My prediction: It will sell less than the Wii but it will easily get pass 40 million

I read an article on Eurogamer some time ago, you'll find it if you search. Basically people were stating their thoughts on this matter, some features are unofficially know.

By the way my argument is based on the assumption that the new consoles from MS and SONY will be very powerful compared to wiiU (meaning at least x4). I think it's a safe bet, otherwise it wouldn't make sense for them to release a new product. But obviously I can't prove this now. If you don't believe it we can only wait and see ;)

The PC case is different. Most high budget titles sell a lot more on PS360 (especially if you consider revenue). This mean that they develop costly stuff on console and then port it on a more powerful platform. What you are suggesting instead is that they pick the stuff that is already under construction for the next generation hardware and dowgrade it to the present generation.

Should they use wiiU as a lead development platform in the future, like they do for PS360 now, that would mean that PC gamers are going to stay 7-14 years behind their hardware capabilities for the next 7 years. Not going to happen.

I'll just say that ALL 3 console manufacturers are going to find themselves in a pickle as they enter the "next generation". ALL of the growth is going on in the tablet and smart phone gaming market. Big-budget systems tethered to televisions are going to become just a small part of an overall market.

in the first 2 years!? maybe...

Im thinking it'll probably max out at 50 - 60 million, 40 million is a little low :/

- 360 started at 299, console that is today pushing multiplats out.

- sony wont spend 400 million developing another cell or will they introduce new disc format. Every rumor point out that. Highly aiming for 400 range.

How much  exhausted? 380 million for gaikai, 2.2 billion for that music thing. They know their finances better than us.

- 350 for wiiu is rip off, probably thanks to gamepad. 1gb ram for games, 30gb storage, midrange gpu, 3 core cpu NOT worth 350. Even with gamepad, retailer margin, i believe N is making money on hardware. 100% next ps/xbox ll be much better in terms of hardware.

- scalable yes, but difference might be obvious for potential customers. Also initial sales  of third party ll be very immportant.

- lineup is kinda overrated. Yes, good amount of third party is there(still many missing), playable on EVERY other platform!! Some exclusives not big at all.

Rayman? pikmin? baya? Rayman and zombi u ll  get ported 99% to other platforms.

- online is still ?? Its there, thats all we know. Tvii ll be likely irrelevant in europe, australia etc.

- hype is imcomparable to wii back in 2006, whatever good or bad, every1 was talking about wii.

OT. I disagree. No way. It ll sell hot in japan. Other places? IMO not so but still good numbers. 60-100 million my bet.

We all saw what happend when N asked for "premium" price in past, while competition was priced similary.

Every generation sold more consoles so i think it ll continue that way.

He's basically saying that it will destroy your prediction considering it will sell about the number you predicted in Japan alone. And I agree with him. As someone else put it, for japan, this is like the most deadly "handheld" ever made.

My prediction for the WiiU is 150M.

i think this thing has a bigger lifespan then the original wii so I see it selling less in the first 4years then wii but more in the years to come..

so my prediction is

US 30-35mil.
Europe Others 25-30mil
Japan 10mil.

What you listed is exactly why we are making predictions now since there are limited informaiton avaiable and no clear picture is painted. 

uh... no it's not a fact. The fact is PS3 is not the best selling home console for the last 3 years.

40 million end of 2013 is a bit much imo