I think it can at least double its current ltd. So that means at least 16 million. Price cut to $199 and the expanding game library will get it there. If it has a 5 year cycle before the next console launches (i.e. 5 holiday periods as the current gen Nintendo console) then it can make 20 million. However at present it looks like it will fall short of GC no matter what.

There is an outside chance that Nintendo will release a peripheral device of some kind that will cause a revival similar to the 360 and Kinect. If it does it could miraculously shoot past 30 million and even get to 40 million. But I can't really think what that might be.

I think if they have a price cut, they could see a pretty big sales increase. Heck, with Smash Bros and Mario Kart out, it already has seen a pretty massive sales increase considering how horrible it was selling before. Even holidays last year the system wasn't selling anywhere near as good as it's selling now. That said, I don't see this system ever breaking 30 million however with the right price point (which the system is definitely not at right now), the right timing (which imo they just missed it), and the right bundles (which they could still do) it would get close to that 30 million threshold.

By holidays 2015 Nintendo, imo, needs to drop the price to $250, create bundles such as a limited edition Smash Bros + Mario Kart bundle with an exclusive console and controller, a Bayonetta 1+2 bundle, a Legend of Zelda Windwaker HD + Hyrule Warriors bundle, revamp their OS and online features (cross game chat, on screen notifications, game invites, proper account system, cross buy on games ESPECIALLY VC games, messaging from the friendslist, etc.), and have just as aggressive of advertisement as they had in 2014 (heck, make it even more aggressive). If they do this, I can see Nintendo turning things around for WiiU though I'm not expecting the WiiU to top 30 million even with all of this. I think we'll see a new Nintendo home console by 2016.

People seem to be missing the issue that the xb1 and ps4 prices will not remain static. At the moment the Wii U is ~$100 cheaper, and sells pretty terribly. Given the competition between Sony and MS, I suspect that both will aggressively target BOM reductions to fuel price cuts. This strategy isn't available for Nintendo because 1) they have said that they are prioritizing profit ahead of sales, 2) they have much lower economies of scale with their small sales and unique design, and 3) the less advanced nature of the Wii u design means there is less room for cost reduction, it's cpu and gpu dies are already very small and won't gain much from die shrinks like the other consoles will.

Therefore as time goes on the price difference will reduce and the delta in games libraries will also reduce as the xb1 and ps4 get their heavy hitters. It makes no logical sense that in that environment Wii U sales will increase, agressive price cuts will be needed just to keep sales steady. 

Underestimating Nintendo

I thought people had learned not to ever do that at this point...

Historically after peak sales year Nintendo hardware is roughly at 50% of ww lifetime sales.  Pricecut coming next year and amazing software will continue to drive the system to higher sales. So however many sales it has by the end of next year will likely be around 50% of it's lifetime sales.   Iam still projecting around 26 to 30 million lifetime.

I think if it's lucky it can reach 25 million max.

i thought they would bring a super ssb bundle and a price cut for this year, and because of this i predicted 10M until end of year.
but i didnt happen.
wii U wont pass 20M tho.

I'm going by official numbers from NPD, the only thing that really counts.  Especially considering VGC had XBO outselling the PS4 in a couple of months throughout the year, when it turned out the opposite was true.  And those numbers back up what I previously stated.

PS4 and Xone are going to have a last great time within the next 18 months.

Next E3 FACEBOOK will unvail THEIR OCULUS RIFT CONSOLE. Having the LATEST CPU & GPU tech it will run circles around PS4 and XOne.

As there are no obstacles porting games to the new system - its basically the same tech but much more powerful - ALL third parties will release for it (getting some inventational money from Facebook will make them flock).

There is NOTHING which differentiates PS4 and XOne from the Facebook console besides being underpowered.

BUT: the Wii U IS DIFFERENT BY DESIGN. Nintendo can keep innovating on unique gameplay experiences only possible on Wii U.

Its a no brainer that many more gamers will buy a Wii U over time as every title released or announced is just another great reason to buy one...

It can and it will.