Many/all third party blockbusters which got released on wii u sold horrible compared to xbox/ps versions. I think this have many reasons but the main reason might be, that the wii u is for many people just a secondary console. The wii never had those third party titles so people who cared about them already got a ps3/xbox360 (or pc) which are almost on par with the wii u. So they never saw a reason why to get the game for wii u.

Also people who got a Xbox/Ps4 and a wii u as a secondary console will always buy those games for ps/xbox system, scince it will be superior in terms of graphics.

Here is my idea how third party games could sell well on wii u.

The wii u third party games need to distunguish from the ps4/xbox one version in a good way. The wii u cant compete in graphics thats clear.

But how about if games like Assassins Creed would be retextures for wii u and feature cell shading graphics instead of realistic ones?

This would have alot advantages:

- The wii u version wouldnt just be graphical inferior but graphical different, so it will be personal taste if you like cartoony or realistic graphics more. The wii u version wont be just inferior compared to ps or xbox version

- Wii U does still have alot young player scince nintendo is focusing alot more on young players as other companies. Most AAA games are rated M and cant be palyed by kids. A cell shaded version of a AAA title could bring kids/younger people into your franchise. They will start playing games in the franchise as kids on wii u and transfer into the "real" games when they get older

- You will simple just be able to reach more persons with your game

- Some people will even buy your game twice when the wii u version will have significant differences compared to the other versions.

- Cell shaded graphics doesnt need as much power to be "good looking" so the games will still look like "curent gen" on wii u

Example:

Assassins Creed 4: Black Flah look like this:

And i Want it to look like this on Wii U:

This would certainly take more effort to make then a simple port (scince you need alot new textures) but i think it could be worth the trouble and will also help the wii u in terms of sales.

It shouldnt be "impossible" hard. I found this fanmod project to zelda:twilight princess on youtube. Somebody retextured the game in cell shading graphics. If a simple "modder" can do this as a hobby this shouldnt be as big problem for a professional developer team

Many people do think "only Nintendo games are selling on wiiu". Im 100% that is wrong. The majority of people are casual gamers, children etc (special on wiiu). They dont care about the developer or publisher of a game. 

Did you cared about the game developers as you were like 10-14 years old? I doubt that. 

The only reason those games sell is marketing/image and graphics. Even completly new IPs (like Splatoon) does sell great on wiiu. No mario/zelda included. 

Its because of the cartoony graphics. People who want realistic looking games dont buy a wii u as their only console. That wouldnt make sense.

Splatoon even outsold Xenoblade Chronicles X in japan which isnt a new ip and got ALOT marketing in japan (they did like 4 directs only for the game in japan). There is no audience for realistic looking games on wii u because those people got a ps/xbox/pc as their only or main console. Thats why games like Bayonetta2, ZombiU, Xenoblade and Devils Third wont sell much on wii u and games like Assassins Creed, Mass Effect and co with realistic graphics wouldnt do either.

Some Third Party Cartoony Sales on 8th gen:

Disney infinity 2.0 sales:

Wii U: 0,47 Mio

Ps4: 0,39 Mio

Xbone: 0,26 Mio

Skylander Trap Team:

WiiU: 0,5 Mio

Ps4: 0,3 Mio

Xbone: 0,23 Mio

If those smaller cartoony titles manages to outsell xbox and ps and hit 0,5mio i think a cell shaded version of a tripple a title could easily achieve 1-3mio. Like Nintendos titles.

Marketing. That's all...

that Wii U graphics is awesome i think people would love an AC type of game like that. cartoony in a sense. since AC needs something fresh....
but Wii U is on its 3rd year, Nintendo should have collaborated with 3rd party developers that Wii U owners would have a different art style in a sense.

i've bought AC IV and III on Wii U, haven't played much though, but they are my backlog Wii U games. Even Watch Dogs i have it for the Wii U.

Don't delay your games, make decent ports and learn how to use the GPGPU if you're too lazy to decently code for the CPU and don't skimp on features and DLC.

Well even games that considered all that sold horrible to be honest.

It's too late now for Wii U. 

The audience for third party games is on Sony/MS ... I think Nintendo is just better off going a different route at this point.

In the Fusion setup at least they would have the whole "you can play a real Madden/COD/Resident Evil on the road!" if they go the shared library route, I think third parties might bite on a unified platform. At least for a year or two.

To be succesful, they need an installbase willing to buy third parties. To do that, Nintendo needs to release games that could caters to that userbase. For example, the Twilight Princess userbase is more probable to buy Assassin's Creed than the 3DWorld userbase.

yeah i agre but the twilight princess userbase does pretty sure have at least an xbox360, xbox one, ps3, ps4 or pc. The big twilight princess fans dont just play the 3 "hardcore" games Nintendo do release per generation.

The 3d Wörld fan base will probl care alot more about a cell shaded assassins creed (which will even be similar in terms of graphics as mario 3d wörld) as about a realstic looking one (what we got)

I think Nintendo just cant compete with "same" games but inferior or same graphics. Because this fight they will loose against ps/xbox. But with a complete new graphic style, compelte new userbases may care about the games. Windwaker HD sold like 7x as many copies on wii u as assassins creed 4 (and both are at least sailing games^^)

I don't see it happening for two reasons: First, taking the time to completely reskin or change the artstyle of the game would take too much time and resources in the eyes of the publishers, and they could easily just release them on PS4/XBone as special editions. Second, most of western titles have as a selling point how hyperrealistic they look, and people buy them for that. People who try to avoid games that look cartoony will just keep ignoring the system.

WiiU won't make a turnaround, at least not for western developers. If Nintendo made extra effords in Japan (Youkai Watch U, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Monster Hunter U), they could expand their userbase with fans of those kind of games, but there's no hope now for the FIFA-CoD-AC-Battlefield audience to pick up a WiiU. Better luck with that on the NX.

That's why Nintendo must do more Twilight Princess and less 3DWorld.