Majority of gamers don't go on forums and read in depth analysis of these things like we do. But even if it's a single sale, they won't throw that away for no reason.

But It IS a nintendo thing in the videogame industry these last years, dont act like if it wasnt, unless you can prove me otherwise, show me after 2010 ( no need to dig in very old news, i'm talking about the actual companies in their actual way of handling leak) one of the 3 constructors straightly lying about something as big as that, denying a rumor about a new model/new console/end of production before the rumor comes true few months later ( yeah because it was only 3 months later for the 3DS XL , which means it was a straight lie, they knew it was coming few months later, it wasnt just an idea, they had already planned it).

You'll have trouble to find me something like this.

Majority of gamers don't go on forums and read in depth analysis of these things like we do. But even if it's a single sale, they won't throw that away without a proper reason.

People don't only buy consoles because of what games are already out, but also because of games that will come out, or games they expect will come out in the future.

You constantly bring up 'negligable' but you have never once provided a reason for why they would purposly throw away sales. And there needs to be one for this argument to make sense. There are nine months left of the year, and they denied the 3DS XL just weeks before they announced it. Why? I mean it's just a few weeks. It's 'negligable', right? No, it's not. They're not gonna pass up even a single sale unless there's a proper reason for it.

And let's not pretend that no one would be swayed by this news, as there are plenty of comments that indicate otherwise.

Give me a reason for why Nintendo would throw away sales. How little those sales amount to according to you is not a proper argument, as even a single lost sale is meaningless without a proper reason.

Because, believe it or not, not everyone is going to buy an NX this year and will decide on a WiiU instead.

Just as ppl are still buying PS3's and 360's now even though the PS4/ X1 are out: the platforms are still being supported, hence why they are still in production.

Saying the WiiU is stopping production has nothing to do with the fact that NX is coming out: it's about Nintendo not wanting to risk having their WiiU stock not being sold. They still have manufactured hardware, hardware which they will want to be sold else they will lose money on it. Additionally, having potential consumers drop out now, because the WiiU has no future past this year, is only going to hurt upcoming software sales, especially if said software is not being ported to NX: they have to make their money back on WiiU alone.

Just because they have the NX coming out doesn't mean that Nintendo wants WiiU sales to decline any faster. And that is essentially what confirming production end will do for the WiiU. It doesn't matter how insignificant the number might be to you... when it comes to business, every number counts.

Haha, who says that about Nintendo? Usually Ninten is getting flack from people both Ninten-fans and non-fans. I think who better fits that image these days is Sony. Which hardcore Nitnen fans have you been listening to? : P

Crazy?

- Nikkei says Nintendo are releasing a bigger 3DS.
Nintendo denies it.
Nintendo weeks later: We are now announcing the 3DS XL.

- Nikkei says Nintendo are developing smartphone games. (Jan 2014)
Nintendo denies it, says we're not making smartphone games. (Jan 2014)
Nintendo announces they're making smartphone games. (Mar 2015)

- Nikkei says Nintendo is releasing 3DS in China. (2012 first half)
Nintendo: We currently don't have plans for that.
iQue 3DS XL is released in China. (Nov 2012)

It's not like there is no evidence to go on. They even used the exact same wording to deny the plans to release a bigger 3DS. "That report did not come from Nintendo".
There's more too. About the DS Lite I believe, also reported by Nikkei.

Nikkei's reports are more credible than Nintendo's dismissal of them when it comes to these things.
So I'm very inclined to believe Nikkei in this instance. I don't take it as 100% confirmation, but I'm fairly sure this is accurate based on Nintendo's history with denying correct information from Nikkei.

Assuming they announce the release date of the NX at E3, which I assume they will, then yes you're right. So I probably should have said 3 months rather than 9. That doesn't change my point or my question though. Why would they throw away sales during a 3 month period for no reason? Even if it's negligable, there needs to be a reason for doing that. Otherwise they will not, and will act just like they did when Nikkei reported the 3DS XL.
I get that there are an increasing amount of people who now believe NX will come out in 2016. But there are people in Nintendo and other companie's PR division who's very job it is to minimize things like this as much as possible until it's time to make an announcement.

Also, Nintendo wouldn't have responded to this unlesss they thought the negative ramifications are worth trying to avoid.