So, Japan is releasing a standalone gamepad you can buy, and this has got me thinking why release it so late in the game. The moment they announce the NX how many of these things do they expect to sell? I mean, many are speculating the NX will release next year (though I and others think 2017). Which has got me thinking.... The gamepad isn't going anywhere.

Nintendo's next gen will be a refinement of what they were going for in this gen, where you will be able to connect (at the very least) up to two gamepads. Also, backwards compatibility seems likely at this point too. 

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/24/nintendo-to-sell-wii-u-gamepad-on-its-own-in-japan

 What do you think?

Speculation is that the standalone gamepad is to enable the NX backwards compatible. Without it, you probably wont be able to play WiiU games.

I agree that it wont be going anywhere until perhaps the end of the NX span.

It would be kinda nice if they gave the gamepad another shot with the NX. I still feel it has a lot of untapped potential. But it may not be wise either to hold onto the gamepad.

No doubt, which is a good thing in my opinion. There was so much potential that did not get realized this gen, and I'm hoping to see it actually implemented next. Even if the NX gamepad could be taken anywhere, the Wii U standalone gamepad could be great for local multiplayer, and would more than likely be cheaper than an NX controller. 

Not a bold prediction

Oh there is definitely a risk, but I completely agree they could have done so much more on Wii U. If half the potential is realized on NX it will have been a worthwhile investment.

In what way? I doubt anyone figured the NX would use a standard Wii U gamepad.

With that said, then the Wiimote will also be able to be used on NX as well since certain Wii U games (Mario Party 10) doesn't focus on using the gamepad.  Unless NX backwards compatibility is limited to certain games.

wait the Wii U Gamepad specifically? I thought you meant a gamepad in general. 

In any case, if it has bc then it will more than likely use the gamepad as well as any new controllers. BC for Nintendo home consoles so far use old peripherals for bc games. I don't think that would change. I wouldn't call it a bold prediction, but I wouldn't call it an easy prediction either

Edit: Also I actually assumed they would use it for multiplayer games on the NX

You do have a point there, lol.