Why The Wii U’s Failure Won’t Change Nintendo

The Wii U’s poor sales performance is hardly news anymore, but last month’s arrival of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 brought Nintendo’s predicament into sharp relief. Sony and Microsoft touted their new machines as the best- and fastest-selling consoles in November, respectively, whereas Nintendo simply chose to tell the world that Wii U sales were up 340 percent on the previous month. Given that October figures were said to have been around a dismal 50,000 units, and that November includes Black Friday and the release of the Wii U's biggest and best game to date, Super Mario 3D World, the statistic is less than reassuring.

[BALLBAGS]

they will definitely if they get a chance to put out a new console learn from the wii u

question is when can they put out a new console? can't be for a few years as the wii u is their 'next generation' console to compete with ps4 /Xbox One, so they have to see it through and not upset current owners.

Nintendo are stubborn but I hope Nintendo learns from this

by the way great read from theverge kudos

[dedicatedtogamers]

The Wii-U is selling slower than the Gamecube did in its 2nd year. That's pretty terrible.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

U are the bill gates of bubbles..

Nintendo is hard headed.

Good to see reggies real eyes for a change.

[Eonjay]

That picture tho...

[herbs]

Maybe the Wii U will end up like the 3DS a year or so of doom and gloom and then Pow right in the kisser...
As in doom and gloom gloaters eating there words lol...

[deafdani]

I don't kniw how much did the Gamecube sell on its second year, but Wii U's second year of life is barely starting right now, so I don't really understand your comment.

[herbs]

The Wii U sold more consoles in its first year in Japan compared to the PS3s first year in Japan...
The PS3 ended up being a complete failure to right guys right...

[CAB1802theWiiUdefend]

Remember, the GameCube launched with Killer Apps
the Wii U didn't

[darthv72]

the ironic part is you had this group of gamers that really said the wii needed to be an Hd system and nintendo delivered with the wii-u. But now that same group is no longer concerned with the wii in HD they say it HAS to be equal to or greater than the PS4/XB1.

There is no rule that whatever a company releases has to meet the demands of the consumer from a technical POV. There is however an internal scope that the platform must meet in order to warrant a release.

Wii-u surpasses the wii on every level and has earned the designation of a next gen platform in regards to the previous platform. it has the games that show its potential but with so many fixated on a MS vs Sony front....they are being misguided in what is/not next gen.

Next gen by the very virtue of the name implies creating an environment or experience that exceeds the abilities of the previous gen. nintendo is doing that and those who understand the real roots of gaming are taking the wait and see approach instead of buying on faith that the gaming experience will evolve over the course of the platform.

there is a misconception here that people are confusing power with quality. Power is exactly that...power. Quality comes from creativity which is not bound by the limits of power but by the limits of the individual and their own personal drive. Some (if not many) of the best games were derived not on the power of a system but the willingness of the creative team to make it happen no matter the technical limits.

Respect to nintendo for continuing to deliver quality over technical prowess.

[thehitman]

To counter your argument I can say that the Wii success was inflated by non-gamers and that the appeal of the Wii was a fad that passed that Nintendo did not acknowledge. They created a new platform like the last late in the ps3/360 cycle that was only able to barely compete with them. They have no reputable online service and features that appeals to gamers across the board. They released with almost no appealing games. No new IPs. Little to none third party support. I could say Nintendo doesnt deliever in quality or quantity which is why they are suffering at the moment. None of the issues that were with the gamecube were addressed during the Wii's life cycle that they had the opportunity to fix. Now those problems reared their head back and it became worse.

I played SNES when I was a kid. I owned N64 thought it was the best console ever. I bought a gamecube, biggest disappointment ever and I never looked back after that moving to playstation. Nintendo has a disconnect with their fan base and what new fans looking in might want. Sadly I believe this is a lost gen cycle for them and unless they change their stubborn ways they will die out of the console market over the next 10 years.

[zero_gamer]

No wonder the 3DS is struggling in sales, it's so underpowered...

Oh wait.

[Concertoine]

Well said.
I think its awesome that they decided to do something different... rather than another black box with another usual controller. Nothing wrong with that, but with 2 of those already competing heatedly on the market, i feel like things would be a lot less interesting without wii u. Its the kind of features and games it has that gives it real identity, something i felt was lacking the last 2 gens, especially the last.
The wii was interesting, but the power really held them back, and thats something the wii u is packing.

[Beastforlifenoob]

How is Nintendo creative for rehashing the Mario, zelda, metroid, kirby,pokemon,etc,etc, characters over and over again.

[Ittoryu]

I don't know but when they do they need to stop gimping their damn hardware and spend some of that enormous jack they got stored away.

[herbs]

Everyone is way to focused on hardware specs and graphics and not actual meaningful ways to improve gameplay. I am completely happy with Nintendos strategy (lateral thinking using withered technology) the Gamepad is great, lack of third party support however is a real bummer...
Its great the PS4 and Xbone sold really well but it sucks that the most popular game for those systems sold by far is COD. Oh look this shitty rehash looks like 10% better, apparently that qualifies as next gen for at least 50% of console gamers.
:(

[Rainstorm81]

the Wii_U name doomed the device.....many people still think its just a tablet for the wii.....Nintendo underestimated the uninformed , which happens to be their number 1 market

BTW that Reggie picture is nightmarish

[tigertron]

That wasn't the only factor that led to the demise of the Wii U, but it was significant as it sounds like an add on.

I still live in hope that one day Nintendo will learn from this and make us a hardcore gaming machine again.

[ThePsychoGamer]

And if that ends up being true, I will not support Nintendo's next console either.

[NopeAvi]

Well that's a loaded assumption. Only 100,00 behind the PS4 this week and currently performing above the PS3 and PS Vita, and it's a failure?

[Imonaboat1]

You do realize ps4 is sold out everywhere and its still outselling the Wii u right?

[awesomeabe1998]

Wait so when a console sells out, it is supposed to sell less? I thought selling out was good? Pathetic

I don't want to sound fanboyish, but can't Sony ship more than 300k consoles to the whole world like Nintendo can?

[Agent_hitman]

the photo is creepy.. reminds me of Lavander town and it's music while looking at this picture.

[4logpc]

Once the Wii u hits 249 with super smash bros in the box, it will sell.

[JRMVN]

lmao the thumbnail!

[Hufandpuf]

I think the failure was in the name. the "Wii U" sounds like a peripheral for the Wii.

[Theyellowflash30]

A bit too early to call it a failure. Especially with the sales in Japan and the 2014 software line up

[Adolph Fitler]

The problem is, the whole business is constantly evolving, and Nintendo are finding it hard to keep up with that...They were obliterated by Sony AS SOON as Sony hit the market because they were too stubborn to move away from the cartridge format, so the pitfalls associated with that GREED & stubbornness (obviously driven by the greed) caused them to lose pretty much ALL 3rd party support....A problem that Nintendo have never properly recouped from, as many developers remember what it was like under that regime....Nintendo's Nazi-esque, business practices in the NES & SNES days, were horribly under favoring to 3rd parties, as they were charged an arm & a leg, & were basically given NO SUPPORT or dev. tools to help them make games for Nintendo systems..it was really nasty, greed driven sh!t from Nintendo...& I used to be a Nintendo fan. So when Sony had a machine coming, ALL 3rd parties flocked to them & worshipped the PS1, as there was barely a cost involved to develop for it, as opposed to Nintendo's machines.

I mean, I own a Wii-U, but the reason the machine is copping a smackdown, it because of the stigma that Nintendo has created with Nintendo hardware & software....It is the KIDDIES system FULL STOP....The Wii sold off the back of a gimmick, & smart marketing that gave the impression to the herds that it was not just a game console, but an exercise machine for kids, adults & the elderly to boot. Nintendo struck gold with Wii. I never thought the masses would be so silly...But I always overestimate the intelligence of human cattle.

The Wii-U is a FAR better machine than Wii, BUT IT DAMN WELL SHOULD BE, as Wii was basically already a gen behind in power, just like Wii-U is now...It is not really a noticeable step up from 360 or PS3.... In fact, in many ways, both PS3 & 360 are better, more capable machines, & game support for obvious 7yr reasons, blows Wii-U out of the park.
The problem is, Nintendo is still pumping out these kiddy friendly titles, when the industry has grown up & demands more mature themed content. Mario was fighting not just PS4 & XBOne, when released, but ALSO GTA5 & GT6. Mario Kart will probably be up against another Forza, Driveclub, NFS & Project Cars, & with the online functionality of PS3, 360, PS4 & XBOne,.....Nintendo seem to just be slipping further behind & refusing to grow up, & try different things...I mean, even the staunchest Nintendo fanboys HAVE to want to experience a new IP from Miyomoto before he is put out to pasture?
The industry is evolving, Nintendo is not.

[manaxknight1]

the industry has been grown up for a long time and mature themed content has always been there on like the pc. Nintendo never went for that market. also when the nes came out, it didn't have the latest tech that was out at the time yet managed to save the industry because Nintendo is just that, a video game company...not a OS creating company or a tv, stereo etc company.

[IRetrouk]

They were also a card company at one point, i think nintendo will be fine, lets not forget that the wii is nintendos only console to get over 100 million sales, if the wii u can hit 50 plus million it will be in line with most of their other consoles.

[krazeecain]

I hope they drop out of the hardware game (at least for TV consoles) and just go multi-platform with their games. I wouldn't mind having me some Mario action, but I'm certainly not buying a Wii U just for that...

[AWBrawler]

lol its so funny to me how people wish death on nintendo so they can play their games, but you don't hear Nintendo fans wishing death on MS to get Halo, or Sony to get God of War.

[JohnnyTower]

Wii U or won't you?

[Gabenbrah]

Nintendo is the only company out of the three that still post a profit, Sony and MS are losing a lot of money in their gaming divisions.

[Beastforlifenoob]

I know thank GOD someone realised Nintendo is making a shitload ripping off grandmas and milfs.

Ps4 has way higher specs, way larger hard driver and comes with a bluray player for only 100 dollars more.

[Gabenbrah]

The PS4 also has no games... Nintendo is making it's money on the 3DS, which is a fantastic device and currently takes a dump on next-gen consoles in terms of games.

[kwandar]

For $50 more I can get a Terrebyte of storage on my Wii U. The specs are higher? Who cares, it is about the GAMES!

Ohh ... and the Wii U also comes with a AAA game (or two), doesn't have an annual fee to play online, and has access to a back catalog of Wii games.

Oh - and I'm not a grandma or a milf, and I've been playing games since before Colossal Cave Adventure (likely before you were born).

[TheLastVoiceOFsanity]

I hope the steam machine sucks up the majority of the playstation & xbox's 3rd party profits,and sony & microsoft decide to backs out of the video game industry, because we all know sony& microsoft's first party software could never keep their video game divisions afloat. even if they turned a profit like that, it wouldn't be enough for sony. or microsoft.

[TheLastVoiceOFsanity]

the only reason this article got approved is because we found out today that all of sony's hardware got outsold by nintendo hardware in japan last week.

[Gamer78]

I can't believe people are calling Wii U a failure. It is starting to pick up steam and I am glad to see it. The system has nice games and more are coming very soon. The powerful ps4, which I have is in bad need of games and my wii u is getting much more love right now. I hope these articles stop until the wii u actually fails. I just don't get it.

[c31647]

I can agree with you that the Wii U shouldn't be could a failure right now but, i don't think you should be comparing the Wii U library to the PS4. The PS4 does need more games but, it has only been out a month so i think everybody should really wait until a year has passed to actual compare the consoles.

[Sincere0121]

No one waited when the Wii U came, all the fanboys kept sayin look at the Wii U its got no games, some still say it now lol. So why should it be any different for ps4.

[c31647]

@Sincere exactly they are fanboys not gamers. I am saying this from a gamers perspective.

[CAB1802theWiiUdefend]

LMAO The Wii U won't fail
The GameCube did better in the 2nd year because of the killer apps the GameCube launched with
the Wii U is selling amazing in Japan and it'll improve in the US and Europe

[SovereignSnaKe]

~On a lighter note, that screen cap of Reggie in the Moon is amazing! ^_^