More Thoughts From Me #20: What’s Going On With the Wii U?

I love the Wii U. I think it’s a great system. But lately, a big question has been bothering me: What’s happening with the Wii U? Is Nintendo getting ready to abandon the system? I take a look at the evidence and try to figure out just what Nintendo is planning…

Nintendo has said over and over again that they are not abandoning the Wii U. When they hinted at their plans for their online/My Nintendo strategy, the NX and the Wii U were included. Just recently, the President of Nintendo gave an interview were he implied they were not giving up on the Wii U and clearly stated that the NX is not a successor to the Wii U. Nintendo has acted like they are not worried about people not buying the Wii U and waiting for the NX. Everything that Nintendo has hinted at it makes it sound like the NX and the Wii U will be around together. How will Nintendo be able to develop games for two consoles? At the moment, there’s not much evidence that they will be doing that.

We know nothing about the NX’s games yet. Though, we do know of only two games announced for the Wii U after June (one coming this year and one next). Those games are Paper Mario: Color Splash and Legend of Zelda Wii U, which is also coming for the NX. Nintendo is keeping silent about any other Wii U games coming later this year or next year. That said, Nintendo is making a huge push for Zelda Wii U by making it the only game they show at E3. Why not show Zelda NX at E3 too? Also, if they are pushing for one Wii U game, why not others too? You have to wonder why Paper Mario: Color Splash isn’t being shown at E3. And if there are other games coming this year for Wii U, why are they being left out? None of Nintendo’s actions towards the Wii U are making sense. Still, there is the possibility that Nintendo will reveal new Wii U games elsewhere.

As I’ve said in a previous column, E3 isn’t as important to Nintendo as it is to us. We may think its strange that Nintendo would just focus their E3 on one game, but Nintendo does have Nintendo Directs and can showcase games anytime during the year. We know for a fact that there are many 3DS games coming out this year and none of them will be at E3. Yes, it is mysterious that Nintendo is not telling us about the Wii U games yet and they keep telling us about new 3DS games coming every so often. Why are they keeping silent about Wii U games? Could it be that they just want to surprise us with some cool new games for Wii U in a Direct? Its perhaps that or Nintendo could just be getting ready to kick the Wii U under a bus! I’m having a hard time believing that they’d just kick the system aside…

If you think that Nintendo has done all the possible games they could for Wii U, you are wrong. Nintendo hasn’t brought a regular Animal Crossing game, a Metroid, Luigi’s Mansion, Kid Icarus, or F-Zero game to the Wii U. Some may think they are just leaving those games for the NX though! That is possible, but as we’ve seen with many of Nintendo’s systems, some of their best games come out near the end of the system’s life. Do I think the Wii U is getting near the end of its life? I do think that is possible. I find it hard to believe that Nintendo could keep two consoles going for long. However, I also find it hard to believe that the Wii U would go out on such a weak lineup. Yes, Color Splash could be good and Zelda will definitely be good, but the Wii U deserves better then that. Nintendo promised us that they would give us better.

Nintendo has said previously they wanted all their current customers to be satisfied with the Wii U before ending it. I don’t think Nintendo would just kick the Wii U away yet. They may not have a lot of current customers on the Wii U, but I don’t think they’d want to lose that audience. And while there are many people who want the new NX, I think a lot of those people are A) people who didn’t pick up the Wii U or B) People with a lot of disposable income. Speaking for myself, I don’t have the money to go out and buy every system I want. I know there other people out there like me too. And some people just bought their Wii U last year. What about those people? I’m sure they aren’t ready to move to the NX. So how does Nintendo satisfy current Wii U owners, while also bringing out a new system?

I’m not sure Nintendo will be able to satisfy Wii U owners, but I do think they’ll try to. I keep hoping that Nintendo will reveal some more Wii U games for this year and since there is still a lot more of this year left, its very possible. I think it would be a huge waste delaying the NX till next year and not giving the Wii U some final games all by itself. Yes I know the reason the NX was delayed was because Nintendo wants to make sure it has a great software lineup. But it also seems like a fantastic time for Nintendo to bring out a few more Wii U games before the NX arrives. I’m not altogether sure they will though. As a Nintendo fan, I hope we will see more Wii U games this year, but at the same time, I know its possible that they may be focusing on NX and not working on Wii U much. At this point, anything is possible. I suppose thats why there are so many rumors surrounding the NX…

So what’s going to happen with the Wii U? My guess is as good as yours. So, hey, enough rambling from me: what do you think will happen with the Wii U? Will Nintendo abandon the system or does it have more life left in it? Let us know in the comments!

Next week: Games shouldn’t end on cliffhangers!

More Thoughts From Me is an opinion column. All of the opinions presented here are mine and mine alone. Everyone else at Games Reviews thinks that the Wii U sucks and that the NX is the next Playstation 4. Wait. That might not be true. Don’t listen to me. But all that stuff about this being an opinion column is true. Oh so true…