Nintendo Leading a Double Life: Issues in N.A. and Success in Japan

Nintendo is leading a double life, and it has to be insanely frustrating for the executives. In the west, the Wii U troubles are well documented, and while they have been selling fairly well since the launch of Mario Kart – and, will continue through Hyrule Warriors and Super Smash Bros – they still are not doing as well as they themselves had hoped. In Japan, however, Nintendo is actually selling on par with the PS4, and the 3DS and the 3DS LL are blowing both out of the water. It’s a good time for Nintendo in Japan, even if its not in the west.

Last week I wrote about the success of Super Smash 3DS and how it has sold over a million copies in its first week. It helped propel the new 3DS models to the top of the charts. According to Nintendo Life, 3DS modesl combined sold almost 40,000, while the PS4 came in at 23,600 and the Wii U a measly 7,000. How ever, despite a less than stellar week, the Wii U currently sits almost tied with PS4 in sales-to-date in Japan.

No one may have been as critical of the Wii U and what they were doing as myself. I still see them as #3 in this generation’s console wars, but that doesn’t mean it is destined to fail. The Wii U is becoming a solid system on the software side, and the value you get for your purchase will only continue to go up. For now, though, Nintendo will be happy that their console that many peg as struggling, is playing with the top dog in Japan.