Examples of Damage Control in Gaming: Wii U’s End

Do you own a Wii U? Do you still use it? Then you don’t need me to tell you it has one foot in the grave, and the other leg is slowly easing its way in.

Reports emerged from multiple websites saying Nintendo plans to end Wii U production as early as this week, which would essentially close the curtain on its console life. Though anyone who wants the system will still be able to obtain one from store shelves, given current sales, it will become a rare commodity in the future. Its scarcity could occur sooner rather than later if stores provide good holiday sales in the next two months, or place them on clearance to get them out of their inventory and make room for Nintendo’s upcoming Switch and accompanying software.

Given that Nintendo just released the last big Wii U-exclusive title in Paper Mario: Color Splash, it wasn’t difficult to believe the company felt it was time to end production. They could feel there are enough owners still using their consoles for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to sell fine, though it also has the Switch version to help.

Despite this move being ostensibly understandable, it may not be happening after all. Nintendo sent a notice to Japanese gaming news site It Media, where they said “there is no change to our continuing [Wii U] production.” They succinctly clarified that the aforementioned report “was not true,” and that manufacturing would remain on schedule despite the impending Switch. Given how they didn’t bother dressing this up with PR speech, doesn’t sound like they’re fibbing. That’s good for anyone who wants to get a Wii U in the near or slightly distant future, especially considering Switch likely won’t be backwards compatible with its games. But those who were hoping for some clearance sales from stores selling the last batch they have in stock could be out of luck, unless some are desperate to clear them out.

That is, assuming you believe them, because there’s a good reason to cast doubt on this statement: We’ve actually been through this song and dance before, which I also posted about.

It was in March when Japanese business newspaper Nikkei reported that Nintendo would be ending Wii U production at the end of the year, to make room for Switch — then still known as “Nintendo NX.” It was easy to believe considering how right Nikkei often was about Nintendo’s plans, which occurred before the company themselves could report them. That’s why it was easy to believe them. But even then, Nintendo denied the report by saying the system would remain in production for the next few quarters, though some didn’t believe them due to its threadbare software lineup. Interestingly, It wasn’t long afterward when CEO Tatsumi Kimishima announced that the company would greatly reduce the amount of Wii U systems produced and shipped. That almost confirmed Nikkei’s report.

That’s why it’s not too farfetched to think this could be a similar case, whose chances intensify upon observing the system’s upcoming lineup. Wii U never received third-party support in large enough numbers, one of the biggest contributors to its low hardware and software sales. So, Breath of the Wild aside, the only games in the pipeline are indie titles, some of which were funded through Kickstarter. Some of those could also be sifted two Switch, depending on when they’re planned to arrive.

For instance, you can count on Shantae: Half-Genie Hero and Yooka-Laylee to release on the system, since they’re coming soon. But Inti Creates and Koji Igarashi are already considering moving the Wii U version of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night to Switch, which is understandable. For one, it’s not due until early 2018 now, a time where Wii U will be fully in the grave. But the move would mean the game will release on a system that will already arrive with Unreal Engine 4 support, which this title is running on, removing their need to hire another company to port the engine to Wii U. Whether they do it will depend on how many crowdfunding backers are fine with it, and are willing to pick it up on another platform.

The tragic news here is where Wii U’s total sales will be by the time its light fades. Its final shipment number will be around 14 million, and while that will easily make it the worst-selling Nintendo home console, it’s too close to other systems that were labeled “failures” for comfort. That includes Sega’s Saturn and Dreamcast. Note that I’m not saying Wii U was a failure, as like those consoles, it has a respectable library including games that shouldn’t be missed — though I personally never got around to owning the system. Yeah, I know.

Given what happened before, don’t be surprised if this news is at least close to the truth. And if you want the system, keep an eye out for deals between now and the end of the year.