The Wii U is Officially 3 Years Old

Having launched on November 18th, 2012 — the Wii U has now officially been on the market for 3 years and counting.

[Rivitur]

I don't think they keep counting age after you're dead.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

1.yes they do
2.The 2 best wiiu games aren't even out yet.

[WickedLester]

If they're not even out yet, how do you know they're the best? :-D

[3-4-5]

WickedLester......You are a disgusting human being.

If you don't know that Legend of Zelda U is going to be good, then you don't understand games.

Go back to your Troll Pit.

[pcz]

the wiiu was shipped dead

[BullyMangler]

thats true. wiiU was quite a mess when it first came out . . but now has "some of the most challenging, and best looking exclusives ever created", according to reviewers around the globe . .

tsss even sony gave Nintendo props for the wiiU . . . <<< look it up.

anyway . ps4 does not need good luck, it already has awesome games on the way . .

ps4 is like Vita right now, still awaiting greatness .

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

gr8 b8 m8 i r8---urgh, oh GOD, that is more than enough of that crap. Migraine city.

Jeezus, how do the people who use lines like that manage to look in a mirror every day without feeling immense shame?
Must be a generation gap. I'm too old for this s***...

But I digress; enough bait posting.
It's got over a hundred games coming to it in 2016 [there's a full video on it, yes there is lots of indies, Sony and Microsoft both count indies as important and so should you regardless of system. Look it up.], and Nintendo's not done announcing games for it yet either.
You can talk about unit sales and ignore profits made by it all you like; it isn't dead, and you can't change that by ranting about how dead you think it is.

[Rivitur]

Tl;Dr

I aren't think that

[pcz]

''It's got over a hundred games coming to it in 2016''

shovelware

[slappy508]

Xenoblade Chronicles X, Starfox, Fatal Frame and Zelda says hi!

[Rivitur]

Yeah and 3rd party games say go to hell wii U

[Ck1x]

You guys heard it here first, the WiiU is the first vampire console! The undead gaming system

[Legion21]

I disagree but this was funny

[GordonKnight]

Its a great system.

[N4g_null]

Heck the ps4 is dead to me right now. No reason to buy one I already have a pc. Oh did you mean it has no games? Well there is a bunch still coming that people care about . Just because you say something is dead doesn't mean it is. Casual fans always feel this way about things they don't experience or understand. If you don't have a wiiu or want one then I find it hard to call you a console gamer. You are just a pc gamer really. There is a difference. You wouldn't know because you are too young or just oblivious. Next year is going to rock though. I have what I want coming to bad you dont.

[Rivitur]

What in the actual hell are you going on about!? I have never seen so many assumptions in one post!

You sir are a troll and a possibly a child Plz I don't wanna see you anywhere near a computer because your stupidity might break it.

[N4g_null]

No one cares about what you think. Plus your jokes are lame. Stop shaming your self. You are about as funny as a broken laugh track. I know it's hard to believe some don't want a ps4 my first pc but I'm an adult and I've been gaming for a while and have a few pcs hooked to various things that plays alot of the ps4 library better than the ps4. I can't do that with a wiiu. So if you are too stubborn to see people actually have a problem with it then that is your problem and hopefully sony doesn't share your mindset. Which makes you no better than the pc elitist.

It's pretty telling when people don't insult you and you feel the need to do that to them. I really hope your are a kid, because everyone can see who is an adult here.

[Rivitur]

Congrats m8 you made yourself out to look like a defensive prick who feels he needs to attack othes and make assumptions to make him self feel justified. My "jokes" as you call them don't compare to the stupidity you're spitting so called adult.

And yeah I'm sure what ever your mother will bug you for Christmas next year will rock.

FYI don't be such a blind fan boy next time. It just oozes out of you must based on your comments and I still have 0 clue what the hell you're talking about.

Btw I don't give a shit about your life story your probably as dead inside as the wiiU is when it comes to games.

[N4g_null]

I'm not sure I can stoop to your level and explain what I'm talking about. Ha a defensive prick, it must suck to be you. So I'm not suppose to address your stupidity. Also you have no joke because that would imply you are intelligent enough to make one. You might just be the joke here. It sad and no one is laughing.

You are just an wanna be Internet bully... so mad i dont like the ps4 ahhhhh. I'm looking forward to the ps4 upgrade coming. If not I think I'll pass on it. Come on team sony put a fury x in it to make it worth it!

[ZaWarudo]

That long already?

[Persistantthug]

The Wii U Is Officially 3 Years Old...........

And Dead.

[AJBACK2FRAG]

It doesn't matter if it's a commercial failure or seccess to me I just want to play great first party Nintendo games until I die period(.) I think games like GTA V look cool of course I'd love to be playing the new COD even if it is similar to the last one The fact is I don't get the emotional feeling of happiness and glee I get when I play a Nintendo game. When I fire up a game like just say Mario Tennis for the GCN. I'm smiling!!! I feel happy!! GTA does not and probably will never give me me that reaction!!!!

I think a real question is why does slamming Nintendo make you so happy? You're here! You're slagging! What do you get out of dumping on Nintendo? Lol!!! I think it's kinda' creepy.

[Persistantthug]

AJBACK2FRAG...I'm gonna send you (paste) what I wrote my friend on youtube so you can get a little idea of why I'm frustrated with Nintendo and Nintendo's "fans":

_____________________________ ____________________

LeveledHeadGamer, How are you doing.....it's been a long time. I just finished watching you 5 reasons Nintendo's Wii U failed. While I agree with most of your points, I feel you missed 1 crucial point....... I feel YOU and Nintendo fans like yourself (and others like Shokio) are also a critical reason Wii U failed. Why? Because I remember debating with you, and I, and others told you most of those things......that the Wii U's online was terrible and the fact that the Wii U didn't have a real harddrive to support the store was a sure sign that it would remain terrible. RXL told you the Wii U was for kids. We also told you that developers didn't care for the Wii U. But with respect, you shirked them all off and pretended that the Wii U was going to be fine. What you should have done was use your channel and influence to try and rally others (again like Shokio) to contact NIntendo to attempt to tell Nintendo the truth. Again, with respect, because I don't want you to feel disrespected........but LeveledHeadGamer, you lied......you lied to yourself, to others, and you lied to Nintendo themselves. And now, everything I and others were trying to tell you has now come to pass, and I can't help but feel that you played a part into it. Had you told Nintendo the truth, instead of pretending everything was fine and ok, Nintendo could have had the opportunity to right the Wii U's ship before it was bombed and destroyed. Now, I think Nintendo is on its last legs as far as home consoles are concerned, and there's a good chance now that they could exit the traditional home console business. I really hope the next time you try and listen when so many people are telling you the same thing, because while I said many negative things about Nintendo and their Wii U, it wasn't because I hated Nintendo........it was just tough love. Take care LeveledHeadGamer, and I hope to hear from you again.

[Monster_Tard]

@Persistantthug

Uh, what does that have to do with him and others enjoying the games?

"Had you told Nintendo the truth, instead of pretending everything was fine and ok, Nintendo could have had the opportunity to right the Wii U's ship before it was bombed and destroyed."

The problems were there from the start and there was no changing them, no matter what fans told them. The Wii U wasn't powerful enough for the 3rd parties needs, with it's architecture being too different from the other 2 consoles and low install base, it made it not worth it for 3rd parties to bring their games to the Wii U. They were already operating at a loss when the Wii U came out, adding a larger hard drive wasn't an option. I disagree with it having "terrible online" apart from no voice chat in the 1st party games, their online was far from terrible. Honestly what did you think they could had done with the Wii U to fix it? it was already out on shelves there was no going back and fixing the problem.

[N4g_null]

PersistaNTthug why are you not doing this with sony? Many have the ps4 and are very dissatisfied with it. Some are actually thinking about getting a wiiu. because it actually has good games. I'm not sure why you don't get it. The wiiu has functional online and even it's own video chat and all of that is getting upgraded next year. The power has the same draw backs as the other two yet because you don't make games you assume that the wiiu is not powerful enough... come on the ps3 was for most of these ports. Can you guys not see they just want you to believe them so they only have to make one game? You guys are getting played by the AAA and ms and sony, they can not even produce what they keep claiming yet but you guys slop it up everytime then tell us nintendo fans we are the problem lol. You have a PS4 or xboxone because you can not afford a pc and if it is the other way around then and you can get a good pc then you are why gaming sucks truthfully. We have to many fans that want some thing for nothing or they simply can not afford what they want. This is some how the manufactures problem. You guys are not entitled to this stuff man. I understand your grips but Nintendo has to hedge their bets and not hemorrhage money. The way sony is doing buisness isn't truly the right way and that will fail eventually. I don't want it to fail but im sure i'm not the only person that has lost faith in sony to be the best video game company they can be. Sure sales are great but if you clients are loosing respect for your brand then you may not have that sale next gen.

[Ck1x]

Sounds like you have a major personal problem with Nintendo. I think most level headed Nintendo gamers acknowledge that Nintendo needs to work on somethings, but many of you that constantly troll Nintendo articles aren't giving constructive criticism. You guys want Nintendo to be a clone of Sony or Microsoft.

We just want Nintendo to be themselves but offer similar services to competing systems. No the WiiU didn't turn out to be the system that they should have created, but many of you here don't want to even give the company credit on the bang up job they've done in supporting the system all by themselves. Nintendo has actually addressed a lot of things on WiiU that their fans have complained about.

What's done is done on the WiiU and it won't be fully rectified until the NX is here, but that takes time to prepare for release. You guys seem to think that Nintendo should have just abandoned the WiiU and jumped right into the next system. This has never been a smart business for any company that has done this, even Microsoft went 4yrs on the original Xbox.

So it's not about Nintendo gamers defending Nintendo’s every actions, but most of us can be critical and still enjoy the great software that they are continuing to put out on the system. Now where most of us may think twice is upon the NX reveal if they haven't changed much coming from the WiiU going into the NX. That's where my true expectations will be with Nintendo going forward...

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I'd post an inb4, but the "Wii U is dead" people are already here...

W/e; I'm glad Nintendo's stuck with the system and continued to gather really great games for it, even despite AAA third parties tucking tail and running right after year 1.

It's made quite a bit of profit for Nintendo and there's still two years to go for it before it's got its full library, so I'm looking forward to seeing it go out with a bang no matter how low the unit sales are or how much the haters want it gone before its time.

[slappy508]

Yeah this compliments my PC really nicely - where I can play 3rd party games. and One of the best looking JRPGS in years Xenoblade releasing shortly

[Theyellowflash30]

too late

[Lonnie18]

3 years and only 10mil sold, pathetic!

[OpieWinston]

Nintendo still has high software sales for their games. Fanboying over hardware numbers is pointless if Nintendo isn't sweating over it.

[One-Shot]

If Nintendo isn't sweating over their extremely poor hardware numbers they are some pretty poor business people and should be fired.

[Concertoine]

@One-Shot

No one said they werent sweating over it. But at this point, what can they do? Ditch the Wii U and what's left of their console fanbase? No. Make a new console and spread themselves too thin? Not yet.

Instead, they found a way to get games out fast (small projects like Captain Toad and Splatoon, also DLC), and a way to maximize profits to make up for slow sales (amiibo). They really did make the best of a poor situation.

[Ck1x]

Can I ask people like you a serious question. What do feel that Nintendo should have done after the WiiU was put onto the market? We can't change what they had in development, because that's arguing semantics.

I'm legitimately asking that once the WiiU was released what do you feel they should have done? Because Nintendo has come out and said that the WiiU wasn't what they wanted it to be, there #1 goal right now is to satisfy the people who actually purchased the system and once they do that they will focus on the NX...

[LOL_WUT]

Better VC support for starters, a proper 3D Mario game in the likes of Mario64 and basically better support at launch with key titles and ips ready to go. ;)

[NickieNick]

Change the name to something less retarded?

[benji101]

And yet ps4 software sales to consoles sold are very very low. PS casual.

[hatsume-miku]

3 years of pure fun for me. If I had to listen to people that denigrate the system because of its hardware or the low sales I would have miss some of the best games of this gen. And I'm quite sure that many others will follow beside the ones we already know.

[georgenancy]

feels like its been out longer than that

[PlatinumGX]

Nintendo is the only videogame company that can carry a console for that long with close to none third party support.

A testament of just how great their games are.

[One-Shot]

Is it? 10 million sold is nothing to be proud of.

[PlatinumGX]

Well, considering Sony and Microsoft couldn't ever dream of such a feat, I'd say it is remarkable.

[One-Shot]

They don't have to. PS4 is at 30 million.

[benji101]

Really, I was not aware that selling over 10 million of a product was so easy.

[PlatinumGX]

Both PS4 and X1 wouldn't even be at 2 million at this point without third party support.

But you already know that.

[Gemmol]

Great time, still the system that havery most of my time, it's awesome fun, nothing feels like a chore, maybe I am getting old, but some games these days feel like a chore, missing the fun

[Picnic]

It's got a large amount of exclusive Nintendo games that will carry Nintendo in good stead when the NX launches in backwards compatibility or virtual console with (hopefully) its far superior range of third party games and graphics capability that in some ways exceeds PS4 and Xbox One.

[jcnba28]

Great console - amazing games.

[Shuckylad]

Couldn't agree more.

[FallenAngel1984]

It's ridiculous that Wii U is still selling for $300 new

[hatsume-miku]

Why? You pay 300 for the console and usually 2 great games (ex. Smash and Splatoon).

[Knushwood Butt]

And way overpriced hardware that has never seen a price cut.

[FallenAngel1984]

Because you can basically get a PS4 or XO for $300 this holiday season, Wii U should not be having price parity with those consoles at any point in time

[Ck1x]

I definitely agree with you that WiiU needs a price drop, but why doesn't this same logic not work for when the NX launches. People think that Nintendo should first of all create a much more powerful system, but price it at the same price as whatever the PS4 and XbOne are at by that time. This makes no sense whatsoever!

There's a chance that if the NX is considerably more powerful than the PS4 and XbOne, it might launch at a higher price even if it's $50 more. Not only that I never want to settle on the idea that it's in Nintendo’s interest to pay 3rd parties for remotely similar game support.

To pay for exclusive games and content is one thing, but if the NX is everything that it should be 3rd party developers should show much better support than they did with WiiU. It's Nintendo's job to drive the install base and generate interest in the NX, so hopefully 3rd party games will be there somewhere close to the launch window.

[hatsume-miku]

With or without any game? I remember you that a PS4 or X1 game costs 60/70 bucks. Also you can find many deals for WiiU also.

[benji101]

$300 dollars for cheap parts from tablet pcs.. yeah the ps4 and xbox are great value.

[Shuckylad]

I've never understood the hate towards the wii u, is it really all down to its lack of horsepower? I can't believe people are that stupid they'd not want to play games like 3d world, yoshi, mk8, splatoon, smash etc due to the console isn't powerful enough for them.

[One-Shot]

Most of those games are pretty average compared to what's on the other consoles or same rehashed thing we have played multiple times over the years.

[Shuckylad]

Really? And the other consoles don't have sequels after sequels?

[One-Shot]

Sequels that have evolved and added new experiences yes.

[Wallstreet37]

Shucklad....

All systems have sequels but in the case of the Ps4 just like the Ps3 they invest in new ips and variate their line up as well, that is the difference! Nintendo rarely does that and if they do they dont support it, the onlu new ip i see they have supported to a degree is Splatoon. Devils Third is hot garbage so i bet that doesnt get traction and ZombiU didnt sell well. Im sure theres a few more but you get the hint. Meanwhile you have Resogun, Until Dawn, Bloodborne (the highest rated current gen exclusive), Drive Club, Wild soon, Horizon by GG soon and others all just on Ps4. We have sequels but for every exclusive sequel we have new ips around the corner.

[Benjaminkno]

give me a break... are you serious?

the games that sell are practically all annual releases. Assassin's Creed? Call of Duty? GTA5? granted that's not annual, but it's the same experience over and over.

you just look for an excuse not to like Nintendo because you're a console fanboy.

The difference is that Nintendo games never become obsolete. People will want to play Mario 3 and Super Metroid until the end of time.

The rest of your preferred, non-nintendo games will be long forgotten after their successors release. You just need to get over it

[Picnic]

I never owned the original Wii because it appalled me - I didn't like its underwhelming '2 DVD cases' design, tacky controllers, shovelware.
To have the word 'Wii' in its successor didn't distance it from the excesses of the gross casualisation of the Wii to me. I know the Wii did have some cult games (even Manhunt 2) but they didn't sell well at all. And the WiiU was even the same design as the Wii apart from its controller. ZERO effort in distancing itself as being an actually new console. Too many people regarded it as some kind of add on. And even if they didn't, if you didn't like the design of the Wii, the WiiU's design isn't going to sway new people (or ex Gamecube owners like me). I also hate Miis. The WiiU is capable of so much better graphics - look at the avatars on Xbox 360. I hate that the childish scrawl and comments of people is on the front page of the WiiU interface.

I don't like that they never bundled a Classic Controller as standard with the WiiU. I don't like that 32mb wasn't the base level of memory and that it often costs not a small amount more than buying extra memory would by comparison to the 8mb, even though the 32mb is the only one I would go for as I like the glossy black a lot more.

I don't like the early WiiU adverts showing a beige family in a beige house playing beige games with each other. As you rightly say, the WiiU is fun so why did the adverts look like they're still trying to appeal to people who say 'The horror! Get it away from me' about most games. And why are there so few adverts showing the fun games? They're relying on word of mouth and customer loyalty and they fully don't show that they actually want to sell any WiiUs.

What is good is that the WiiU has free online. But it's not something I necessarily need or expect on the NX if they are to be able to afford to release a top tech spec console that I would hope is better than the Xbox One or PS4 in some respects. If Nintendo don't force Sony and Microsoft's hand with the tech, Nintendo are going to be on a losing streak again because Sony and MS have got their own Nintendo-like peripheral stuff lined up in VR.
It should be about the hardcore for you now Nintendo- not the casuals. Maybe get Retro Studios on to helping you make a 3D Donkey Kong game.

[Segata]

Wallstreet37 They have over 80 new IP's in the last 14 years. But hey this still applies
http://i.imgur.com/B3M3kTV....

[Picnic]

Which brings me on to- the WiiU has many fine 2D/2.5D style games but not many good new fully 3D ones. No Paper Mario, no F Zero, no Pilotwings, no 1080 Avalanche, no Zelda yet, the list goes on..
They made the WiiU not all that different to being the finest first party indie game console. That's nice but you need huge titles to complement it. You need the likes of Kingdom Hearts 3 and Dishonored 2.

The Gamecube got the balance more or less right. But Nintendo have never forgotten selling less than they could have hoped to with that console. It's time to forget that unfortunate sales woe and studiously court the hardcore again with cutting edge graphics too.

And, yes, the WiiU could have had slightly better horsepower at the time it was released. But they released the console too late for the last gen and too early for the current gen anyway so their timing was wrong if they wanted to sell large numbers.
Then the price of the WiiU and its games stayed relatively high for the PS3 era tech so they couldn't expect price to be a good selling point.

The WiiU controller is good but it didn't seem to attract many casuals who preferred to play on a lighter tablet if they were still playing at all.

The WiiU is not in vain though- it is more important than the original Wii in how it will aid Nintendo's future. They have a great back catalogue of niche games now to complement, by back pat or virtual console, what should be the real powerhouses on the NX.

[Moonman]

Can't wait for both Zelda's in 2016. Wii U is a solid console with awesome games. May not have a huge library but what it here is actually good! Super Mario Maker is nominated for GOTY at The Game Awards. Eurogamer gave Super Mario 3D World and Mario Kart 8 GOTY (wii U won GOTY two years straight from them). Splatoon is the best new IP from Nintendo in over a decade. No hardware problems to name and free online. If Wii U was $199, it would be more successful in hardware numbers. But at the end of the day, it will be known as Nintendo's first HD console and hopefully the NX will give it a positive light with it's Wii U backwards compatibility.

Happy Birthday.

[RPGrinder]

Amazing system

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Seems like the haters and trolls are here. As expected.

Anyway this system has an amazing exclusives library. Which was game should be about.

[LOL_WUT]

Good library but forgettable system. Nintendo should just reveal the NX and get it over with ;)

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

apparently you aren't forgetting it

[Wallstreet37]

I couldnt help myself

"Dead Man Walking" lol

[Segata]

For the heck of it thought I would list my Wii U games retail

Assassins Creed IV
Bayonetta 2
Ducktales Remastered
Gianna Sisters Twisted Dreams Directors Cut
Hyrule Warriors
Legend of Kay Anniversary
LEGO City Undercover
Mario Kart 8
New Super Mario Bros. U
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge
Rayman Legends
Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water
Rodea the Sky Soldier
Shovel Knight
Sonic: Lost World
Splatoon
Super Mario 3D World
Super Smash Bros. For Wii U
Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition
Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper
Wonderful 101, The

And next month Xenoblade Chronicles X and Devils Third and next year,Starfox,Zelda U,FE Roku,Pokken. Wii U been great to me. Like Dreamcast didn't set the world on fire but still a ton of fun games.

[ChickenOfTheCaveMan]

Wii U is the Benjamin Button of this gen, it looked bad as hell when it came to the market, no game, no power, no appeal whatsoever...3 years in, it's better but still pretty bad so much so it won't likely see a fourth year without its successor coming to the market.