Has Nintendo Already Won Next Generation?

It’s not any surprise that the Wii-U is lacking in sales. After all, those who bought the Wii may be more willing to go with a Playstation Move, or a Kinect, for their casual gaming experience. But make no mistake of it, Nintendo may still be a force to be reckoned with as far as gaming goes. So, has Nintendo already won next generation? And if not, how can they fix their mistakes?

[Kingthrash360]

cant win what hasn't fully started yet... but no.

[Enemy]

Have Nintendo even announced their next gen console yet? :)

[Nyromith]

It's losing even to this generation.

[jcnba28]

Sorry buddy but the Wii already won this generation. The Wii U is competing with the 8th generation of consoles. You're welcome.

[LOL_WUT]

A desperate move to get a head start doesn't make one a winner. ;)

[stuna1]

Just ask Microsoft!

[Realplaya]

@ LOL_WUT you flip flop on every Nintendo article why don't you just choose a side.

[Whymii]

That's because he owns a Wii u and feels he must post on every Wii u related article, which is fair enough. Otherwise, if he doesn't own a Wii u he'd just be another self-opinionated trolling fanboy with nothing better to do. But that's unlikely given how rare they are on N4G...

[PopRocks359]

We're not even half a year into this generation and the two other consoles aren't even out yet. Save dumb questions like these for when the generation is nearly over in about five to six years or so.

[lilbroRx]

Four year, as Nintendo releases a console every 5, so we should exepct Nintendo's next console in 2017.

[PopRocks359]

Yeah, I know. But I'm talking about this generation as a whole. We don't know the lifespans of the PS4/Nextbox. It could be an extra year or two like with this generation.

[deafdani]

The Wii lasted 6 full years before its sucessor was released. This generation of consoles has been by far the longest in video game history, so we really don't have the slightest idea how long will the next generation last (Wii U included).

[lilbroRx]

@deadfani, I meant to say announaced. The Wii U was announced in 2011.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

Can't wait. Earlier this morning I was trying to figure out how many generations of Nintendo home consoles I'd be able to "experience". I'm forty nine soooo I'm hoping for six. Of course medical science should be more advanced as I age sooo I could concievably witness fifteen sixteen! That would be nice.
Oh yeah. Nintendo has already won this eighth generation home video game console war.

A. Nintendo develops the best software period the end. The reason why Nintendo runs into trouble with third parties is third party software can't compete with Nintendo's own triple A titles.
B. Nintendo harware could withstand Superman's many awesome powers: So not only has Nintendo won the eighth generation home video game console war I think they can beat Superman in a fight.
C. Their customer service is nuber one in the entire electronics business.
D. Reggie. He's really nice and his smile reaches his eyes. He's a gamer. Not so great at public speaking but so are you and I.
E. Latteral thinking with Withered technology. Look it up!
F. Nintendo fans. If you've spent anytime on the Miiverse you'll soon realize the people there are nice. Smart. Artistic. Genius' and have excellent taste in video game hardware and software. Big difference between Xbox Live. Just a tad. Plus they're (we're) more welcoming to new and returning gamers.
Well until the ninth generation I'd like to say congratulations to Nintendo and to Sony and Microsoft I say,"Better luck next time me laddos! You're going to need it.

[stragomccloud]

Man. People need to stop these stupid articles! PS4 hasn't even released and the next Xbox hasn't even been announced! In other words, there is insufficient data to make a claim.

[Nada Nuff]

This is all that needs to be said.

[Bigkurz85]

Already won? wtf. the wii u is a flop.

[stragomccloud]

It's not a flop until it actually has software and then it still doesn't sell. We have yet to see any of the big first party titles release.

[Bigkurz85]

lol...and what if it never gets software?

i guess by your standards the Vita must be thriving. since, you know, it cant be a flop because it doesnt have games

(and btw i love my vita)

[stragomccloud]

@chitowndoc
Except it will, it is getting all of Ubisoft's big games, and Nintendo isn't going to not make first party titles.

If the Wii U doesn't sell in spite of:
Watch Dogs
Assassin's Creed IV
Splinter Cell Black List
Xenoblade 2
3D Mario
Bayonetta 2
Super Smash Bros.
Mario Kart
or any other number of titles, then the Wii U is a flop.

The Vita is a different story because Sony doesn't have enough in the pipeline. That said, I'm still excited about what will come.

[deafdani]

So... you answer a ridiculous claim with another equally ridiculous claim?

When (and if) the Wii U is retired from the market due to poor sales (like the Dreamcast), you will be able to accurately call it a flop. Until that day comes (if it ever comes), shut your mouth.

[Nada Nuff]

Revolution will get canceled after season 2.

The Detroit Lions will win Super Bowl XLVIII.

Man of Steel will make more money than Avengers.

The Last Guardian will launch in 2015.

Bill Cosby will die next year at the age of 76.

..........Wow, uninformed speculation really is fun!

[InTheLab]

Megatron + Stafford + Bush= you might be right...

[webkatt]

simple answer no

[danitanzo]

Dis gonna be good...

[maniacmayhem]

Remember the less than powerful Wii? And all the parading the fans on this site did with it. And we know how that turned out.

[OwlEyes]

Yep, and then there's the case of the Vita VS the 3DS.....

And the PSP VS the DS....

[AdvanceWarsSgt]

Primarily instigated by the Sony fanboys that run rampant on this website.

[Hicken]

Remind me again what the Wii is doing while its competitors continue to sell strongly?

The Wii U had a relatively great launch, but has fizzled out since. It's gonna be hard for them to come back from that, with the competition coming out later this year, the bizarre decision to NOT have an E3 conference, and the already lackluster public knowledge of the system. More big-name games will help, but the lack of big third party franchises will hurt, perhaps just as much.

Edit: What's the saying? "It's a marathon, not a sprint."

Don't like that one? How about this one? "It's not how you start, but how you finish." This generation isn't over yet, but the Wii has dropped into oblivion. Nintendo isn't even supporting it anymore; that's bad, no matter HOW you look at it. Doesn't matter if it "dominated" at the start if it's a no-show, now. You have to END on top for it to matter, and the Wii is not going to do that.

I can't speak on what MIGHT happen with the Wii U with any certainty, because we don't know. And I'm not saying it's "doomed" or anything like that.

But this article is claiming a victory for Nintendo NOW, or at least hinting at the possibility. Simply put, though, the Wii has set at least one record for how POORLY it was selling, and it hasn't gotten much better since. It certainly can improve, but it's in no position to win anything right now.

You do know why E3 is important, right? It's not about the "song and dance" unless you're Microsoft. It's about it being the biggest and best way to get word out to the public about your console and games. It may be an event that mostly the press gets to visit, and something that only us who really care about the industry actively keep up with, but make no mistake: the average person DOES find out what goes on at E3, particularly what the Big Three show off at their pressers.

So yes, them choosing not to take advantage of this upcoming opportunity, when it seems quite clear to MOST- maybe not you, but I think most people think more clearly than you, anyway- that they could use the exposure for their games and particularly the Wii U.

[maniacmayhem]

Should I also remind you how the Wii dominated two supposedly superior consoles for nearly all of its cycle.

Shouldn't we wait until at least a year before we start saying the WiiU has fizzled or needs to come back? I mean wasn't it you who said to have the same patience for the Vita? Why are we now declaring it fizzled and needs to come back less than a year of being out.

Bizarre decision? They have already shown their new console, what they will have are their new playable games for the press and industry heads. And isn't that more important Hicken, rather than a song and dance. It is about the games right Hicken?

[maniacmayhem]

It dominated and did what it had to do against giants like PS3 and 360. And in the beginning on this site everyone shrugged it off and downplayed it and said it wouldn't last one bit. Again, we know how that turned out.

Never under estimate the competition and and no matter how big and powerful your architecture is down't mean it will a success. Wii proved that, yes the sales dropped off at the tail end and that is exactly why Nintendo has brought out the WiiU.

I find it very funny how little you know about E3. I should ask you the same question of what is E3? E3 is NOT for the public Hicken. It used to open its doors to the public on the last day of E3, I believe they got rid of that too.

And if Nintendo is showing off all their new games to the Press and industry heads then don't you think that that information will be relayed to US the public in a blink of an eye thanks to social media and the speed of news nowadays?

So how is NOT having a conference denying the public what will be shown off for Nintendo? When they have already said they would show off NEW PLAYABLE GAMES for their system?

Isn't that more important then someone on stage talking, hyping and bullsh*tting about upcoming games rather than actual, physical, PLAYABLE games?

You are too funny though because you just believe what you want and spin what you have read from other ignorant comments on this site and regurgitate it as your own. You have no idea about how the industry works. A part time job at Gamestop doesn't make you an expert on the video game industry.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

At first I thought it was a good idea that Nintendo wasn't gonna be on a big stage at E3 so they won't have to try so hard to impress the shareholders and media.

In a way I still standby what I said but Nintendo ultimately, needs to talk about the issues or at least solve its problems... with more games.

Last E3 Nintendo's conference was highly hyped but quickly fell from radar and ended up being forgettable. And the fans and gamers alike have not forgotten that.

Taking a backseat isn't what people were thinking at all. The only way they could technically win...over the gamers (lets start with that)

Is if they garner partnerships that are willing to work with Nintendo's platform. At the same time releasing first party line ups as well as grabbing some major third party from time to time (if they can)

Consistency is the key. Keep people interested and hyped for the next game. Make sure those pre-orders are underway. The games don't have to be AAA through out the year but big enough title that would get the fans hyped.

Once Nintendo earns the trust of its fans/owners they can think about the next level. How to get a Wii U in everyone's home.

[josephayal]

I love the system but I'd rather play my N64

[andreasx]

No... just no...

ಠ_ಠ

[pop-voxuli]

sure, in Bizarro World.

[BigDuo]

I don't expect Nintendo to win this generation but...

Nintendo's priority right now is to satisfy its fanbase because they are the ones loyal to the company, and will buy the hardware for the key software. The big N at least shown they remain committed to the platform despite the disappointing sales from the first half 2013. Nintendo's shown us it will be bringing out the big titles later this year, but it has yet to recapture the expanded audience, and that will be a greater task for them. It hasn't even done that on the 3DS yet, and it won't be able to do it with the same old, evergreen IPs. That audience requires more simplistic and fresh gameplay ideas that are not entrenched in Nintendo nostalgia as Nintendo Land was. Nintendo needs to create, original ethos software for 3dS and Wii U if it hopes to attract even a fraction of the expanded audience it once had in its grasp back on the DS and Wii.

As far as Wii U goes, the best strategy Nintendo can do is get those system-seller 1st party franchises out ASAP and get as many second-party exclusives as you can because it will be carrying the weight of its platform as usual, and so it will be up to it to make Wii U a compelling, unique platform to own for most gamers as a secondary platform with plenty of exclusives. Nintendo can't hope to get strong third-party next-gen support (when it can hardly get any current-gen ports right now due to third party opportunity cost and lack of lack of financial incentive ).

[AdvanceWarsSgt]

The 3DS is likely going to follow the exact same path as the GBA and PSP.

Meaning that, while it won't sell in redonkulous numbers, it will still be a relatively popular device, particularly among core consumers. And apparently, that is enough to be a commercial success.

[CPTN MITCHELL]

How or should i said with what they got no game and the sys is not selling......wait they do have game mario world U jajaja to easy

[Realplaya]

They need the team that does the Samsung marketing I watched the pool party commercial and lets just say I love my galaxy S4

[killerorca258]

I own a Wii U, and it's an impressive piece of hardware. I have a Ps3, and that's a fantastic console. I had a 360, I won't comment :-P. I think that regardless of whatever happens during next generation of gaming that, PS4 will be a great and very professional console of great quality and that PSN will really hits its maximum potential, but expect to pay a premium price for a premium console. The Nextbox will be a tad boring, MS just don't have enough first party games to excite me, and I hated paying money to use an internet service (that I already paid for) on a console (that I already paid for) within a game (that I already paid for), Microsoft have yet to do something bold and radical, a shame considering their potential, but enough said. Wii U will have a tough time next generation, but it will survive, and maybe thrive, because by the time PS4 and Nextbox come out, Wii U will have a couple of quality Nintendo games and a roughly 5-10 million userbase headstart. The best thing for Wii U right now is that PS4 and Nextbox, much to my dismay, will lack any sort of backwards compatibility, which is important when like me you've spent $200+ on PSN. It will be an interesting generation of gaming, let's all look forward to it.