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SvennoJ on 08 July 2025
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Pemalite said:
SvennoJ said:

I would say the Wii in that case, since the Wii started Nintendo's new trend not to chase the power consoles and laid the groundwork for unifying handheld and console in one Hybrid device. 

Plus without the success of the Wii, the WiiU wouldn't have all those games to give to Switch.

Switch actually went backwards on the WiiU. No more secondary screen, no more map / inventory in your hand. WiiU was a dual screen system.

The WiiU being a hybrid console doesn't actually have to game using "dual screens" it can just run all it's games on the handheld and simply switch between the TV and handheld with the press of a button. (Get it, Switch?)

That is the foundation of the entire Switch's crux on what made it a success.

The Switch's game library largely consisted of copies/ports of the WiiU's titles which became some of the best selling games of all time and in Nintendo's history. I.E. Mario Kart 8, Breath of the Wild, Super Mario 3D World, Hyrule Warriors, Xenoblade Chronicles, Captain Toad, Tokyo Mirage, Tropical Freeze and more.

Wii laid the groundwork closing the gap between mobile and (non power chasing) consoles. If the Wii and subsequently WiiU hadn't been behind PS4 and XBox One, it would not have been that easy to put WiiU games on the Switch for a second chance. (Or get BotW as a launch game)

Nintendo focused on the dual screen use and asynchronous multiplayer with the WiiU. It's not groundbreaking to launch a 'failed' device. Then it's either the Switch (salvaging the working part of the WiiU as a handheld that can also be connected to a TV) or the Wii setting the trend to make it possible for the mobile and console division to be merged into one. 


Wii is also groundbreaking for other reasons, mainly for tapping into the blue ocean and make video games easy / approachable for different generations, games the whole family can enjoy. That trend continued as well, 1-2 Switch for example was a hit for my younger kids to play with their grand parents. But then Switch kinda abandoned the blue ocean again, or the blue ocean lost interest.