It could have worked but Nintendo failed the Wii U in many ways.
Nintendo simply did not do enough in the first year to catch anyone's attention. In my opinion, they had two options: go hard with big titles before the PS4/XO launched and build up an installed base, or go with an insanely strong line-up of games over the holidays to entice consumers while the other systems are dealing with supply problems. Nintendo, however, virtually ceded 2013 to Sony and Microsoft.
Right now, the Wii U has no variety. It offers no big titles unless you're a platforming junkie. They've allowed the perception that the Wii U is a niche machine to build. If your favorite genre isn't platforming, where are you going to look this holiday season? Probably not at the Wii U.
