When the Virtual Console first launched in 2006, Nintendo struck gold. It gave old-school Nintendo fans the opportunity to play the classics they grew up on, while also allowing newer, younger gamers the opportunity to see what they missed out on.

However, with more recent Nintendo consoles relying on controller gimmicks that most likely won't return for following generations, it seems that the Wii (motion controls) and Wii U (Touch screen) might never be released as actual Virtual Console content for future consoles. Furthermore, if Nintendo keeps up with the gimmicks, this gaping hole in Nintendo history could be extended. Who knows, maybe Virtual Console will never extend past GameCube.

What do you think of all of this? Personally, I see it as a problem that can't be solved unless future consoles still use the touch screen. Then, at the very least they'll have Wii U rereleases. The PS and Xbox consoles all have controllers that, for the most part, don't change between console generations. I think they'll a bigger focus on rereleasing classics in the future.

Nintendo will find a way to play those. Also, I'm sure Nintendo will keep those wiimotes for a long time, they are easy to make, still profitable to sell, and almost everyone has a pair already. The gamepad will be harder, but Nintendo could always use their handhelds to simulate the tablet.

Like Darwinianevolution said, handhelds and Wii motes could be compatible.

Just with Wii motes and Gamepad they pretty much cover any other past controller so they'll be fine as long as they're still compatible.

I've thought about this too. How hard do you think it is to remake the controller configuration?

The Wiimote is a bluetooth device (I'm pretty sure... or some similar proprietary tech). It will really cost them next to nothing to make it compatible with any and all future systems. The Wii U Gamepad is simply a device that receives a feed. A bit more complicated, but not much more.

The Wiimote can be easily made compatible, as long as they keep sell them there shouldn't be a problem, for the Wii U? Easy, all the gimmicky games that use the Gamepad far too much will be forgotten and won't earn a spot as digital content, cuz' nobody will care about them, and the good games that can be played normally will be playable just as normally with a normally made controller. Normally.

I don't see why these older controllers shouldn't be compatible with the NX.

Knowing Nintendo, they're not letting go of the Wiimote anytime soon.

It's something I thought about in the past, virtual console limited by the controller and not hardware. But Nintendo showed they can re-use three generation old controllers when needed with the SSBU gamecube adapter.

Pretty much this. Even Gamecube Controller is still in production now (albeit only for Smash).