10 Exclusives Coming to Wii U, Diversifying the Library

Nintendo has been in the spotlight of media turmoil lately, so much so that their upcoming games are getting overshadowed by their business aspects. Wednesday’s investors meeting didn’t ease any of the discomfort that Nintendo gamers have experienced this year. It's time to turn our attention back on these games and let Nintendo handle the rest.

[TheVideoGamHer]

So many good games coming out this year for Wii U. I really hope Nintendo pushes them. Especially Bayo 2 and Monolith Soft's new game. It's vital.

[gedden7]

I agree 2014 is a very important year for Wii U... I m really looking forward to all the games coming out this year! Good post. Did you make the article?

[Xof]

I wouldn't expect to see Monolith's X until 2015. And Bayonetta 2 will likely be a Q4 game.

The list also mentions three "unknown" titles and the unannounced WiiU Zelda.

So, in other words, the list of 10 WiiU Exclusives for 2014 really only has 5 games. ~__~

[TheVideoGamHer]

X was in showable form at the January 2013 Direct. It's a good chance we'll get it this year, even if at the end of the year.

[Xof]

It's a bit silly to expect a release date for Monotlith's game considering they haven't even shared the games TITLE yet.

And are we really at the point where people think seeing gameplay footage of a game indicates an imminent release? Really? Hasn't this generation been the site of some of the LONGEST delays in development in gaming history? I mean, come on, people--remember Versus XIII?

[KonsoruMasuta]

Can't wait to see how Hyrule Warriors turns out! According to the Japanese trailer, it's releasing in Japan during summertime.

[Aceman18]

The sequel to xenoblade is the only one I care about at this moment in time.

[deafdani]

We still don't really know if this is a sequel to Xenoblade or a new IP with the same gameplay style.

I think it's the latter. Outside of the gameplay mechanics, I just don't see the relation between the world shown in X and the Xenoblade world. I mean, just look at the Mechas. They have a more decidedly traditional and "realistic" design to them, whereas the "mechs" and "robots" in Xenoblade had all a more stylized fantasy style.

The only thing that really indicates that this could be related to Xenoblade is the blond kid that appears at the end of the first trailer, who many people believe to be Shulk... but he could be just that, a generic blonde kid. He didn't even look too much like Shulk to me, honestly, his face was more rounded.

Who knows. Anyway, I'm 95% sure the game will be epic either way. Sequel to Xenoblade or not, it's still my most anticipated title of 2014. I only hope it's well enough into development to meet the release year, and it doesn't get any delays.

[Aceman18]

it pretty much doesn't matter to me as it's the only game i'm really looking forward to on the system next to the next Zelda game lol.

[WiiUsauce]

It sounds like you didnt play Xenoblade, because X has the same exact battle system, extremely similar enemy designs, those blue orbs in the overworld in the trailer for X are also in Xenoblade, theyre collectibles that fill your collectopedia, and the aesthetics of the overworls look identicle to guar plains on the bionis leg. All signs point to direct sequel. It does look like the sequel takes place a few 100 years into the future though.

[deafdani]

Blue orbs and battle system are part of the gameplay, which I already aknowledged looks taken straight from Xenoblade.

I didn't recognize anything from Xenoblade's overworld on neither of the two trailers released for X. Certainly not Gaur Plains from Bionis Legs. To me, this looks like a completely new world.

That said, I could be completely wrong. If you turn out to be right, and the story takes place several decades after Xenoblade, that could explain the mechas, and the "futuristic" cities seen in the second trailer (which look nothing like Alcamoth or Agniratha, the most advanced cities in Xenoblade).

Trust me, I have played Xenoblade. It's my favorite game of the past generation, and that's why X is my most anticipated title of 2014, regardless of it being a direct Xenoblade Sequel or not.

Would be nice if it was a sequel? Yup! But it would also be nice if it was a new IP. Either way, it will probably be awesome. :)

[Toon_Link]

I'm definitely in for bayonetta 2 and Monoliths new game.

[Dunban67]

I am so glad this article was written- IMO much of what Iwata said was smoke for the purpose of distracting-

The only specifics he gave about games is that Mario Kart is releasing in May- that's it

We know DKTF is releasing in Feb- supposedly Hyrule warriors is releasing this Summer and Smash Bros sometime in 2014- But I have not read or heard of anyone at Nintendo say the other games on the list will be out in 2014- they imply it but they did the same thing last year w no results

[NihonjinChick]

On the list of upcoming Nintendo games, it tells you the year of release.

http://www.zeldainformer.co...

DKTF
Hyrule Warriors
SSMB
Bayonetta 2
X (Monolith's new game)

They all have 2014 next to them. Also, Hyrule Warrior's Japanese trailer stated 2014.

[Dunban67]

I would feel more confident if they were a little more specific as they were w Mario Kart (Spring 2014) were as the others just say 2014

If I remember correctly they had some on the same list in last years report slated for 2013 that did not make it- but I am going from memory and could be wrong- I just wish they would communicate more- the way it looks is we have 1 game coming between now and may -

[for we are many]

No rush, let them take their time and deliver quality games instead of rushing them out. I usually get excited about games a month or so before release, I need to catch up with lots of games on lots of devices.

[DialgaMarine]

I love how people still honestly believe that the key to the Wii-U's success is first party exclusives. Do people already forget that the gamecube had these very same exclusives that Nintendo is touting today, and still ended up the worst selling console of gen 6? It's not just exclusives. They NEED strong third party support, and they NEED for gamers who play mainly third party games to take interest in the console. Without those 2 things, combined with strong first party exclusives, the console is done. Simple as that.

[Damd_Bowsr]

Yea, but if third party is going to port sub par versions then I'll pass on then, bring me strong 1st parties for my money. From the sound of yesterday's news, third parties will probably get to make some Nintendo first party games like Metriod prime, other M, H Warriors, and like when Sega helped with F-Zero.

That's a win win for all sides.

[DialgaMarine]

You're one gamer. Not every gamer is willing to just drop $300 for a console just to play Nintendo games, especially when they're the same Nintendo games we've been seeing for decades. First parties are great, but third parties make up a far larger portion of the industry, and without them, a console is destined to either fail or sell poorly, even with fantastic exclusives. Want proof? You know what other console company decided they were going to rely 100% on first party exclusives? Sega with the Dreamcast, and look how that turned out.

[KonsoruMasuta]

Some of these exclusives are third party.
Bayonetta 2 - Platinum
Hayrule Warriors -Tecmo Koei
Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem - Atlus

[AKissFromDaddy]

All published by Nintendo. Nintendo must publish or pay for every game after Watch Dogs because most, if not all, third party publisher won't publish their games on WiiU anymore. Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare, Destiny, Alien: Isolation, Ultimate Street Fighter 4, Castlevania Lords of Shadow 2, Evolve, and the list goes on of games that unfortunately won't be available to WiiU platforms. The WiiU appears as a platform that only play Nintendo published games.

How many games can Nintendo continue to publish a year when the cycle to develop "good" games is usually a minimum of two years?

I'm guessing not many without third party publishers.
What do you think?

[TheVideoGamHer]

Think about why third party is important on consoles though. It diversifies a library and gives the player more of a selection of genres to play, different styles within genress, more selections, etc. Variety.

I believe that if Nintendo collaborated with others and got some exclusives that provided quality content from all genres, i.e. strengthening the library, and pushing these games, the Wii U would still be getting support regardless and there would be support that would interest a number of people.

The Wii U's MAIN concern right now is content. It needs content. You can't expect Nintendo to get major third party multiplatform support under these conditions. The Wii U sales numbers are too low and the relationship that Nintendo has with most companies now is damn near non-existent. They need to revamp their brand and instill confidence in potential supporters of their console.

[R00bot]

Oh Gawd I need dis. I need all of them.
My wallet is already crying.

[swice]

Good article.

[Ck1x]

Great article and we need a new Nintendo Direct as of last week!
Hopefully they announce something this week or the next...
Every direct from here up to e3 needs to feel like an e3 size event of information to paint some new positive light and momentum for the WiiU.

[Jay70sgamer]

Very good article ...there were very valid points made ..good work

[canek]

I paid 300 dls for my Wii-U !! I am playing tekken tag 2, zombie-u, Mario 3d world, and Zelda wind waker..and I am loving it!! I'll buy a Wii-u for my lil brother this Sumer so that he can enjoy these great games and the ones coming out this year!!!