Wii Sales Slowing Down; Was Sony & Microsoft Right?

Games Outlook asks was Sony & Microsoft Right?

"The sales of the Nintendo Wii have been slowing down in recent months at stated below in the Osaka report:

OSAKA: Japan's Nintendo Co Ltd posted its second straight fall in annual profit on Monday, as sales of its ageing Wii games console slowed and the March 11 earthquake weighed on Japanese consumer spending. Operating profit fell 52 percent to 171.1 billion yen ($2.09 billion) in the year ended in March from 356.8 billion yen the previous year."

[FlameBaitGod]

Y wouldn't they go down, I mean seriously..... how much more do they need to sell ? almost everyone has a freaking wii, I'm amazed it took this long for its sales to go down.

[Will-UK]

Very true nearly everyone I know with a PS3 or 360 has or had a Wii. I think Nintendo know its dying out slowly so are releasing a new console to catch up with the HD consoles. Also to keep up interest in Nintendo and increase the slumping profits.

[perfectCarbonara]

LOL, this was the console that at some point was supposed to overtake the PS2 in ww sales.

LOL

PS2 remains the most successful console ever.

[Valk]

LOL Great job kid. Celibrate a company selling a faulty console to the point they had to be sued to fix it. Thats really something to brag about...

BTw DS is the most succesful. Did it without selling faulty hardware and forcing people to buy 2-3.

I am sure you will disagree like a good sheep but software sales speak for themselves. Both Wii and DS have done something PS2 never achieved. Games that sold over 20 million copies.The lawsuit over PS2 is common knowledge also

[heroicjanitor]

That's because Nintendo consoles concentrate all software sales on a handful of Nintendo titles, PS2 has the highest software sales of all time and the highest attach rate. With the wii people buy the Nintendo games and nothing else, so of course they have individual games destroying others in terms of sales, it isn't an even fight for third parties. They also bundle a lot.

PS2 is still the highest selling console, though the DS will overtake it this year(which is because it has been much cheaper for the majority of its life. Cheap things generally outsell higher priced things).

The DS does force people to buy more than one. Myself and all of my brothers have one each because we can't play separate pokemon files otherwise. My Ds is pretty much broken now since the screen won't calibrate, one of my brothers bought a ds lite because of faulty hardware.

[Silver360]

They need to release a new console because they found out to their chagrin that hardcore gamers by games for the lifetime of a console. Those casuals they sold all those consoles to only buy one or two games then they are done. They don't make any money from third party games, that severely limits the life span of the system. What good is a console if you can't sell new games that aren't first party on it?

[frostypants]

The Wii 2 won't sell nearly as well. Those impulse-purchasing grandmas and other hyper-casuals won't see the point. They have their Wii Sports and that's all they want.

[jacksonmichael]

If they thought Wii Fit was worth the money, they definitely will.

[Primetimebt]

It was only bound to happen.. I honestly don't see a Wii 2, or 3DS been much of a success see most causals will not fork over money to buy an upgrade.

[EYEamNUMBER1]

what does the 3DS have anything to do with the so called casuals?

the nintendo handheld market has been the same since gameboy

[Ju]

Its about price. Nintendo traditionally sold at a low price range. 3DS is an expensive handheld (for its market). And it shows in sales (after the initial rush). Wii2 will be the same. Unless Nintendo can sell a Wii2 below PS3/360 prices with better features it will be a tough sell to its traditional customers - unless it is a high price range console which directly targets PS3/360 customers with "hardcore" titles. But then, this at the cost of the traditional Wii/Nintendo audience. Big risk for Nintendo.

[schlanz]

ever heard of a thing called a price drop

[Trunkz]

If I remember correctly the DS didn't sky rocket even tho it was $149.99 at it's original launch. For being $100 more and having much more hardware in it (and an even worse launch lineup) it's doing pretty good so far considering it wasn't even a Christmas launch, which by then many great games will be out for players to choose from.

If Nintendo plays its cards right for this Christmas when the NGP comes, they can sell it for $229.99 and really sell them like hot cakes.

[Ju]

I doubt it. NGP can cost more a) it is a different perception (say what you will, but everybody "expects" a Sony product to be expensive) and b) it has just so much more under the hood - which will become very apparent when it actually hits the market. Dropping $249 to $229 will not be enough for the 3DS. Also, it is still more of the same content - where traditional DS players have to shell out $100 bucks more to play. 3DS is lacking after the initial rush. It dropped of very fast - within a week of launch. I am sure this is not the success Ninti had envisioned.

Same with Wii2. I would think Sony/MS will work towards a massive price drop as soon as the Wii2 hits. Nintendo never sold with a loss. But if they want to push the new console, I could imagine they will do just that to be competitive.

In regards to the Wii. It still sells pretty good, surprisingly. I am curious if Nintendo pulls a "PS2" with the Wii - but that would be a bit counterproductive to sell a HD console. $100 Wii and it will be around for a while.

[Trunkz]

You would be surprised at how good 229 can look good to a parent compared to 249 (especially when compared to an NGP @ 299 or 349)

[Ju]

$79 looks good to a parent, $129 looks good, too, $149 looks acceptable...$229 doesn't matter any more. I'd rather make my kids save up. $149 I might consider sponsoring...especially if you have more than one. Above that, I'd expect something really breathtaking to justify the price (makes me wonder why people shell out $500 for a phone). But a 3DS ain't it.

[N4g_null]

Ju it's more about the games than the price. You have many people out there with two dsi that can change the price of a 3ds if that truely is a problem. I mean even the nes and snes sold with games. Even the wii sold with a game every one wanted to try.

People just want to be able to do more with the thing than just say ooooohhhhhh 3d. I'm betting once every thing is out they will be fine. I mean no pokemon on the thing yet sort of defeats the purpose of getting it. I believe they did sell more dsi because of just that game.

Lol the NGP is going to cost as much if not more than the wii2 lol. Then they are going to try and cram ps3 games on it you have already beat.

Also expecting something to be higher in cost is not a good thing. Just look at Sony laptops every one expects to pay more for the same hardware but we all say why? Then you won't be buying that.

Nintendo just forgot we want more games and if 3rd parties are slow then they better step in. 2d Mario would be great in maybe the Mario 2 style? 3D metroid? Well at least pokemon.

[ArchangelMike]

Can you say 'market saturation?'

[slavish3]

i can't believe it. wii is dead thats why nintendo is moving on. ps360 still sells and will out sell wii before there successors are released

[matey]

they would have to sell 30 million this year and next

[slavish3]

you can't read i said ps360 will out sell wii before there successors are released which is in 2014! they can sell just over 10 million a year plus they will have full support from m$ and sony plus third parties. wii is done. ps360 will continue and if they do drop the price 199 or lower. ps360 sell will continue too and past 2014 while they wii will be forgotten.

[TacoTaru]

I don't think it's so much "you can't read" as it is - you can't write.
I can't really argue with you though since you don't convey ideas clearly enough to be disputed.

[Theyellowflash30]

Yeah they were right 87 million units and 6 years later....... Michael Pachter was also right about the Wii HD...... eventually its bound to happen.

[gcolley]

this is not news to anyone. well done on the lame obvious article that everyone already knows. now go write an article about how there will definitely be a mario game on the next nintendo console

[matey]

It almost Next-Gen who cares if wii only sells 15 million a year instead of 25 million its still enough to ensure wii stays ahead of ps3/360 ect as there follow-ups will be here in 2 years so i dont think 360/ps3 could catch up

[supremacy]

Nintendo will end up killing its own wii with the announcment of its next gen console.

All Sony and M$ have to do is play the price game and keep pushing them pretty games for the price. In comparrisson the wii will literaly start dying for sure, like the ps2 all it will have left are but a few games spread out through out the years before it hits rock bottom.

Ps2 is at 150mil now, thats no small feat either. Ps3 was expensive and came out when the ps2 already exceeded 120mil. I think thats going to be the difference here, the premature release of Nintendos next gen console will stunt the wii's growth.

once the top tier versions of the ps3 and 360 hit that 199 price tag Nintendo will find itself leading the next consoles but looking in at the other 2 still ripping of profits. But maybe this will work in their favor down the line we will see.

[PatchowPietro]

I stil believe PS3 will end this generation on top with most sales.

[Fishy Fingers]

Possibly, because Sony might drag out it's life as long as possible in the hopes of turning a worthwhile profit.

[Ju]

I think that always was Sony's strategy. Main focus for sure is to get into that mass market price segment - $100. Will not happen - but maybe $200 is possible I would think.

It all depends what the developers will do. If they keep supporting a $200 PS3 or rather move on to what is cheaper for them to develop: that is a updated console which makes it cheaper to make games.

[AWBrawler]

only if Sony keeps it out until it eventually tops Wii, and that is granted Nintendo pull the plug on wii early

[CaulkSlap]

No Sony and Microsoft were wrong. They both wrongly assumed that giving their customers a good system with modern games would make them money. Turns out all they needed to do was repackage the PS2/Xbox and add a gimmick to it.

[Ju]

Man, I am sooo glad they were wrong in that case, tbh. And took the risk and gave us a real console.

[Brasi82]

I know because do the same thing they did last generation is such a risk. Those graphic jumps are iffy. Never know who might not like the new graphics, OMG what a risk. Get out of here you jackwagon.

[VampiricDragon_]

it still probably going to be the only system to break 100 million

[smoothdude]

The gamecube only sold 22 million units in its lifetime, so in this regard Nintendo actually was very successful with the Wii.

[jacksonmichael]

To put that in perspective, the Gamecube sold about as much as New Super Mario Bros Wii.

[nevin1]

An HD version should of had been released. a Wii probably can't compete with a $199 PS3. Remember people, there a huge chunk of core gamers who still hasn't yet jump into the HD console era.

The Wii was something just caught on similar to Facebook and similar. You know something wrong when my mother wanted a Wii. Nintendo struck gold with that. Alot of people who has a Wii don't even play it. Even the hardcore Nintendo fans dont even play it.

[AWBrawler]

I play the Hell, Heaven, and Earth out of my Wii. i play Wii games, Wiiware, VC, and Homebrew on it.

Right now, I'm playing through Mother 3, DKC returns, Epic Mickey, Lit, and Muramasa on my Wii

[Tapioca Cold]

"Was Sony and Microsoft right?"

Nice grammar. Once again just crap articles. C'mon guys, keep supporting garbage!

[No_Pantaloons]

Few people are buying cause almost everyone already has it, and unlike the 360 you don't need to keep replacing it.

Seriously stupid article. Troll harder next time.

[Bounkass]

Well, Nintendo was wrong all along...

[ozstar]

Nintendo were wrong about standard definition game development, but who are we kidding? That company is RICH AS BUFFETT forever because of the Wii, I don't think they give a chip whether S&M PR statements were right or not (S&M - Sony and Microsoft. On reflection I can see how this acronym might be misconstrued).

[lizard81288]

well, the casuals have had their wii sports, while the true gamers this year have....Mario Sports Mix?!

seriously...I have a Nintendo (wii) console only...its sucking ass right now. i have to wait until the end of the year to get zelda and kirby. right now it just sits there.

no wonder it has been failing in sales. At this point, you might as well start saving up for cafe if you don't have a wii. it can do all the things the wii can do, plus more.

[N4g_null]

Yeah selling way more and the other two trying to extent the life of two Maxed out console that can badly do hd was a bad thing. The fans can frame it how every they want but nintendo made some nice games this gen. Yet the 3rd parties just wanted to play pc developer this gen it seems.

What is funny is nintendo joining the hd industry is actually going to show you how mediocre your hd games actualy where and why the other two hd system where not really enough.

I've never seen a company turn their games around so much in one gen. I'm proud of Sony too who always makes their gamers wait for the good games. Yet both need more arcade like games.