WiiU's recent history shows nintendo needs an extra 6 months to achieve optimal launch timing -- which is why the NX has been delayed and why the WiiU gets a drought right now. They're about 6 months behind right now and need to break that cycle by allowing the WiiU a painful death to focus on the best possible outcome for NX.
Consider the WiiU's high-quality lineup. Looking back it should be obvious: How might WiiU's fortunes differed if many of it's high-profile games launched 6 months earlier? Answer: It would have been vastly different - it wouldn't have suffered the early droughts and a lack of momentum against the PS4 and X1. I think if you read through this you'll see what I mean.
-Lego City March 2013 -- back 6 months --> launch day title for WiiU
-Monster Hunter March 2013 -- back 6 months --> launch day title for WiiU
-Need for Speed: Most Wanted March 2013 -- back 6 months --> launch day title for WiiU (would have been excellent title to showcase the WiiU at launch)
-Pikmin 3 -- back 6 months --> launch window title for WiiU
-Rayman Legends: September 2013 -- back 6 months --> launch window title for WiiU
-The Wonderful 101 September 2013 -- back 6 months --> launch window title for WiiU
-The Wind Waker HD September 2013 -- back 6 months --> launch window title for WiiU
-Deus Ex October 2013 -- back 6 months --> remake early enough in the WiiU's life to give a damn about, and say something about 3rd party on WiiU
-Super Mario 3D World November 2013 -- back 6 months --> launch window title for WiiU
== net effect stronger launch, no early drought, SM3DW and WWHD prevent the WiiU's early 2013 outright collapse. Demonstrates the platform's value in the midst of PS4 and X1 reveals.
-Donkey Kong TF February 2014 -- back 6 months --> fall/holiday title for WiiU
-Mario Kart 8 May 2014 -- back 6 months --> 1st holiday title for WiiU
== net effect Mario Kart 8 would have kept the WiiU's 1st holiday against PS4 and X1 from being so atrocious
-Hyrule Warriors September 2014 - back 6 months --> Spring title to maintain momentum
-Bayonetta 2 -- back 6 months --> Spring 2014, and keeps the WiiU competitive in console wars
-Watch Dogs November 2014 -- back 6 months --> would have launched the same time as other versions
-Smash Bros November 2014 -- back 6 months --> Spring 2014, and keeps the WiiU competitive in console wars
-Captain Toad December 2014 -- back 6 months --> Spring/Summer 2014, and keeps the WiiU competitive in console wars
== net effect WiiU gains further relevancy before X1 & PS4 gain real momentum
-Mario Party 10 March 2015 -- back 6 months --> holiday title for WiiU, amiibo explodes
-Kirby February 2015 -- back 6 months --> holiday title for WiiU, rides the amiibo explosion
-Splatoon May 2015 -- back 6 months --> 2014 holiday title for WiiU
== net effect Amiibo hits its stride in the middle of a holiday season, propelling WiiU
-Mario Maker September 2015 -- back 6 months --> creates early Spring momentum
-Yoshi's Wooly World October 2015 -- back 6 months --> releases globally in Spring, maintains momentum
-Animal Crossing Whatever November 2015 -- back 6 months --> less insulting if it isn't a holiday title
-Mario Tennis November 2015 -- back 6 months --> less insulting if it isn't a holiday title
-Xenoblade X April(Japan)/December(Rest of world) 2015 -- back 6 months --> Japan holiday title, late spring momentum title everywhere else
-Pokken Tournament March 2016 - back 6 months --> 2015 holiday title for WiiU
-Twilight Princess HD March 2016 - back 6 months --> 2015 holiday title for WiiU
-Star Fox Zero April 2016 - back 6 months --> 2015 holiday title for WiiU
== better timed lineup, better perception as WiiU's weaker titles aren't in the holiday spotlight
This just underscores the real problem WiiU actually had, development for hardware and software started 6 months too late with tech that was yet another 6 months+ too old. Bonus: Guess how old many of the WiiU's late 3rd party ports were? Guess what interval of time they were most often delayed by? 6 months.
As illustrated, Nintendo has been locked in this 6 month too late cycle for several years already. And while the NX has quietly come together with better, more current tech, Nintendo has regrettably still been 6 months behind in providing a quality launch window of releases for the platform. 3rd parties as well needed another 6 months to really integrate NX into their workflow without compromising their own release schedules. And so when Zelda and NX were delayed, guess how long the delay was? 6 months.
How long does it really take to make up that extra 6 months? In another 6 months following a typical release schedule - guess what? You're still 6 months behind. You can try hiring more staff and get people to work overtime, but such efforts have clear diminishing returns. Just because you double staff or make people work 80 hour weeks over 40 doesn't get you double output. As Nintendo, you go to EA, Square, Ubisoft "Can you guys get Battlefield, Final Fantasy, and Watch Dogs 2 on the NX launch?" Likely answer: "ehh... wished you would have asked earlier, we're really in a crunch right now"
But what if you put everything else on hold? If instead of shipping new releases in a 6 month window, you look another 6 months ahead. In 6 months, you're finally caught up where you need to be. As Nintendo, you now go to EA, Square, Ubisoft "Can you get 2017 releases on our new platform?" Possible Answer: "Sure. We'll have enough time and resources to help you out then."
Kimishima himself confirmed that the reasoning behind delaying NX was to ensure a proper launch lineup. Let's not kid ourselves - if NX launched without the likes COD, Madden, and other big titles like Final Fantasy it would be sending the new platform out to die. If all Nintendo had to offer on NX was a WiiU port, and nothing else for another 6 months - the Nintendo faithful might not buy NX so quickly. Plus, if that extra 6 months takes an excellent Zelda and makes it into an extraordinary, life-changing one -that's clearly worth the effort also. If it insulates the NX with a higher number of current releases at launch, that's good too.
Hopefully this also gives some clue concerning when we get real NX info out to the public. Brace yourselves... October this year. 6 months out from the financial briefing. An at ideal point in time to begin dissuade people from buying the PS4K, X1-2, or possibly even PSVR.
TL:DR Given their history, Nintendo's timing and resources lends itself to two options. 1. Strong finish to WiiU and weak start to NX or 2. Weak finish to WiiU, strong start on NX. It's clear they've gone with 2.
I predict NX launches in 2017 - not 2016
