MicroSony have realized lately that its cheaper and safer to outsource exclusive games to third party companies and spend at least part of those savings on third party marketing/content deals.

1) Most 3rd party games didn't come. More than we were used to on the Wii, but not most.

2) Graphical comparisons showed that some of them were about the same, if not slightly better, but hardly noticable and on others they looked worse.

3) Those games had alredy launched on other devices for the most part. Most 3rd party games were delayed ports that were often poorly optimized out of developer laziness.

4) Black Ops 2 didn't do terrible on it. I don't think Fifa was ever really popular on Nintendo devices (could be wrong, but that is mostly a European game and Nintendo has always been more of a Japanese/American company more than Europe). AC3 Wii U version (which I own) is one of the glitchiest games I have ever had the misfortune to play. That game SHOULD have sold terribly.

During the 7th gen, something like 6 of 10 of Sony's 1st party games never broke even (Sony said so themselves). Obviously, this is not preferable for business, and it seems like Sony this gen has gotten stricter as to what stays and what doesn't. As others have said, 3rd party projects are often much less risky, and more profitable.

When Nintendo gets the same 3rd party support as others, they destroy. And I"m aware there is more than games. The Wii had terrible interface compared to the app like functions of the hd twins and their successors. The Wii U still feels very far behind in terms of UX. If Nintendo releases a device that feels as smooth as the hd twins and has similar hardware, they will destroy all. People tend to buy Sony/Micro consoles so they can play 3rd party games (their 1st party games are practically non existent and don't do that well compared to Nintendo). If people can get those same 3rd party games, plus have the MASSIVE 1st party catalog of Nintendo games, that is a no brainer.

As long as they don't close Sucker punch and Naughty dog it's all good.

Didn't the gamecube flop? That's the closest they had to 3rd party support for one of their home consoles, right? You're putting way too much value in nintendo's 1st party games.  Most of it's games were intended for kids and because of that they're an acquired taste to the majority of gamers. Nintendo markets mainly to kids, families, casuals (relatively new gamers or non-gamers) and sometimes, it's fanbase (with something zelda related).  Everyone knows that's not the majority of gamers.

Its a pretty big difference. Look at 2:36 if you dont see it.

And do you really think that the wii u would had done much better in 2012-2013 if games like bioshock infinte, Crysis 3 and dark souls 2 would be released as well? I highly doubt it. The real big seller (assassins creed, fifa, cod) all were on the wii u.

Let's just count one generation so as best to compare:

Halo 3 and SMG1 were basically a tie (never know with VGC numbers what the margin of error is) and both SMG outlod TTOU by a LONG shot. And you brought up two of the best selling games that generation on the hd twins and compared it to two games that sold a lot, but no where near what the biggest sellers were:

These are all games that sold better than Galaxy 1 and 2. Every single one, by the way, is an actual Nintendo IP that is owned by them (total of 266.73 million sold). Now let's look at the top chunk for ps3 and 360.

PS3 numbers: Total of 103.39 million. That is 163.34 mill LESS units sold in software in the top 8. Now, let's see how many of those are actually owned by Sony. 1 for a total of 10.75 million sold. Nintendo 1st party absolutely destroyed Sony first party.

360: 117.58 million sold total. 2 games owned by Microsoft for a total of 33.92 million units sold. Nintendo destroyed Microsoft first party.

In conclusion, you brought that generation up and Nintendo 1st party software on the Wii alone in the top 8 positions Nintendo outsold drastically in general, but ESPECIALLY amongst 1st party titles.

I find the difference barely anything. And I'm a Nintendo fanman that owns a Wii U.

Also, BO2 was released like a week or two after for the Wii U compared to the other two. Everyone knows CoD fans are the type that freak out and buy it day one and have no patience (which is why CoD sales usually plunge after launch week unlike Nintendo games which have good legs) so if it isn't out on the console day 1 then no one is going to wait around for that version.

And I absolutely think the Wii U would have done better had it had not only more 3rd party support, but good ports with an actual use for the gamepad.

AC3 sucked on the Wii U. There are glitches everywhere and the community knew it. I reviewed that game and destroyed it for it's glitches. As for Fifa, I don't think Nintendo ever did well with Fifa. And BO2 also had some serious glitches/lag/crashes.

Not making enough money, simple as that. If they were making enough money do you think Sony or MS would close them?