Well from what I'm reading there's a BIG possibility that Super Smash Bros for Wii U might not even come out this year. All the warning signs are there:

No Imminent Release Date.

Super Smash Bros for 3ds is coming out before it.

Lack of videos and pictures.

Promotions on the 3DS release.

Everytime there's a Nintendo event they down play questions towards the release date of Smash (do they even know?).

When we all thought the release date of Smash Wii U would be finally revealed this Friday at Treehouse, Nintendo confrimed it as false. Article here:

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/09/10/report-super-smash-bros-wii-u-release-date-to-be-revealed-on-friday.aspx

With all that said, how important is a Holiday release date important for the future of the Wii U? Do you believe it will sell and move consoles regardless if it comes out during the Holiday or is it now or never time for Nintendo?

EDIT: Lock if previously posted...

If Smash Wii U isn't out for this Black Friday, and I expect it won't be, Nintendo can kiss any chance of finishing second this gen goodbye.

Of course, they'd have to be absolute morons to do something so obviously suicidal, but hey, at this point I reckon a brain-damaged lemur could run the company better than the schmucks who do.

It will certainly sell a hell lot less this holiday season but I think it will still do well this holiday cause MK8 + Beyonatta 2 + Other games, just super low then if SSB came out

I think that they will announce the release date after Smash Bros. for 3DS comes out.
If they announce the release date now some people will think 'I will wait for the Wii U version, as that will only come out shortly after the 3DS version'.

By announcing the release date after the 3DS Smash Bros. release, it does not draw any attention away from the 3DS release. At this point people will already be hooked and then Smash Bros. for Wii U will have its release date announced for November/December 2014.
I believe it is a strategy in order to balance the sales of both versions of the game.

Nintendo confirms few times that date is holiday 2014!
3DS version is in focus now because it comes out first.

They also confirmed Tropical Freeze for November 2013, and we all saw how that turned out...

A company is promoting their soon-to-release product!? You don't say...

You are not the only one saying this. I too believe it to be a suicidal move. Sales in ANY month during the year do not equal holiday sales. Hell, if Smash is 70% done, I would still roll the dice and sell it. It'd still be better than 80% of the games out there.

They have that mentally like they are still #1 in the market having us wait for the game and thinking it will sell at any point during the year. Nintendo is acting like it's in a position to just strut around and have a dick measuring contest with the Sony, Microsoft, and the mobile market, where as of right now they have the shortest stick to measure.

Rolling out unfinished products is no better than rolling out no game at all, possibly worse, when it comes to Nintendo. Its also incredibly brand damaging, especially to a franchise like this, to the point where I wonder if you may be suffering from severe dehydration and the lack of water is affecting your brain.

And please, they aren't acting like "they can strut around". That's some nonsensical hyperbole if I've ever heard it.

Yeah, you'd think the Wii U's struggles would have taught Nintendo some much-needed humility, but instead they act like they can still afford to take their sweet time on a game that they need NOW. 

They don't seem to get it; they are up shit creek, and if they want to get out of this generation alive, its time to swallow their pride, get down on their knees and do what the consumer wants instead of what they want.