Nintendo is saying goodbye to the Wii U. A report from a Japanese newspaper suggests that the company will cease production of the console by the end of 2016. It will only sell off whatever is left in the inventory.
Japanese publication Nikkei revealed Nintendo's plans for the Wii U, which was then translated on Twitter by user @serkantoto. The report stated that games and accessories for the Nintendo Wii U will also cease production aside from the device, and whatever is left of the inventory will be what's selling to the market until it is depleted.
However, the report doesn't state whether Nintendo plans to stop the production of Wii U because the company is releasing its next console, the Nintendo NX, this year. The latter's official launch is one that gamers highly anticipate and it is expected to be in the market in early 2017.
1) The Nikkei just reports Nintendo will stop producing Wii U within 2016. It doesn't say they will necessarily start selling NX in 2016.
— Dr. Serkan Toto (@serkantoto) March 22, 2016
2) Acc. to the paper, some Wii U accessories are already not being produced anymore. Nintendo plans to deplete inventory this year. //end
— Dr. Serkan Toto (@serkantoto) March 22, 2016
The Nintendo Wii U is only four years old, but the company knew during its release that the gadget wasn't going to be a mass media favorite for gamers. It wasn't an actual console, but more like a gaming pad. Gamespot reports that it only sold 12.6 million units in a world that was dominated by PlayStation and the Xbox. It's predecessor, the Nintendo Wii, sold 101 million units from 2016 to 2013.
The Nintendo Wii U did have some plus points as the "Super Mario 3D World" game was one of Nintendo's best-sellers. It also paved the way for the company to delve into the online multiplayer shooting platform with "Splatoon."
Manufacturers retiring consoles is not something new as PlayStation did this for their earlier versions, per The Wrap. But in Nintendo's case, the move is seen as a good decision. As Twitter user @serkantoto stated, "It did absolutely nothing for Nintendo as a company."
On a more personal note, I like the Wii U a lot, but it did absolutely nothing for Nintendo as a company. This move makes total sense.
— Dr. Serkan Toto (@serkantoto) March 22, 2016
