This is why Donkey Kong did not move hardware like Splatoon

[S.Peelman]

Donkey Kong didn't move consoles because it wasn't something new and exiting to bring in new audiences. Also, let's not act like Splatoon saved the WiiU (this is a comment meant more in general, not directly at the thread), the software did very good, but the hardware only moved somewhat in the good direction, it's still absolutely shitty. At least Nintendo knew Splatoon at least had the chance to impact things as evident by the marketing stategy; all the marketing in the world wouldn't have helped Donkey Kong become a system-seller.