If you missed the news, Nintendo recently announced that they have cut their Wii U sales forecast from 9 million to 2.8 million by the end of their financial year (March 2014).
Nintendo has also cut their net profit forecast from 55 billion Yen to 25 billion Yen.
The Wii U is an amazing device. I have owned mine since August when I was lucky enough to grab one when they went on sale for R999 at Toys-R-Us.
It has never let me down in terms of quality titles and a experience that I have yet to have from my PS4.
So why is Nintendo finding it so hard to sell this console? Let’s take a look at factors affecting this:
Lack of titles
The Wii U lacks third party support. Other than Ubisoft and a handful of indie developers, Nintendo has found it difficult to get games developed for their console.
The console shines with its AAA first party titles, but if you own a Wii U you should expect a new title only every 1-2 months, due to its lack of support.
Nintendo has a huge lineup for 2014, with Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros, and a new Zelda scheduled for reveal at E3.
Price
Before the launch of the next gen PS4 and Xbox One, the Wii U was the most expensive console on the market.
It now retails for $299, $100 less than a PS4. Game pricing matches that of other platforms.
Nintendo Wii U
Sales
The Wii U has been on the market for 14 months. In that time it has sold a mere 4.3 million units. This low install base means its not a particularly attractive console for developers.
Timing
The Wii U launched in November 2012, a year before the PS4 and Xbox One rollout. 2012 and 2013 were both big years for Nintendo’s competitors in terms of titles and sales.
The Verdict
A combination of these factors has led Nintendo to its dire predicament. Why buy a Wii U if you can add $100 and get a PS4? Sony’s console has a long lifespan ahead, while the Wii U was looking long in the tooth when it launched.
Every reason Nintendo has given gamers to buy a Wii U has been followed up by more reasons not to. I really hope Nintendo has a great plan for the Wii U; I love it and really hope it succeeds.
Yes, I only get a game every two months, and it stays switched off for weeks on end, but it does have the special quality that makes it a Nintendo console – it’s a kind of magic that makes you feel that your purchase was the best thing you ever did, but at the same time you will really hope for a new game announcement every time there is a Nintendo Direct broadcast.
Do you own a Wii U and feel the same, or regret buying one? Let us know in the comments below.
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Feeling guilty that you bought it at a quarter of the price at an obvious loss to reggies?
I find it hard to believe that Nintendo really thought it would sell 9 million units of this console. Considering the circumstances of its launch in light of next-gen I’m surprised it’s done this well. They really did everything they could do make this product bomb and it just bounced back from insurmountable odds. Nintendo will never open it’s IP to scrutiny on platforms it can’t control, but it might open its platform to a wider variety of producers when it becomes clear that this won’t disturb their relationship with AAA third-party developers. Just imagine the circus when they cross that line.