By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Illusion on 05 September 2015
Edit Thread
Miyamotoo said:

 

  • Wii U is still in the picture thanks to good software results for games like Splatoon, will still be the main home console in 2016
  • 3DS is a bit old, they're planning of replacing it. Some games will still come out on it, but big projects are being moved on portable NX


Thanks for the read, it's nice to see this "leaker's" personal predictions if nothing else.

The quoted part above does not make sense to me, though.  The Wii U has been the lead-weight that has been pulling Nintendo down all gen.  Splatoon did extremely well, but let's not forget that even Mario Kart couldn't save the Wii U and Splatoon is no Mario Kart. Splatoon also isn't fixing the Wii U's dismal console sales. Splatoon is definitely a sleeper hit and a huge find for Nintendo, but I just don't see that being enough to justify the Wii U's existence for another year.  If the Wii U is still Nintendo's main console in fall 2016, that will only be because Nintendo can't get the console NX ready in time for a 2016 launch.  Nintendo wants to bury the Wii U as soon as they can (once they have fufilled their release commitments to their fans, which will be mostly done this year).

The 3DS on the other hand has been Nintendo's cash-cow all generation and we're seeing A LOT of content coming to it in the coming months.  The device is getting old and it wouldn't surprise me if it gets replaced in 2016, but I'm not seeing evidence that Nintendo is abandoning the platform in anyway yet (heck, the 3DS is even getting the Metroid game that Wii U never got).  If anything, we're seeing a lot more Nintendo and 3rd Party support for the 3DS this year and into next year than we are seeing on the Wii U.  Nintendo is also pinning a lot of hopes on to Yokai Watch and so it will be interesting to see if that does anything unexpected for the 3DS.

In my opinion, contrary to the predictions above, Nintendo is moving the Wii U projects to the NX while continuing to support the 3DS into 2016.