A Look at the Nintendo Dark Ages (2011-2017)

[Salnax]

I liked reading that (partially because I'm a sucker for well explained timelines) and think it's a decent retrospective of the era.

And now I'm going to nitpick it.

• I would argue that the Dark Age began as early as that period in mid-January 2011, when the launch dates and games for the 3DS were announced. Up through the end of 2010, I remember that most people assumed that the system wouldn't launch any higher than $200, and were speculating that games like Ocarina of Time 3D would be available at launch and games like Animal Crossing would be released soon afterwards. Then all the sudden it was "$250 for the new Nintendogs." The buildup for the Wii U was definitely worse, but this is where troubles began.
• People talk a lot of trash about New Super Mario Bros U, but when Nintendo replaced Nintendo Land as a bundled game with NSMBU (Autumn 2013), sales increased. Not by a lot, but it suggests that the NSMB formula had more appeal in even in 2013 than the GamePad gimmick did.
• EA's official word on the Wii U in 2011 vs 2012 probably should have notified us that third party support would dry up fairly quickly.
• I think you missed an oppurtunity by not highlighting Rayman Legends. From its initial announcement, it was a centerpiece for people hopeful for third party support of the Wii U. Even after it was delayed into 2013, hype was solid. The news in February that the game was being further delayed specifically because the game was no longer exclusive was the moment a lot of hopeful people stopped being hopeful.
• Morale was NOT still high in 2014. At that point, both Nintendo and fans seemed fairly certain that this was a GameCube type situation. I suspect this is why the Wii U MSRP in North America hasn't changed in FIVE YEARS.
• Wii U sales increased by about 20% from 2013 to 2014. It's not a ton, but 2013 had a price cut going for it.
• I think you've overlooked the importance of the 3DS. Had the 3DS done as well as the DS, things would have been brighter. However, especially after 2013, the 3DS had some serious problems. When the DS had its third full year of sales in 2007, hardware sales increased by 42%. For the 3DS in 2014, hardware sales DECREASED by 32%. Or for another comparison, think about the games released later in their lives (besides main series Pokemon). Even in 2009, the fifth full year of its life, the DS was getting big games like Dragon Quest 9, Tomodachi Collection, Professor Layton, Bowser's Inside Story, Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Scribblenauts, and Grand Theft Auto. The 3DS in 2017, on the other hand, had Dragon Quest 11, an updated version of Monster Hunter Generations, and... yeah, that's about it.

And now because I'm worried that you might think I was insincere at the top of this reply:

• The early confusion regarding the Wii U brand is not the primary reason it failed, but you are correct in that it hurt.
• The lack of a system seller for the GamePad in particular WAS crucial.
• Your roundup of 2015 and 2016 says most of what needs to be said.
• Seriously, good read.