An article in the Japanese newspaper, Nikkei (translated by Serkan Toto of Kantan Games) has reported that Nintendo will be ceasing production on the Wii U console. It seems to be only rumored at the moment, but this may be the next logical step for the Wii U. Even though it was announced before the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, the console has struggled to keep up. The initial announcement of the Wii U was met with some trepidation as some E3 viewers didn’t know exactly what the Wii U was. Many thought the Wii U was simply a tablet-like add-on for the Wii. Since then, the console was met with lackluster sales, and much criticism for its hardware issues; developers were finding it difficult to incorporate the console’s hardware gimmicks organically into game-play, which was a similar issue the Wii had as well.
The announcement of Nintendo’s newest device, NX, is looming on the horizon, and many predict that we’re likely to see that announcement later this year.. Recently in an almost unprecedented move, Nintendo jumped head first into mobile gaming (albeit a bit late). But, what does all this mean for the future? The cessation of production on its flagship console could only mean that Nintendo is ready to move on, rather than frantically salvage and rebuild the Wii U’s reputation. There are still some titles in the pipeline for the console, but this move will represent a shifting of focus as Nintendo attempts to completely modernize itself. MiiTomo is a soft step forward, and it will be interesting what Nintendo has in store for us in the future. Furthermore, considering Nintendo’s move into mobile gaming, it could be very possible that the NX will be a more integrated device like the PlayStation 4, rather than a dedicated gaming machine. Only time will tell, however.
