Nintendo of America Senior Director of Communication Charlie Scibett is confident that third-party developers will return to the Wii U if console sales eventually rise. Scibett says the developers want the same thing as Nintendo, and that’s to see the install base grow.
“We want the same thing that the third parties want, which is to grow the installed base. We’re confident that if we can do that by driving the installed base through first-party software, like Mario Kart 8, like Super Smash Bros., then the third-party developers will follow because then they’ll see there’s a large enough installed base that it’s worth their investment to bring their games to our platform. So it’s our job to grow that installed base to make it more attractive for them to come to our platform.”
“Scibetta wouldn’t be tied down to a prediction for how many more sales the Wii U needed before it was a more attractive platform for third-party publishers, saying that “each publisher might give you a different answer on that.” Sure enough, the publishers willing to talk on the record gave noncommittal but hopeful answers on the subject of future Wii U support.”
“We think that by releasing good games from fan favorite brands, like Mario Kart, Nintendo is taking steps to increase the Wii U’s adoption,” an Ubisoft spokesperson told Ars. “We have games coming out for the Wii U this year, including Just Dance 2015 and Watch Dogs. For any other games we announced at E3, it’s too soon to say.”
