Can the Wii U Reach the Popularity Level of the Wii?

The release of Mario Kart 8 has boosted Wii U consoles sales. Is there anyway Nintendo could continue this trend? What is it that is holding people back from buying the Wii U at this point? Does Nintendo have a long term plan to boost sales of the system? The Gamers Lounge speculates on what the sales numbers mean and asks the question can the Wii U succeed the same way the Wii could?

[98xpresent]

HELL NO. the ps4 has tho

[badz149]

it will be lucky to sell as much as the gamecube at this rate!

[Loadedklip]

The best case scenario for Wii U is N64 totals. The most likely scenario is Gamecube totals, worst case is sub Gamecube totals.

Wii sold thanks to casuals who have moved on to IOS and Andriod.

The gamepad and Wii U games have failed to regain the attention of these casuals like the Wiimote did with Wii Sports.

What we have left is just the core Nintendo fans which is the basically what the Gamecube did.

20 million sold thanks to the games of only one publisher though is impressive but it is also realistically not that great for a console since Wii U pretty much just has Nintendo games ... barely any third party support to speak of.

When people buy an X-Box or Playstation ... they aren't just buying them for Sony or Micosoft. They are buying those systems mostly for EA, Activision, UBIsoft, Square-Enix, Take-Two, Capcom, Konimi, Bethesda, etc etc etc.

Without the support of Casuals ... and without third party support ... Nintendo is just ONE publisher supporting the Wii U. 20 million is all you can realistically predict in this scenario.

Mind you ... Nintendo doesn't even focus 100% on their home console. They use a lot of their AAA talent on the 3DS which hurts the rate they can get games out for Wii U. Add in the lack of third party games on the system, it makes the gaps between games feel like forever due to all of this.

[badz149]

phantom disagrees as always.

I said "at this rate" which is a reality the Wii U is facing at the moment. almost 2 years in and only barely cracked the 7mil mark just recently. that's not good at all considering all the big IPs already hitting the console and still fail to sustain the demand for it. I do hope it will do better though. and yeah, I'm serious.

[user5575708]

No the will not repeat the success of the wii because they moved away from the casual audience. The wii opened up the video game market to nongamers and expanded the age range from very young to elderly. The Wii U will not appeal to the same crowd the wii appealed to and nintendo will probably only reach sales of 35-50 million lifetime for WiiU.

[3-4-5]

Wii U is everything the Wii should have been and it's an awesome little console with a solid amount of really high quality games.

* The Popularity with the Wii gave Nintendo a false sense of security and belief that those people would return.

They don't know of out "trends", and how quickly people move on.

We don't have solid traditions like they do in Japan so it's harder to judge us, as we come from so many different beliefs and backgrounds...

They could never full know what we in the US want....heck...WE don't even know what we want.

* I do know that Wii U has some of the BEST games of this new generation.

* Mario Kart 8, Smash Brothers, Captain Toad, SM3DWorld, NSMBU, Xenoblade & Legend of Zelda....

Everything else for me is a bonus after that..

[Chrischi1988]

PS4^^ No, actually not, not at this rate. I as one of the biggest Wii U defenders, not fanboys, defenders from hating fanboys, who loves the console, says definitely NO. I like my Wii U, but by now it should be clear, that non of the new gen consoles will reach Wii numbers.

[Spotie]

So you're saying the console that's the fastest selling in history- selling faster than the best selling console ever- won't surpass the third best console in history, even though it's doing so without its heaviest hitters?

Are you being totally serious? Or is this your Nintendo defense talking?

[Concertoine]

@Spotie

The PS4 is currently tracking around 1.5 million behind the Wii. Its not the fastest selling ever. It will probably outsell it, but the notion that the PS4 is outselling the wii was spread purely on launch numbers which Sony prepared for and Nintendo didnt. Since then the PS4 fell back behind the Wii. I personally think the PS4 will beat the Wii and PS1 but not the PS2. Time will tell.

The wii at this point was over 12 million.

As for the Wii U, i think it will hit 20 million for sure, and if nintendo supports it longer it might hit n64 levels. Considering the inflated market and longer lifespan in relation to the GC and n64 though, that is still their worst performing console, and in fact the worst performing console in terms of units sold in a LONG time.

For those curious, the GC sold almost 10 million at this point in its life (21 months) Of course it had better support from both nintendo and third parties.

[gangsta_red]

@Spotie

"...you're saying the console that's the fastest selling in history- selling faster than the best selling console ever..."

I love how Sony fed you this line and you are sitting here pretending it's actually true.

[Chrischi1988]

Spotie, instead of taking everything Sony says as word of god, maybe look up numbers. By the time of its life, like the ps4 now, the Wii had more consoles sold than the PS4 and I dont see anything. Funny how you guys think news from a year ago will automatically stay like that forever. I am serious, the question is, are you, get your facts straight instead of giving me that "are you serious" bs. Honestly, what is up with a ps4 fanboys mind, not that of fans, fanboys, you cant seriously take even the slightest bit of something, that doesnt make the PS4 the best thing of all time...

[Albie360]

No. It is too late.

[NintendoSonyfan]

I remember those first couple of years when it looked like the PS3 would be selling Gamecube numbers. That was a hell of a turn around.

[Magicite]

20-30m.

[pcz]

the wiiu will never reach wii sales and it will never be popular on a commercial level. it has NO presence in the market or in the gaming public's consciousness, let alone the general public.

the only thing the wiiu can hope for now is RESPECT among gaming fans. or to be more particular, nintendo fans. nintendo has lost the casuals it sold its soul to try to appease, its only hope is to now win back the hearts, minds and imaginations of the people they should have been looking out for in the beginning- gamers!

but even then i have my doubts, nintendo has lost its soul somewhere and it will take a lot of searching to retrieve it.

if it werent for Xenoblade 2, i wouldnt even buy a wiiu. nintendo needs to secure great titles like this, and secure the support of devs who can bring great GAMES.

[CerealKiller]

LOL NO WAY!!

[GuruStarr78]

As much as I love the Wii U and I think Smash Bros, Bayonetta 2, Devils 3rd, Hyrule Warriors, etc will do good things for system sales; it'll never reach the popularity of the Wii.. it's too bad, but for those of us who do own one, it's a great system and is only getting better with the release of some great titles.

As much as I wish it had more 3rd party support, it's ok... that's what Xbone/360 and ps3/4 are for...

[darthv72]

Its a shame more gamers dont give it a fair chance. They may be pleasantly surprised by its offerings. Especially fun and creative titles like wonderful 101 and the soon to come...splatoon.

Fun games that a gamer of any skill can really enjoy. The wii was a hit with the casual crowd and nintendo came out with a more core based system and the core are snubbing it because to them, its not core enough.

[LateStackk]

Well said, I have to agree, the Wii U won't reach the same level of popularity but it doesn't have too. The Wii U is a great system right now and has a lot to offer.

Third party support might not be as strong and that really does sadden me, but first party support is amazing and personally right now there are more first party games both released and unreleased, that I want on the Wii U then both PS4 and Xbox1 combined. I also love how the Wii U has a lot of couch co-op games! something that is pretty much dead on the PS4 and XB1.

Nintendo still has plenty of chances and time to change the game and make a huge turn around, The Wii U might not be the "be-all end-all" but its a great machine and a great option, I really wish people would open up more to different things and just relax, I'm sure if they did, they would find a lot of love for the Wii U. You don't just have to be loyal to one thing, life is too short, explore and be open minded to new things and ideas. Anyway to end my comment lol, I don't think the Wii U will reach the same level of popularity but Nintendo is already changing their game and making good moves, Don't count them out yet.

PS Nintendo, I would love some more HD remakes perhaps Mario 64 HD or Super Mario Sunshine HD or even a sequel would be awesome! OMG!! a new Luigi’s mansion please!, Oh! and please release the new Fatal Frame game in NA, k thanks bye Lol :D

[weekev15]

I love my WiiU but no.

[Neckbear]

Well, no.

But that's exactly why it's better than the Wii.

[weekev15]

So its better than wii because its not as popular? Sounds like hipster logic.

[GordonKnight]

The Wii U is better than the Wii. The big difference is that the Wii got tons of great press and the Wii U got tons horrible press. The media has all the sheep under control. look at the music industry.

This is why more and more Devs are going indie. Games use to be made for the love of gaming, but now it's all about making money. cough EA cough MS cough AV.

Can't wait until the indie scene puts the AAA companies out of business.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

It's possible, but it will depend on whether or not Nintendo can get more third party exclusives(ports are a waste of time until they're given content parity. Period.) get more first party games released sooner, and get on the ball with their so-far-lack-luster advertisement levels.
That last bit is most important; Sony, Ubisoft, and Bungie have all proven that advertisement is half the battle when trying to sell big numbers.

[Mr_Writer85]

Content parity?

So other versions should be dummed down to work on the WiiU?

Nah thanks keep your under powered console to yourself I don't want games like Arkham Knight held back just so it can sell 200 copies on the WiiU.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Keep your elitist assumptions to yourself, console war soldier boy.
You know full well that I was talking about the extra content and modes and support for games that can graphically fit onto the console, not those wastes-of-development-power shallow sparkle-fests that sheeple drool over the instant some CGI for them is flicked into their face.
There are plenty of games coming out for the other consoles that COULD go to the Wii U without needing to have most if not all of their extra content stripped to do it, and plenty that are ALREADY on the console that could definitely USE that content parity.

CoD: Ghosts is a good example, as is AC4 and plenty of others.

Oh, and btw, most third party games sell far more than 200 copies.
Zombi U sold a solid 700K to a far smaller fanbase, for instance.
So, yeah, take your drama back into your little bunker and quit defending bad ports.

[Mr_Writer85]

ZombiU was a launch title and an exclusive.

Knack sold 1,000,000 copies and was a poor game.

And yeah call me names all you want but the fact remains that in 2 years there will be little to no cross gen titles unless a developer dumbs down the current gen version to suite PS3, 360 and WiiU, they won't be able to handle the games.

Unless you are actually arguing that the WiiU is closer to PS4/X1 specs than it is to last gen?

In which case you are a blind fanboy who chooses to ignore facts.

http://www.nowgamer.com/new...

Or you are not a bright person.

Either way I am right and your argument and reasoning is invalid.

[Concertoine]

Actually knack was bundled with every launch PS4 in japan. Knack didnt sell more than 500k by itself. Zombi U got a bundle too, but not a launch bundle.
Not that i disagree with you. Just pointing that out.

[randomass171]

@Mr_Writer85 He said content parity. As in not having the Wii U versions get content cut out for no reason. That's a pretty fair complaint that has nothing to do with dumbing anything down. :/

[Mr_Writer85]

Knack sold A lot at the U.S./EU launch as people got giddy that it out sold Super Mario in it's first week. (A week later Mario out sold Knack tho)

And again ZombiU was a launch title and an exclusive. So of course people bought it, and for the exact same reason that PS4 owners bought Knack, lack of choice.

The only 3rd party game I can think of that sold more on WiiU was Rayman Legends which funnily enough had extra content that the PS3/ 360 version DIDNT get.

Same with Arkham City

Same with Deus Ex
So the myth that the WiiU always gets content cut etc is well and truly busted.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

No, you're not right.
If you actually think they'll abandon the ps360 in 2 years, ore that that will stop scalable engines from making games for on the wii u, then you are well and truly blinded by your bias.

Oh, and way to ignore all the examples of third party games that did NOT get all of the same content.
You conveniently ignored Black Ops II, Ghosts, Assassin's Creed 4, Sniper Elite v2, and quite a few others, then proceed to call it a "myth that's well and truly busted".
Get your head out of the sand; this parties have consistently treated most of their multiplats like crap on the wii u, and it's done more harm than good to the system and to the sales chances of the few worthwhile third party games the system actually has.
Heck, even Rayman would have sold much better had Ubisoft not broken trust by backing out of the exclusivity deal.

[Mr_Writer85]

Just like you ignored Rayman, Batman and Deus Ex. I don't deny some 3rd party games have cut content, but then the WiiU has a few games with exclusive content so swings and round abouts.

As I said well and truly busted.

In 2 years time the X1 and PS4 will have bigger install bases, do you really think that developers are going to nerf their games to make them fit on last gen and the WiiU? We have already seen it start with my link where Rocksteady have said that in order to do what they want to do they had to be picky, it was the same with the original Xbox and PS2.

In 2 years time you will still get your CODs and FIFA on last gen but they will be just re-skins of the year before.

As for Legends selling more if it stayed exclusive. Do you have proof of this?

No?

So your making stuff up?

So basically you are lying to try and make up for your weak argument.

Having to lie pretty much makes everything else you say void.

Also Nintendo won't do any of the things you suggest so again the whole thing is void.

Hope this helps

[danny818]

no the wiiu is sleeping. 2 years late my friend

[Nathan170]

No.And it will also take a lot of time for the ps4 to achieve 100 million units.

[Loadedklip]

I think PS4 will get 100 million. It is selling faster than PS3 and 360 and I believe even faster than Wii did at the moment.

Combine that fact with the XB1 and Wii U putting up way less of a fight ... Sony should pass 100 million units easily this gen unless something goes horribly wrong for them like a Microsoft 2013 E3 press conference type of bad.

[Concertoine]

Its hard to compare the PS4 to the PS360 because both were marred with supply issues for their first year (PS4 hasnt had supple issues since around march). As for the Wii, it had 12.5 million sold at this point.

But i agree, i think the PS4 can hit 100 million.

[Loadedklip]

@ Concertoine ... what are you talking about PS3 and 360 were fully stocked in their first year other than the holidays.

PS4 is selling at a higher clip period.

[Errefus]

Not like the Wii, maybe i can pass gamecube sales with a price drop and more games.

[Baccra17]

The wii sold a lot because it was fad/gimmick. If it was popular it would have sold a lot and had staying power when it came to usage and game sales, both 3rd and first party.

The people know and understand the gimmick this time, and they are not impressed. The Pii U was half-assed-over-priced gamecube-tech that had a horrible marketing campaign and wasted their first year. Unless the new Zelda goes above and beyond by light years Ocarina of time and open world games, Wii U will stay in the place it is at.

[HappyWithOneBubble]

Wii U is at 7.5m 1st 2 years. Wii was at 24m 1st 2 years. So no Wii U will not reach Wii. The motion gaming fad is over.

[Spikeantestor]

I feel like this post can't be seruous. The track it's on suggests something between dreamcast and n64. So under 30 million. Even if the heavens parted and we got a Pokemon MMO (something some have suggested would really boost sales) and even if it was a huge hit and redefined the franchise for years to come, I'd still say 100 million doesn't have a prayer of being sold.

If something does come out and the system does end up REALLY turning it around, it still wouldn't do better than half what the Wii did.

[MetroidFREAK21]

Nope. Simple as that

[LightDiego]

Probably not, but i think Wii U has the potential to have better games than Wii. The first Wii had excellent games, specially the exclusives made by Nintendo, but let's be honest, a lot of shovelware too.

[kingjames18]

All I care about is them putting out my damn Zelda game. :) I already bought a Wii U and don't give a rats ass about sales numbers I just want Zelda. Same goes for Xbox One already bought it don't give a crap that its being outsold by PS4. I just want Halo 5 already. So get it done MS and Nintendo. As for PS4 was looking forward to 1886 but I keep hearing disspointing news about it... so not really paying attention or giving a rats ass about the PS4 it can sell a quadrillion for all I care. Just give me my Zelda fix and my Halo 5!!

[superchiller]

Nope, at this point the Wii U is unlikely to break 20 million units in its lifetime. Nintendo should have done a lot better job on the design of the console, left out the gimmicky gamepad and just focused on a solid console that could serve it's fans for many years. Instead, the threw in a bulky, awkward, distracting gimmick, scaled the base console WAY back, and hoped the suckers would buy. Unfortunately for Nintendo and its few remaining fans, that failed.

[marloc_x]

Schiller, you must get tired repeatedly tapping out the same post with your DS4..

[stragomccloud]

Hahaha. No. It absolutely will not. Heck, I don't even think the PS4 will. But if anything does, it'll be the PS4.

[Realplaya]

I'm not going to read the article and I own a Wii U. Sadly the answer is no as Nintendo themselves have not yet stepped in to make the correct moves. If they are to Sell Consoles here are a few options.

1. Stop releasing games first in japan. they are clearly consuming consoles at a slower rate.

2. Focus on North America and Europe because they are the market that are buying your games.

3. publish some 3rd party games I know you don't want to but you got to make it a viable source to make money.

4. Indie scene. it's losing steam so you need to blow it up. There should adverts online to show these games being played on the Wii U.

5. Commercials where are they. Any one remember the funny Wii would like to play where they had little dudes in the car going to different houses with the Wii controllers. these families were playing awesome games.
look at the T Mobile commercials there aggressive with their ad campaigns. I see PS4 and X box Commercials all day every day.

6. last but not least they need a Pokémon game with a cross buy feature. go back to Pokémon red and blue hit that with a fresh coat of HD paint fully animate the battles. then have it available on the 3ds and don't show anything but Wii u information such as screen shots and add more to the game. I am going to go on a limb and say if they produce a pokemon game the scope of Xenoblade and have the fighting like Stadium that would move Wii U's

[LOL_WUT]

What a silly question of course it won't as the sales to date indicate what we all know but as others have mentioned it has the POSSIBILITY to have better games than its predecessor. ;)

[kakashi81]

I'm going to be honest, I would have loved if Nintendo had with a better GPU than making the xbox GPU faster. Maybe a 5760 HD or 5670 radeon. I love the games on the wii u, but that invative game pad could have came later on.

[DoggyBiscuit]

Hell no the Wii u looking like it could be Nintendo worst selling console hopefully with all the great exclusive that coming out it can help boost sales

[R00bot]

It's possible, but at this point it's unlikely. It would need a steady stream of great first party titles, and at least more 3rd party than they have atm. Then they would also need proper advertising.
I was really surprised when I saw a Smash Bros. advert, that shouldn't be the case.

[mysteryraz11]

nope it wont, ps4 probally, wiiu doesnt have the potential

[1990gamer]

Check out one of the reasons Nintendo can't be on top
On the website playeressence, just do a search on it....Since
I am not able post links yet.》》Nintendo is 3rd party publishers'
worst nightmare- Diego Arias