1. The Wii U version would likely be gimped to steer people towards the NX version, as Nintendo will want that one to sell more to push their new system.

2. People who bought a Wii U in expectation of Zelda will feel cheated, as they could have gotten it without dropping $300 USD on the system. Wii U would be the first Nintendo home console ever to miss out on an exclusive Zelda, so it's a very reasonable expectation to have.

3. It doesn't exactly inspire confidence in Nintendo moving forwards; if Wii U never gets its own Zelda, who's to say future systems won't either? Once burned, twice shy.

Bottom line, a lot of fans would very justifiably feel betrayed if this happened. Even Gamecube at least got Wind Waker all to itself.

Agreed hence why I don't think it will happen! Specially since we are already getting signs of more support for the wiiU in 2016 like SMT x FE as well as Retro's secret game and there will probably be more during e3. So if they are going to announce the NX as a console in 2016, there is no wai the wiiU would get continued support through out 2016.

And the 3ds is really looking to have less and less games as the time goes on since the only notable release from now to 2016 is FE for the 3ds compared to wiiU's big (comparatively) list of games!

But if it does happen by some off chance, then I would not buy the next Nintendo console at launch because I would lose my faith in the company to deliver a dedicated Zelda game regardless of whether or not the platform is a success or failure

All they need to is make the NX backwards compatible and that would fix a million problems.

NX is going to be a handheld, so I don't expect Zelda U to be on it

I sincerely doubt that Zelda U will happen on NX. Mainly because it will have much more advanced hardware than the Wii U. The first thing people will want is a game that will show what the NX can do and Zelda U won't be that game. Most likely Zelda U will be Wii U exclusive and will be that way for a while.

The only way that Zelda U is on NX is if NX has the same architecture that Wii U has and that would be disastrous for Nintendo. Its the main fake complaint as to why its hard to make games on Wii U.

I was under the impression it would be a handheld, but if they made it backwards compatible, it would drive up the price, which is definetly not good. Instead, release it on both and make it crossbuy/crossplay. Or if they feel like the Wii U won't waste Zelda U's potential, then the NX could get its own seller, but its probably to late for that now.

I really doubt that we will see the NX platform before at least 2020.

Here's how I look at it, my Wii colletion is 25 games, all exclusives except for RE4 Wii Edition and Okami i think.  I have 8 big blockbuster games, Mario Kart, SSB, Mario Galaxy 1+2, Xenoblade, Zelda SS + TP, and Metrod Prime 3.  

I want somewhere near that much games for my Wii U.  So far I have 14 Wii U games, all exclsuives except Ducktales and Batman.  There are 7 games on my wishlist, that include unreleased games.  There are 6 blockbusters if Zelda U isn't exclsuive, Bayonetta 2, Mario Kart, SM3DW, SSB, XCX, and Pikmin 3.  

Either they make Zelda exclusive so I get my moneys worth out of my Wii U or come out with another blockbuster exclusive.  They also need to come out with a few more AA games.

Holy crap, I actually agree with Rol. 

Whiny fans need to get over themselves. 

There's nothing wrong with more people getting to enjoy a great game and it helping Nintendo overall as a business (more copies sold, good launch title). 

Saying you need to keep a game away from other consumers to enjoy it is petty and childish. The Wii U is still getting the game, and NX may launch first as a portable (and later with a console variant), so it could be a very different type of device anyway. 

I don't care if the 3DS gets Mario Maker or if the 3DS got a port of Star Fox, even though I've waited 20 years for Star Fox. I'd be happy if more people got to play it. 

If it helps Nintendo as a business, they should do it. Don't let your business be held hostage by a couple of noisy, but minority little portion of the Zelda fanbase on the internet. If Zelda can help the NX launch and it's doable to port ... then do it. It worked great with Twilight Princess and the Wii, no one can deny that. 

There were GameCube fans very angry about TP being put on Wii too, and the "well they got Wind Waker" didn't really hold water either because in their eyes TP was the game Nintendo promised them since that Spaceworld 2000 demo. And to add insult to injury, Nintendo delayed the GameCube version a couple of weeks so Wii owners could play it first, lol. 

They got over it. 

Thank you curl!

This is why it doesn't make sense for Zelda U to be multiplat. I still think that the NX is a handheld though