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Forums - Gaming Discussion - Software Will Not Boost Wii U Hardware Sales

With the imiment release of Playstation 4 and the next Xbox, along with a slew of incredible next-gen titles that will not be coming to Nintendo's console, I say it is fair to predict that the Wii U will finish last in sales for the 8th generation.

After scanning the forums and seeing responses from the Nintendo faithful on topics involving graphics and multiplats (both from Western and Japanese developers), I can also say it is fair to assume that almost everyone who bought the Wii U is currently going through some form of buyer's remorse. A sudden stream of first-party games for the system may ease that remorse, but it will not be enough to spark any highlightable growth in hardware sales.

Let's break down the releases which will be on the Playstation 4 and the next Xbox but not on the Wii U:

Cyberpunk 2077

Battlefield 4

Destiny

The Witcher 3

Star Wars 1313

Thief 4

 

To further demonstrate my point that the Wii U's future software will not have enough fire to ignite a sizable upward trend in sales, let's break down the Playstation 4 exclusives:


Killzone Shadow Fall

Infamous Second Son

Final Fantasy XV

Deep Down

DRIVECLUB

 

Now let's consider 7th generational multiplats and exclusives that have yet to be released but will not arrive on the Wii U:

Grand Theft Auto V

Metro Last LIght


The Last of Us (PS3 Exclusive)

Bioshock Infinite

Metal Gear Solid V

Beyond: Two Souls (PS3 Exclusive)

Lost Planet 3

Remember Me

Prey 2

Dead Island Riptide

Saints Row IV

FUSE

GRID 2

DEFIANCE


Let's be clear here. The Wii U currently lacks an arsenal of killer titles, and when you see forum members claiming their most anticipated game for the platform is LEGO City Undercover, it becomes more and more apparent that the system is in a terrible spot.

If we look ahead, other than the first-party Pikmin 3, only Ubisoft is really extending support to Nintendo's console. And with the same games (Assassins Creed IV, Watchdogs, Splinter Cell Blacklist) available for true next gen platforms with much more realistic visuals, it does not seem that the Wii U will be able to suddenly reverse it's terrible sales numbers.

Taking E3 into account, Nintendo should come out with guns blazing as far as first party titles are concerned, but I do not see a Mario, Zelda, or Super Smash game being released in 2013. Instead, there will be a HD remake of Wind Waker.

Now, all the Nintendo faithful need to stop being butthurt and come to terms with their decision to buy a Wii U without considering the games release calender. And if they continue to argue that software will sell consoles, they cannot compare the Wii U's upcoming games library to that of the Playstation 4, the next Xbox, or the current Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

TLDR: Nintendo did not effectively plan it's first party release schedule for the Wii U, and upcoming Wii U games will not suddenly drive sales for the system.



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The lack of these big-name 3rd party titles is what killed the Wii.(Of course Nintendo had some part in this as well)

Even though Wii U is getting some big games such as AC and Watch Dogs, its still missing some major franchises. The ones it did get didn't sell very well at launch so I think the future of 3rd party support for Wii U won't be much different than that of the Wii.



You want people to list titles on WiiU, that will not show up on PS4 or X360, right?



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How many people buy Nintendo systems to play those games though? Compare software sales on Nintendo's consoles, do 3rd party or 1st party sell better?



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arsenalrc15 said:

(...)available for true next gen platforms.(...)

Taking E3 into account, Nintendo should come out with guns blazing as far as first party titles are concerned, but I do not see a Mario, Zelda, or Super Smash game being released in 2013. Instead, there will be a HD remake of Wind Waker.

Now, all the Nintendo faithful need to stop being butthurt and come to terms with their decision to buy a Wii U without considering the games release calender. And if they continue to argue that software will sell consoles, they cannot compare the Wii U's upcoming games library to that of the Playstation 4, the next Xbox, or the current Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

TLDR: Nintendo did not effectively plan it's first party release schedule for the Wii U, and upcoming Wii U games will not suddenly drive sales for the system.

Iiiiinteresting.

Oh, and you're wrong. SW always increases HW. This has been proven over and over again. I don't know why you are trying to dis-prove this utter fact. (Plus, you're putting a lot of faith into some of those exclusives. I wouldn't do that.)



If you want to backup the argument that I've seen repeated on these forums over and over: (that we cannot judge Wii U sales because it is too early to tell when you account for future games) then yes, please list confirmed games for the system that will suddenly catapult it into high sales territory.

I bought the Wii immediately when it came out in 2006 because of how unique it was. Several special titles such as Zak & Wiki made the system memorable, but the real reason it sold so well was because A) the global economy was still in a "pre-financial recession) high B) the system invited the family to play and C) the Wii actually held a sizable "cool" factor because of the wiimotes.

Now, the Wii U has launched in the post-financial recession world, families are not clear as to whether the Wii U helps them play Wii Sports in any different way, and after years of terrible support from third parties and the whole core vs casual gamer argument, the Wii U has lost most of it's "cool" credibility.



NintendoPie said:

Iiiiinteresting.

Oh, and you're wrong. SW always increases HW. This has been proven over and over again. I don't know why you are trying to dis-prove this utter fact. (Plus, you're putting a lot of faith into some of those exclusives. I wouldn't do that.)


when did Wii software ever bring the console back to launch level sales?



It really isn't necessary to name PS4 exclusives... When you're going there I can call a full list of games not coming to PS4/Xbox 3 and claim they're doomed.



I actually don't feel buyer's remorse - I don't have enough time to play all the games I want. Just got ZombiU as a download and will probably download Monster Hunter as well (got the 3DS version already). I'm really looking forward to Pikmin and Wind Waker and yes, there will be a Mario Kart and a 3D Mario this year.

Was this thread really necessary? We all know the basic assumption of the OP is wrong (look at the Vita's sales right now - software does boost hardware and those games were nowhere near as big as Mario or Zelda) and while I'm very critical of the Wii U and the way Nintendo handled it I think the dooming is getting slightly overboard lately.