy the system. Nintendo knows that and they're going to make sure their first party titles are up to snuff before putting them out. We'll see what happens when they bring out the heavy hitters.

[ALLWRONG]

The Wii was the weakest and was in SD but still managed to leave the PS3 and 360 in the dust. Underestimating Nintendo is a huge mistake.

[3GenGames]

Brings us back to attahcment rate. 360+PS3 games owned many more games per customer, so Nintendo really didn't do much compared to them, even with 30 million more sales in consoles.

[jmc8888]

For Nintendo it did.

Mario Kart Wii sold more copies then every Halo did combined for the 360.

[Kevlar009]

The Wii also looks to have sold 50% more by March than the WiiU. The message for the WiiU isn;t as clear as it was for the WIi, the advertsing blitz Nintedno put out for the Wii was pretty big.

Having "spokesmen" invade homes and showing off motion control and the fun family's were having with it were pretty catchy. I haven't really seen any T.V. advters for the WiiU that try to pull off the same message, they need to broadcast its potential. The ZombiU commercial is all I have really seen so far

[zebramocha]

@all Only in the beginning,Sony & Ms sales are closer to the wii than the gc and xbox toward the ps2.

[Hicken]

At the start, it did. The Wii has stalled, however, while the other two sell strongly.

Gotta finish better than you start.

[Gr81]

30 Million units to go.

[The EDGE]

Wii blew up early when it launched. Wii U Hasn't proven it could outsell the other two platforms, a price drop would help considering the ps4 and nextbox would be more costly, that and a great line up of first party games

[strigoi814]

price cut and all those games maybe wiiU will be in a good position

[Kingthrash360]

The wii/ds systems had the larger more casual gamers along with tge Nintendo diehard fans.... the wiiu however has not grabbed the casual gamers attention...I have an aunt for example who owns a wii and loves to bowl and wii fit is her life. I informed her of the wiiu recently and she thought I was lying. I went online to show her and she was excited....until she saw the price.....this tells me two things....bad marketing and bad priceing...as far as casual gamers are concerned...imo

[MNGamer-N]

A prince drop and the release of Wii Fit U will help bring back the casual audience

[OmniSlashPT]

Everyone is like "once zelda, metroid and mario 3d come out, it will outsell everyone". Those werent the titles that made the Wii sucessful. And those titles didn't make the Gamecube sell a lot either. Nintendo is traped, they either go for casual or hardcore. And they dont have the 3rd parties to for hardcore, and the casual market has changed and MS is trying to grab the rest of it.

Dont compare it to the 3DS, the handheld market is completely different, it's like comparing pcs with smartphones.

[Kevlar009]

WiiU suffers a bit from being too much in the middle of consumer bases. It's too hardcore for casual audiences (you get a "standard" controller now), but but not hardcore enough for those who want a super powerful system. WiiU needs a stellar advertising campaign if they want to truly make waves.

[MrMayhem28]

I have a wii u but I know for sure it's not gonna outsell ps4 or the next Xbox

[Bumpmapping]

Well looks like Nintendo gonna need a miracle all eyes are on PS4 now.Nintendo had the perfect opportunity releasing first they failed at that big time.There gonna have to start advertising hard and getting more games out before PS4/720.

[CaptainN]

Funny.... same thing happened when Nintendo released 3DS first, then all the hype went to Vita......where is Vita now ???

[worldwidegaming]

Its like those television shows no one really watches but gets a ton of ratings. Nintendo does not need to worry about outselling. They are a novelty and grand moms and dads will be buying them come holidays.
In the meanwhile, Microsoft and Sony will be advertising violence because that sells. Kill the enemy,destroy,maim and more gore.

[Dno]

I'm sorry but this is wrong. Wii out if the gate was a hit and didn't stop really till 360 and ps3 lower prices and wii u was rumored to be coming. This system is not selling rich now period . It could be be because it too much money, the tablet isn't as fun as the wii more, or people bought a wii and realized there was not any games for it compared to ps360. Etc. Mario won't save it as it didn't save GameCube or wii. It's needs a 100 dollar price drop jut like 3ds

[Dragos75]

And it probably will.

[Trago1337]

Before the potential flame war, i will say this

Anything is possible when it comes to things like this. Despite the current Cynicism towards Nintendo made by the Gaming Press, few of the big outlets (Despite the Wii U's current situation) will admit that Nintendo outselling the competition this generation is indeed a possibility.

for me however, it's way too early to say who's gonna win anything. But one thing we can look at is History with all this.

i think it's fair to say that the Wii U will be the cheapest of the next generation consoles, and with pretty much every generation of game consoles, the cheapest ALWAYS won.

Also unlike Sony and Microsoft, we KNOW what we're getting this holiday season with the Wii U, Zelda, 3d Mario and Mario Kart.

Unless Sony and Microsoft have a system selling Killer App to launch with their Next Gen Hardware this holiday to compete with A NEW MARIO KART, and the cheap price point of the Wii u compared to them, they are gonna have to pull some great feats to out do one another.

[just-joe]

Anything could happen if you believe. XD

[baldulf]

WiiU failed to grasp the casuals attention, so it won't repeat the success of the Wii.

That train has already passed for Nintendo and now they'll have to compete with Microsoft and Sony with software alone.

Mario and Zelda are not going to be enough, mind you.

[Ck1x]

Nintendo themselves said many of times that WiiU is aimed at the core gamer! so why then do people insists on saying that they have failed with casuals, when they havent even begun to market or bring out softare that showcases these features off in a casuAl manner. Most people seem to forget that Sony and Microsoft already brought out there franchises last-gen and put them in HD. But Nintendo has yet to showcase anything really that they are woworking on for WiiU. So my guess is that when the New Mario, Zelda and Metroid are shown off for the first time. People will be in amazement, simply because they will look very great

[smashcrashbash]

Well unlike fanboys Nintendo probably isn't as overconfident as they think they are unless they are very bad business men.Every good business knows it is can be very easy for the competition to turn the tables on you the same way Sony turned the tables on Sega and Nintendo back then. One wrong move, one slip or careless action and the competition can zoom right by. It makes it worse that they are now in a position to be judged by their power and graphics so they don't have the 'Looks good for a Wii game' advantage that everyone gave them anymore. People will be expecting more from them and if they don't deliver they will get just as much scorn as every other system on their level does. No more frame rate drops or low level graphics or glitches or bad animation will be tolerated. Of course they still COULD sell more but this isn't the same gen anymore. It won't go the same way and there are even more factors to consider.If they had more time they could have easily pull ahead but people have their eyes on Sony and Microsoft and what they have to offer now.They are waiting to see what and who to spend their money on.It's going to be a tough battle and Wii U isn't going to get any sympathy this gen.

[Evil_Ryu]

Kinect is a better gimmick then Wii touchscreen controller...so nintendo has no chance this generation.

[Donnieboi]

Lol I wouldn't even keep a Wii U if u gave me one for free. I'd sell it so fast and put the money on a down payment for a ps4. I'm done with nintendo.

[madjedi]

Yeah not a chance in hell, the wiiu will be in last place or actually 3rd, 4th being the steam box.

To alot of ps3/360 gamers the wii u is a overpriced ps3/360 with a expensive and uninteresting novelty controller.

The wii u is perfect for nintendo fans just joining the hd era, for people that have been here going on 8 yrs, it's unimpressive and a bit primitive compared to the ps3/360's capabilities/features.

The casuals have there ipads and smartphones they are good. People aren't buying it, plain and simple atm. Alot of us are waiting for the ps4 or 720.

[arbitor365]

not a chance. you may see a spike in sales when the new 3D mario, zelda, and super smash bros hit. maybe a few million here or there, but you are still looking at 20-30 million lifetime sales for this thing, if that.

its a generation behind in graphics and online features. and this time there is no casual craze to save it, like with the wii.

[linkofrs]

Realistically this gen I think all of the consoles will sell a similar amount of units but its pretty impossible to predict anything at the moment.

However, the wii u is no where near being a generation behind in graphics. The video games of this gen will mostly run on similar engines that will have features scaled down for less powerful consoles. People keep trying to compare ports of ps3 and 360 games to the wii u and forget that they are ports. When you port a game you have a very limited budget for doing so. The developers hardly even change the games when they port them.

When you want to see a console's maximum potential you always look at first party games, because they know how their own system works. The zelda tech demo they had at e3 2011 still looks better then anything I have seen come out for the wii u yet. If they can pull visuals out of the console like that then I'd be extremely satisfied. Furthermore game play is better then shiny graphics. It is nice to have both though.

I suspect we'll start seeing great things from nintendo at e3 this year, as well as some great things from sony and microsoft. This gen is going to be pretty awsome from the looks of it.

[imXify]

I would say no, the WiiU didn't had the same hot start as the Wii so I think it's time for Sony to retake 1st place like they did with PS2.

[gamingmaster2013]

Xbox - likely. Ps4 - GO HOME UR DRUNK!!!

[linkenski]

Wait, is this actually a positive Wii U article!? My mind is blown! I didn't realize that this could even happen!